LI Marine Veteran Hopes To Give Texas Prison Horse New Mission

ISLANDIA, NY — A Long Island Marine Corps veteran who found peace working with horses after returning from Afghanistan is joining his wife in an effort to raise $30,000 to bring a retired Texas prison horse to Islandia to help fellow veterans and first responders.

Tom Hayes and his wife, Elizabeth, hope to purchase a horse at a Texas auction around Labor Day 2027 and donate it to Pal-O-Mine Equestrian's Roping for Service program, which teaches veterans and first responders to ride, rope and care for horses.

The campaign reflects the couple's longstanding relationship with Pal-O-Mine, at 829 Old Nichols Road. Elizabeth began volunteering there while attending nursing school, and the couple bought a home surrounded by the organization's property in 2017. Within months, Tom received orders to deploy to Afghanistan, leaving Elizabeth at home with their young child.

"Coming home and transitioning back into civilian life is hard," Elizabeth told Patch, describing how the farm community supported them through deployment and its aftermath. "It's hard for the family unit. It's hard for the veteran."

Tom followed a family tradition of Marine Corps service, joining the reserves after college and serving as a machine gunner. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2018 while employed as a New York City correction officer.

Returning to the job was challenging. Tom missed the camaraderie of his fellow Marines, and the demands of corrections and a lengthy commute were affecting his well-being. Despite the security of a career he had pursued for about eight years, he decided to make a change.

With Elizabeth's encouragement, he used his master's degree in teaching to move into education. He now teaches high school social studies in the Eastport-South Manor school district.

"I remember one of the first days when I left corrections —I was almost in tears," Tom said, recalling telling Elizabeth and a neighbor he believed the decision was one of the best he had made.

Spending time with horses at Pal-O-Mine also helped him rediscover a sense of purpose. He began assisting with equine programs and observed other veterans finding comfort in working with the animals.

"Being here at Pal-O-Mine was huge because it gave me that calmness," he said.

Pal-O-Mine, an EAGALA-designated military program, offers equine-assisted psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups, as well as other programming for veterans, active-duty service members, first responders and their families. Its military and first responder services are offered at no cost through grants and donations, according to the nonprofit's website.

In the Roping for Service program, Rodeo coach Joey Ortega and his daughter guide participants through horsemanship, riding and roping skills, with some eventually learning to rope live cattle. Tom said the initiative began about five years ago.

Tom initially struggled to master roping, practicing in his driveway and backyard between sessions. But he said the challenge gave him something to focus on and a reason to look forward to returning to the barn. Even quieter tasks, he said, such as grooming horses and cleaning stalls, could be meaningful because "the horse isn't judging you."

He believes the welcoming environment also helps veterans who might be reluctant to seek support elsewhere.

"A lot of veterans, you know, the mentality is I don't need the help," Tom said. "I'm not as bad as the next guy."

Participants are not required to ride. Some begin by socializing or helping care for the horses. Tom said that shared work helps veterans and first responders form friendships without pressure to discuss their experiences.

Now the couple hopes to add a horse that spent its working years within the Texas prison system. Elizabeth said horses in the program are trained for duties including livestock work and patrols, making experienced retirees potentially suitable for teaching riders. The family will still need to select and assess an individual horse.

"They did years of service, and now they get to have a little bit of a 'bougie' retirement up here in New York and live a really great life as a Pal-O-Mine horse while also giving back to the veterans and first responders," Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth said the couple will review an auction catalog and consult a former manager of the prison system's horse breeding program before bidding next year.

The $30,000 goal includes an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 for a horse, $6,000 to $8,000 for transportation and additional expenses for veterinary care, health documents and winter supplies.

Elizabeth launched the campaign Oct. 1. As of their Nov. 7 interview, the couple had raised about $4,100 through GoFundMe and another $700 from apparel sales. Elizabeth, an assistant director of nursing at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, also contributes her earnings from part-time work at Pal-O-Mine.

The couple will host a "Road to Texas" fundraiser Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Daisy's in Patchogue, where they plan to guest bartend. Karaoke is scheduled for 8 p.m. The family is documenting its efforts on Instagram at @roadtotexas.

For the family, the effort also recognizes military families' sacrifices and focuses on appreciation rather than division.

Tom hopes the campaign will encourage others to find ways to help people in their own communities.

"Be of service," he said It doesn't have to be in the military."

For more information or to support the effort, visit the Hayes family's GoFundMe fundraiser, follow their journey on Instagram at @roadtotexas_, or purchase merchandise through their online store. To learn more about the services available to veterans and first responders, visit Pal-O-Mine Equestrian's military programs page.