To the Memory of Afton Joshua Whitmer and Rio

Afton J. and Rio

Rio was the first horse that we brought in, an older mustang stallion (cryptorchid) that just needed a soft place to land, a retirement home, and we gave him that. Joshua loved Rio and Rio loved him.

5 years later, on Feburary 28, 2021 Joshua took his life. Haunted by demons that he couldn't fight any longer. He was a great kid in the prime of his life. He had moved away from the ranch 2 years earlier and was going to college, living off on his own.

In order to honor Joshua and Rio, Wild Horse Haven Rescue has begun new programs aimed at using the horses here as equine therapists, to help those with mental health issues heal. We have also begun programs for the youth, with Reading to Horses and Wild Horse Camp.

Joshua and Rio are riding the clouds of heaven and they are always in our heart here at Wild Horse Haven.

Lance Corporal Alfred Van Whitmer

May 5, 1947 to April 4, 1968

Served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force. Killed in action, Thua Thien, Vietnam.

One of The Morenci Nine

The Morenci Nine were a group of boys from Morenci, Arizona who as soon as they graduated high school, they all went and joined the Marines together to go to Vietnam to fight. Only 3 of them came home.

Raising Horses