Rio Rojo (Red River) Joe the Spanish Mustang embodies the spirit of heritage, passion, and endurance. His deep connection to the land and rich history remind us to honor our roots while embracing the fire within. With unwavering strength and loyalty, he inspires us to persevere through life’s challenges, stand tall in the face of adversity, and live with purpose and heart.

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Rio Rojo Joe is a Spanish Mustang born in 2001. He is the lead gelding of our Sanctuary Herd. In 2015, Joe lost his left eye, we think he punctured it on a yucca plant. We check the herd every couple of days and got him immediate veterinary care, put him on antibiotics, however, his eye ended up rupturing anyhow and he needed emergency surgery to have it removed. While he was in the stall recovering, his half brother, Tanner, would lead the entire herd up to the ranch area to check on him. After two months, his eye was healed and he was ready to be turned back out onto the sanctuary pasture…he didn’t miss a beat. He circled up the herd and they all ran off following him once again. It’s beautiful to see how adaptive and resilient these horses are.