Meet the HAV Horse Rescue Team
Alice Whitfield-Hammer, Chair
Alice’s love of animals has been life-long. In her early years, Alice worked at the Ocala Stud Farm breaking quarter horses. Her life did a 360 and she wound up in show business in NYC – then running her own production company. She moved to Las Vegas in 1999 and soon began teaching communications at UNLV.
In 2013, Alice reconnected with her high school sweetheart. And in 2017 Alice Whitfield became Alice Whitfield-Hammer! The Hammers live on a ranch with two rescue horses, three rescue goats and 2 rescue dogs! Oh my!
David Hammer, Director/CFO
For over 50 years, David has lived and pursued his career in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. He established his own world-class manufacturing campus which, to date, has grown to over 1,200,000 sq ft.
David Hammer is both a public and a private equity impact investor. His mandate has always been Charity is a business and must be managed as one.
David serves on the boards of several corporations and charities. Now he brings his business acumen to Hearts Alive Horse Rescue.
Sharon and Tom McGarry, Coo/Ranch Managers
No strangers to ranch life, Sharon and Tom developed and managed their 20-acre Whiffler Hill Farm in Waterford, CT. They built their house, the barn and managed a 16-horse boarding facility, a herd of 25 sheep, and 6 milk goats.
Sharon is a graduate of Findlay College in Ohio, in Equestrian Studies and has a degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Connecticut. She earned an MBA from the University of New Haven. Tom has a degree in Liberal Arts from Champlain College in Vermont. The couple is thrilled to get back to their roots, caring for animals at HAV Horse Rescue.
Wyatt W. Winchell, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons Co-founder of Desert Pines Equine Center in Las Vegas
Erica Manke, Trainer
Erica has always had a passion for equines. Her first introduction, a pony named Charm. Later Lacey, an American Warmblood, came to her as an unwanted jumping horse. After a couple of shows, it was clear that Erica’s talent was in dressage. And soon it became her dream career. She began training and working under numerous world class teachers, and in 2018 Erica took a position at a top breeding facility.
Having received both bronze and silver medals in dressage, she is now working toward her gold.
Erica finds most fulfillment in training the “unwanted” horses.