Joey and Jack have delightfully proven that opposites not only can attract, but also bond together as family; a frisky young donkey together with a wise senior horse has created a match made happily in Red Bucket Equine Rescue style! Glancing out into the afternoon arena at Red Bucket, one cannot help but smile at these two wonderful fellows of very different personalities, ages and characters, Joey and Jack who have helped create a new family of their own with eight other horses.

Meet Joey! If there ever was a contest for who could be voted “class clown,” (and can even make the teacher laugh), it would have to be Joey! Though some may label him “naughty,” his adorability factor allows anyone who may get upset with him over misbehavior to smile underneath their breath at his continuous outlandish antics. He can be found daily expressing his opinion to all in the herd during the afternoon turnouts. His
constant energy finds him charging and chasing about with the weanlings in the herd who usually run out of steam and then hide for cover long before he is ready to call it quits! Joey is also known as the Red Bucket Photo Bomber! If there is someone with a camera aimed at anyone in the herd, you can be sure that Joey will have at least a hoof or an ear in the picture. As soon as he sees a camera pointed, he charges to get into the
photo frame. The paparazzi would love Joey!

Joey was rescued with his mother Lizzy when he was about 4 months old with a group of other donkeys. At some point before his rescue, he was badly trampled during a herd stampede, which left his right eye blinded and also created damage to one of his ears. He is a tough little guy who learned early on how to survive. With the help of his mom and the will to go on, little Joey learned to persevere. He is almost two years old and has no
self-esteem issues. Joey is himself and proud of it!

Enter benevolent Jack, considered one of the most pleasant, calm and kindest horses anyone could ever meet. He is a horse of wisdom and exceptional gratitude. Jack found his way to Red Bucket after being abandoned at a Kid’s Camp in Malibu Canyon. When the camp decided to move and take all of the “good horses” with them, Jack was left behind with a group of others to die without food and water. There was no care or
concern for the horses that had loved and supported children for many years. The group consisted of Jack, Styles, Cheyenne, McGraw and Ledger. This group was left behind because they were considered “old” and “useless.” When the group of five was discovered 3½ weeks, later it became painfully obvious that not a hoof had been lifted or a brush been taken to their mangled coats for months. This entire group of older horses
was in disgraceful condition, discarded and left to be scavenged by time, starvation, dehydration or predators. When Red Bucket volunteers first arrived at the camp to complete the rescue, they were horrified by the horses’ condition. Showing prominent ribs and necrotic hooves, they were saved in the nick of time! This was several years ago and each horse in this group has given back genuine love and a grateful attitude to the
volunteers who nurtured them on a daily basis.

About a year ago, there were only three horses still living from this group, Jack, Styles and Brimer. They were all the very best of friends and an afternoon herd family. Since that time, Jack is now the only horse left of these wonderful kindhearted equines. After losing his life-long friends, Jack went into what we humans consider depression. He seemed sad and lost interest in doing much of anything. It saddened the hearts of the Red
Bucket Volunteers who love Jack and know how much life he still has in him.

Bring on Joey! While Jack is the epitome of dignity, composure and decorum, Joey is quite the opposite! Putting these two together was an interesting idea that became the perfect match. According to Red Bucket volunteer Jessica, “Joey brought back the spark of life to Jack that he so badly needed!” Joey is definitely considered annoying, and with that said, once together with Jack, he would not leave him alone. At first, Jack was not sure what to do with this undisciplined, fearless and disruptive little fuzz-ball with hooves! But, Joey, being Joey, began to work his way deep into Jack’s heart. Today you can find this adorable nuisance and cute little pest running around playing with and tiring
out all of the weanlings in the afternoon herd, while Jack stands waiting, guarding most of them from Joey when they are officially worn out. Once his fun and games have finally come to a halt, Joey knows that Jack will be standing and waiting for him to lay down beneath him safely in a sweet restful sleep with his Pop-Pop, aka “Jack.” Rescue animals know what it feels like to be unloved and rejected, and it is quite astonishing to
see that part of their own recovery appears to be sharing love, acceptance and tender hope with other unwanted animals. Joey and Jack are a wonderful Red Bucket story of such hope and recovery, a beautiful example to all humans that animals really do have feelings, and the strong need of belonging to a family unit who cares and loves them.