06 March 2026

A fond goodbye to our much-loved Wacko the donkey

Wacko the donkey

It is with sadness that we share the news that our treasured Adoption Star Wacko passed away on 23rd February 2026 at 21 years old.

Wacko lived at Redwings Aylsham and was a firm favourite among staff and visitors. Sadly towards the end of January, he began to show signs of lameness and was brought to the Horse Hospital at Redwings HQ for specialist care.

Towards the end of January, Wacko’s carers noticed that he seemed uncomfortable when walking. They immediately arranged for him to travel to the Redwings Horse Hospital so that our vets could assess him. After a thorough examination and x-rays, pain relief was provided and further medication prescribed in the hope he would improve.  

Over the coming days, further examinations and x-rays were carried out to monitor for signs of progress but despite every effort made by our veterinary and care teams and farriers, accompanied by pain relief day and night, Wacko remained uncomfortable when walking. The Redwings vets knew that, heartbreakingly, they must make the compassionate decision to put him to sleep to ensure he did not suffer. 

Wacko enjoying a nap
Wacko having a nap
 
View image gallery

Wacko - a dear friend

 

As you can imagine, his carers are very upset, and we know you will be too. Wacko was a very special character at Redwings Aylsham, and everyone is devastated to have lost him. Wacko arrived at Redwings in 2012. Before this time, he had been living on a yard that sadly closed, leaving him living on his own. His owner was concerned that he was becoming lonely, and so they reached out to the Sanctuary to ask whether we could offer him a home.

Wacko and Wiggins shared a long, loyal friendship, and although they were very close, Wiggins has always had strong bonds with Rafi and Harry too. Wiggins’ carers are very confident that he will be happiest if he continues to live in the small herd of donkeys he knows so well. There are now five donkeys at Redwings Aylsham - Wiggins, Rafi, Harry, Martha and Choco and they are a well-established group, with Wiggins being an integral and loved part of the herd and so he will continue to stay at Redwings Aylsham surrounded by familiar companions and his carers, who will be keeping an extra close eye on him.

Wacko’s wonderfully gentle and calm nature made him loved by everyone who met him. Losing him has been incredibly hard for all of us and we know many of you who supported and adored him will feel this loss too.

Thank you so much to everyone who adopted and loved Wacko - you helped us give him a wonderful life at Redwings. If you adopt Wacko, we have written to you to explain that your adoption is not affected, and your sponsorship will continue for Wiggins. 

If you would like to make a donation in Wacko’s memory, you can do so here. 

RIP Wacko, we will miss you

Redwings communications team logo

Redwings Press Office

For all enquiries please contact lplumtree@redwings.co.uk

Find out more about Redwings Press Office

Adoption
Adoption stars
Care
Fundraising
News
Residents
Sanctuary
South East England and London
Blogs
Ada Cole
Wacko
An image of a pony's ears with the Redwings 40 year logo

Support Redwings

As a charity 100% funded by donations, it is thanks to the generosity of its supporters that Redwings is able to take in and care for horses and donkeys like Wiggins and Wacko. 

You can make a donation to Redwings to continue this important work

View related news

View all related news
Tom the pony trotting towards the camera in his field, with one of his new horse friends in the background.

Redwings takes on teaching pony who needed special home after seizure

Smokey headshot

Redwings gives forever home to horse who needed extra support in old age

A donkey laying down in a field resting

A sad farewell to retired Adoption Star Del Boy
Glorious standing at Redwings wearing a bandage on her leg

Former racehorse injured during transport makes new start at Redwings
Tom the pony trotting towards the camera in his field, with one of his new horse friends in the background.

Redwings takes on teaching pony who needed special home after seizure

Smokey headshot

Redwings gives forever home to horse who needed extra support in old age

A donkey laying down in a field resting

A sad farewell to retired Adoption Star Del Boy

Glorious standing at Redwings wearing a bandage on her leg

Former racehorse injured during transport makes new start at Redwings

View all related news
Back to top