SCCR Newsletter, Issue #42 - May 2026

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

This Mother’s Day - Here’s a Mom Worth Celebrating.

One year ago, our beautiful Jenny was a brand-new mother, having just welcomed the colt we would later name Lil Joe. He was only six months old when the pair ended up in the Kamloops stockyard, rounded up and purchased by a meat buyer. It’s not hard to imagine Jenny’s anxiety-a young mom, unable to protect her baby from a situation she almost certainly sensed was not safe.

That’s when SCCR’s own Kris Latham stepped in, bartering for their freedom and bringing them home to the ranch.

At just five years old, Jenny had never been handled. Despite that, she showed no aggression,only uncertainty. With time, patience, and quiet consistency, she’s begun to understand that humans can be kind. While she’s still a little elusive, her trust continues to grow, one step at a time.

Recently, Kris removed the isolation barrier between Jenny’s paddock and Northside, and Jenny wasted no time making her presence known. She has confidently stepped into her role as Northside’s boss mare and she’s clearly enjoying every moment of it.

Of course, she still keeps a watchful eye on Lil Joe. But these days, he’s off building his own life, socializing with the herd and forming a special bond with Blue, who’s taken on the role of mentor.

And Jenny? This is her moment. Strong, steady, and quietly confident. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate Jenny as the true Queen of the Northside

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful moms!

A Special Gift for Mom

New Kids in Town- A sneak Peak Lilabet & Clint

Two young, beautiful horses joined us at SCCR in mid-April.

Lilabet (left) is a three-year-old paint mare who has been lightly started under saddle. Alongside her is Clint (right) her father. He is a six-year-old bay draft cross, from 100 Mile BC, who is comfortable being saddled, though not yet ridden.

The pair were surrendered when their owner relocated and sadly could not take them along. They are now settling into their new surroundings in the Northside paddock.

As they decompress and adjust, we’re giving them the time and space they need to feel safe and secure. In the coming weeks, we’ll begin working more closely with each of them to better understand their individual needs and potential.

Once they’re ready, SCCR will feature these two beauties on our website with full profiles and updates as they begin the next chapter of their journey.

Stay tuned for updates. 

A Gentle Arrival : Ms Andie

In April, we also welcomed a very special senior to the ranch, Ms. Mandy, affectionately known as Andi here.

Andi is a 29-year-old paint mare whose life began in the PMU (Pregnant Mares’ Urine) industry. At just five months old, she was taken from her mother alongside 29 other foals, a common reality for horses born into this system. In PMU operations, mares are repeatedly bred and kept pregnant so their urine can be collected for the production of hormone replacement drugs, including Premarin, which is prescribed to millions of women worldwide. The foals born into this cycle are often by-products of the industry, with uncertain futures.

Thankfully, Andi’s story took a different path.

In 1998, a remarkable woman rescued her and 29 other foals, giving them the chance at a safe and loving life—something not all PMU foals are afforded.

When Andi’s saviour passed away in 2023, her care was entrusted to a friend, Lorill. Due to health challenges, Lorill and her husband recently made the difficult decision to surrender Andi to SCCR, ensuring she could enjoy a peaceful and supported retirement among horses her own age.

Andi arrived and stepped into the AB3 paddock as though she had always belonged. Her new paddock mates welcomed her with quiet assurance, and she carries herself with the calm, steady presence of a horse who has lived a full life. At 29, she appears healthy, content, and very much a “been there, done that” kind of gal.

We’re honoured to be part of her story and to give her the soft landing she deserves.

Welcome Back BoBo

We also welcomed Bobo back in April. SCCR’s handsome bay mule has returned to the Ranch.

Sometimes things just don’t work out as planned. In this case, Bobo and two of the dogs in his adoptive home weren’t seeing eye to eye, so the safest choice was to bring him back.

He’s now right where he’s comfortable, reunited with his dear friend Monty and the ever-entertaining Northside crew. He’s settling back into ranch life as if he never left.

Cassidy’s Next Chapter

Cassidy left for her new home near Quesnel in the first week of April, and while it’s never easy to say goodbye, this one feels just right.

This absolutely stunning Appendix mare (American Quarter Horse/ Thoroughbred cross) first caught Kris’s eye when Cassidy appeared in an Alberta auction listing alongside a gelding. Kris watched closely, ready to step in if a meat buyer showed interest. When a private buyer purchased the pair, it should have been the end of the story, but Cassidy stayed on her mind.

A few days later, Kris reached out. She had hoped both horses had found a safe landing, but learned the gelding had tragically been lost in a trailering accident shortly after the auction. Cassidy, thankfully, was physically unharmed but the buyer was very eager to sell her. And that’s how she found her way to the ranch.

Cassidy arrived unsure and guarded, but never unkind. With time, patience, and a gentle approach, she began to soften. Step by step, she learned to trust, and watching that transformation has been something truly special.

We’re so happy to share that Cassidy’s new person understands her sensitive nature and is committed to continuing that same slow, thoughtful approach.

Cassidy is one of those mares who gives her heart quietly, but completely. She will always hold a very special place in Kris’s heart. 

Foraging Wisdom

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Groom and Graze Program at SCCR is what happens when horses are given the freedom to choose what they eat. Horses have a lot to teach us about Nature’s Pharmacy.

As volunteers lead horses through the forest to the fields, we see more than grazing - we see selection. Horses pause, sniff, and browse with intention. Each horse chooses differently, guided by an innate sense of what their body needs. This instinctive behaviour, known as self-selection, allows horses to seek out plants that offer both nutrients and medicinal support.

There are multiple plants growing naturally on the ranch that may play a supportive role in equine health including:

- Mullein: Traditionally used to support the respiratory system and reduce inflammation.

- Sword Fern: Contains vitamin A and trace minerals that support immunity and tissue health

- Prickly Lettuce: Known for its calming, pain-relieving properties. 

- Horsetail: High in silica, which contributes to strong hooves, bones, and connective tissue.

- Evening Primrose: Rich in essential fatty acids that support skin and coat health.

A horse’s choices shift with the seasons. For example, sword ferns are eagerly grazed in early spring yet, by summer, they’re left untouched. What stands out most is that no two horses choose the same way. One may return repeatedly to a specific plant, while another horse ignores it entirely. Given the opportunity, horses will become active participants in their own well-being, drawing from the natural pharmacy around them.

So the Groom and Graze Program offers more than a pleasant outing. It allows horses to reconnect with the land and their natural instincts, while offering us a chance to observe and learn. There is a quiet intelligence in how horses interact with their environment- one that reminds us that, sometimes, equine health begins with the simple act of allowing choice.

If you’re not yet a Groom & Grazer but want to be, get in touch with Kris. She’ll match you up with a horse that fits your level of experience and confidence. Then SCCR’s Kellie MacIntosh will provide an orientation. Any of us who “work the program” find we get as much out of it as the horses. It’s better than meditation for calming the human soul. And the horses love it too.

Sweet Souls

Zelda & Claudie

Equine rescue work inevitably brings with it a good measure of sadness. Last month we said goodbye to 2 lovely souls.

Claudie’s beloved mare Zelda succumbed to colic. Zelda was rescued as a yearling in 2021 and came to us very shy and unapproachable, a lone wolf who lacked confidence. Claudie took the time to slowly befriend her and eventually Zelda and Teal (Claudie’s heart horse) became walking buddies. Zelda bonded to her big sister and came out of her shell. Over time, she transformed into a playful yet sweet and gentle mare who loved spending time with Claudie in complete presence and stillness. Claudie: “Zelda’s life will always be held close to my heart and her spirit engraved in my mind. May you rest in peace, sweet angel.”

We also said good-bye to sweet Rodeo (looking at camera) last month. He was brought to the ranch by SCCR boarder and volunteer, Gina Frank. Rodeo was 24-years-old and had given pretty much all he had (as a trail horse) when Gina brought him to SCCR from 70 Mile House. When Kris was asked if he could come to Cheekye to avoid the cold Interior BC winters, and for extra care, she immediately said yes! Because Rodeo had non-functioning teeth, he needed a special diet and Kris made sure Rodeo got his mash when Gina wasn’t able to be at the ranch. Cheekye was a perfect fit for this sweet soul’s final days. He enjoyed nearly 2 years of loving care, including free roaming access with a little herd of oldsters. Rodeo even found himself a girl-friend, Jessie. Gina is deeply grateful to this ever-giving ranch family that aims to always open the gate to those in need. As a good friend recently said “when you see you can do better for an animal, do it”.

For information about sponsoring a horse or to make a one-time donation click here or email sccrsponsorahorse@gmail.com

To help the rescue:

• Donate here to contribute towards saving these incredible animals.

• Learn more about the fate of horses who are not rescued, and how to advocate.

• Book a tour to learn more about the ranch and meet some of the horses who have been saved.

• Volunteer at the ranch. No horse experience necessary.