SCCR Newsletter, Issue #47 - October 2026

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

Giving Thanks

To our incredible volunteers who show up in every kind of weather to muck paddocks, groom and graze the horses, mend fences, repair and improve paddocks and shelters, help with fundraising, keep us organized and scheduled, put together this newsletter, and somehow keep tackling the never-ending list of jobs that comes with caring for so many equines—I thank you.

To those who sponsor our horses month after month, to the people who donate what they can, and to the incredibly generous souls who step forward with major gifts when we need them most—I thank you.

And to everyone who shares our stories, attends our fundraisers, adopts one of our horses, lends a hand, or simply cheers us on from afar—I thank you.

There is no question that rescue can be hard. But time and again, I am reminded that for every horse who needs a second chance, there seems to be a human willing to step forward and help us give them one.

Without all of you, there simply would be no Second Chance Cheekye Ranch—and no second chances for the equine souls who find their way to us. Please know how deeply grateful I am for every one of you and for this remarkable community that continues to stand behind our horses.

Happy Thanksgiving from me and all the four-legged souls who call SCCR home. 

— Kris Latham

Remembering Jewel

On September 28th, we said goodbye to our sweet Jewel as she transitioned to the Spirit Herd.

Jewel first came to Second Chance Cheekye Ranch in 2019 along with Bella and SCCR alumnus Murphy. She was quickly adopted and spent five years with a family in the Lower Mainland before eventually finding her way back to SCCR.

Jewel had spent much of her life in service to people, producing foals, giving riding lessons, and helping people learn and grow. When Desiree adopted her two years ago, she made Jewel a very different kind of promise: she no longer had to perform, produce, teach, or earn her place. She could simply be Jewel.

In Desiree's words:

“She loved the freedom of opening her own gate to go on walkabouts, stopping along the way to groom her favourite horses. When she wanted some quiet time, Jewel would simply return to her space, close the gate and rest. That was Jewel.

She spent so much of her life being valued for what she did. It was a joy to watch Jewel rediscover herself: a horse with strong opinions, a cheeky sense of humour, and a soul that could soften anyone’s turmoil.

I hope her final years showed her how deeply she was valued simply for who she was.

She will be deeply missed.”

— Desiree Sher

Jewel's final chapter wasn't about what she could do for us. It was about what we could finally give to her — the freedom to simply be.

Run free, sweet Jewel. You were loved for simply being you!

Hay Report

If there is one thing our horses are exceptionally good at—besides emptying water troughs, breaking things and creating mountains of manure—it’s eating. And with more than 70 horses, donkeys and mules to feed, collectively they are VERY good at it.

So far in 2026, SCCR has spent more than $98,000 on hay and its delivery to the Ranch. Yes, you read that correctly. $98,000. On dried grass!!

Apparently, no one has told the horses there is a budget.

Every load that rolls through the Ranch gates is unloaded and stacked before it steadily disappears into paddocks, hay nets - and some very appreciative bellies. What looks like an enormous supply of hay one day can have us wondering where it all went so remarkably quickly. Except of course we know.

Hay is our single largest and most essential ongoing expense. Regardless of how many horses arrive or what else the year throws our way, everyone still needs to eat.

We are enormously grateful to everyone who helps us keep the hay coming. Every donation, sponsorship and fundraiser helps us honour one of the most basic promises we make to every equine who comes through our gates. 

You will be safe. You will be cared for. You will be fed. 

And to our horses: if you can’t chew any more slowly, perhaps you could ease up on making more holes in the nets for us to repair, so your precious food doesn’t get wet and wasted!?

$98,000 just this year and counting... Hay Happens! 

Shocked at the price of hay and wanting to help? Here’s one way to make a big impact: A generous donor, Katherine Hough, has stepped up to match every gift dollar-for-dollar up to $2,000 until October 30, in memory of her dad, D. Gordon Hough.

Click here to contribute.

Count on Kellie

Amongst the many people who generously contribute their time and energy to Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, there are some who go waaayyy above and beyond.

Kellie is one of those people.

She’s at the Ranch pretty much all day, every day, doing whatever needs to be done. Mucking paddocks, checking waters, feeding, keeping an eye on the horses, wrangling the occasional wayward horse back in for the night, answering questions from volunteers — or occasionally giving an impromptu lesson in one of those very important ranch skills, like how to mend a hay net so our horses don’t waste that increasingly expensive hay!

If something needs doing, chances are Kellie is already doing it— or is nearby and ready to lend a hand.

Kellie has been an integral part of the working heart of SCCR for over five years now. Somewhere along the way, she fell in love with the Ranch, adopted two SCCR horses of her own, and, as they say, the rest is history.

There are countless jobs behind the scenes that keeps a rescue like ours running every single day, and having people you know you can count on makes all the difference.

We’re incredibly lucky to have Kellie as part of the SCCR family — and we’re pretty sure the horses would agree.

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.