SCCR Newsletter, Issue #39 - February 2026

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

Blue & Monty

The Ranch in Winter

So that was January! A complete mixed bag of weather systems. We started the year with record rainfall, followed by a heavy dump of snow, and then bluebird skies with crisp temperatures ushering us into February. With the changing seasons comes the constant need to shift our workload to match.

During winter, keeping the horses supplied with ample hay to stay warm and ensuring access to unfrozen water can be a challenge. When temperatures drop below freezing, the spigots on our totes freeze and must be thawed using a generator and heat gun, followed by frequent paddock patrols to ensure troughs don’t freeze over - just a couple of the many tasks winter throws onto our workload! Add a dump of snow and Doug is up well before dawn, tackling the job of clearing all main roadways and access points to the paddocks with precision, putting in more hours than we can count to keep the ranch safe and functional for everyone.

As many of our readers know, mucking paddocks becomes significantly more difficult when snow and ice are added to the mix. Our focus shifts to keeping shelters and feeders clear while maintaining small but critical wheelbarrow paths to the dump piles. We are constantly amazed by, and deeply grateful for, volunteers who continue to show up through the winter months. Frozen manure demands a shovel, plenty of grit, and occasionally a few creative words accompanied by well-deserved grunts!

But snow at the ranch is beautiful, and there’s truly not much that can match watching horses play in it. Still, with the lovely stretch of sunny days in late January, many of us can’t help but look for glimpses of warmer spring days ahead.

Ranch News

In mid-January a senior Appaloosa gelding named Dusty joined us from 100 Mile BC. Dusty is more than 18-years-old and was sent to auction last year in Dawson Creek, possibly due to uveitis. It’s an inflammation of the eye’s middle layer and the leading cause of blindness in horses, affecting up to 25% of horses globally and occurring most commonly in the Appaloosa breed.

Dusty is partially blind in his right eye and we won’t know how much vision remains in his left until he is examined by our veterinarian on February 10th. Since arriving at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, Dusty has settled nicely and already put on some much-needed pounds. We figure this weight loss was likely due to the stress of being uprooted from his former home and herd mates, plus the chaos of auction and transport through unfamiliar environments while coping with vision loss.

Thankfully, a young woman stepped in and saved him from auction, bringing him home to 100 Mile. Unfortunately, she soon realized that Dusty was blind and that she didn’t have the time or experience needed to manage his condition. Shannon, one of SCCR’s board members, saw Dusty posted on Facebook. She knew he needed to land somewhere safe before he was flipped again or sent back to auction in the spring.

Dusty is now exactly where he needs to be. We’ll allow him time to continue gaining weight and will complete a full medical assessment before slowly introducing him to a paddock with a group of gentle senior horses.

And...sorry but not sorry! Thor and Eclipse are back at SCCR. These two boys were clearly not destined for a high-end environment. Eclipse made his feelings very clear on January 31, deciding he absolutely was not getting on a trailer. He never left the property. Thor reluctantly loaded but quickly made it known that he was unhappy in his new luxury digs. Two weeks later, when Thor returned home, he wasted no time hopping off the trailer to check in on his “girls”. 

These are two very special horses who will each make someone a wonderful companion one day. Until that day comes, we’re more than happy to “host” them for as long as it takes. And their Groom & Graze volunteers are thrilled to have them back home. 

Finally in Ranch News, February continues as a busy month for annual dentals and vaccinations. With 15 horses completed in January, another 18 scheduled, and three additional check-ups, we remain in full swing on the veterinary front.

Valentine Vollie

A couple weeks ago, SCCR boss Kris Latham received possibly the sweetest resignation letter ever. After 6 years of volunteering at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch, Jacquie Itturiaga Martin is hanging up her mucking fork. Soon her husband (and frequent mucking partner) turns 70, and it’s time to tackle their bucket list. Jacqui: “This decision has been incredibly difficult, especially because of Cohen. The bond I have formed with him is something I will always cherish, and saying goodbye in this way truly breaks my heart.” What makes this bond unusual is that, when she started volunteering, Jacqui had very little experience with horses and was quite afraid of them!

But in 2020 she was semi-retired and looking for meaningful volunteer work. Jacqui would often see the SCCR signs while on the way to a leisurely café breakfast across the road. One day, something just clicked –or snapped- and she applied to volunteer. Call it chance or fate, Jacqui was on her way to falling for a horse who was both too much for her and exactly what she needed.

After mucking her assigned paddock, Jacqui would wander over to the grooming area near the yurt. She began Groom & Grazing with sweet Midnight, possibly the best starter horse on the ranch. After several months, Jacqui graduated to Cohen. Quite a different horse! Much younger, and sometimes suffering back pain, he could be a handful. “The first time, he reared up on me. One time he showed me his teeth. I never took my eyes off him. But I learned to calm myself down and then Cohen would calm down. I’m go go go, not a very patient person, and that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned over the years. He’s also taught me the respect part. Be peaceful, be calm. I feel like I’m such a better person since I met Cohen.”

Five years later, Cohen now comes to the fence at the sound of Jacqui’s voice. Severing that weekly connection is heart-breaking for Jacqui but she doesn’t intend to abandon her friend entirely. “When I’m in town, I’ll go over from time to time and take him out and groom and love him until somebody takes over my role. Then I’ll fade away slowly.”

Here’s how Jacqui ended her letter to Kris: “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to grow personally through this incredible experience. Volunteering has meant more to me than words can express, and I cherish every single moment I spent caring for Cohen and being part of this community.”

Kris: Jacqui’s letter brought a tear to my eye. I’m grateful to her for an amazing 6 years of service to the ranch. Cohen isn’t the only one who’ll be missing her! This is also a good time to say how grateful I am to all the volunteers who keep this place going. We couldn’t do it without you! Happy Valentine’s!!

Will You Be My Valentine?

Reba arrived at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch in 2022 with her foal, Tansy (now happily adopted). At the time, Reba was the picture of uncertainty, fearful of halters, wary of touch, and unsure of the world around her. Beneath that hesitation, however, was a quiet spark just waiting to ignite.

Today, Reba has blossomed into a truly special mare. This striking 14hh chestnut beauty has discovered a love for long walks around the property, her cautious nature gradually giving way to curiosity and confidence. She stands quietly for grooming sessions, soaking up the attention, and is a quick learner who looks to her handler for reassurance, solidifying a genuine bond built on trust.

Reba loads easily, stands nicely for the farrier, and is excelling in her basic groundwork lessons with ease. She is up to date on vaccinations and moves with an elegant, fluid stride that hints at potential in a variety of disciplines.

Reba is seeking a compassionate, experienced adopter who will continue nurturing her trust and supporting her growth. Her journey is one of transformation—could you be the one to share her next chapter and be her Valentine?

Sponsor Story - Thank You Andrew

Retired lawyer Andrew Croll of Nanaimo BC is an animal lover, although his personal taste runs more to felines than equines. But as he was reviewing his will recently, Andrew remembered that his horse-loving sister makes a monthly contribution to SCCR, and he got thinking that he’d like to name us as one of the beneficiaries in his will. Andrew would prefer not to say how much is ear-marked for SCCR, but we can tell you that it will buy a lot of hay.

We are grateful that Andrew’s kindness and generosity extend to our four-legged friends. Legacy gifts like his make it possible for us to continue rescuing, caring for, and rehoming horses for years to come. Thank you, Andrew!

If you’d like to learn more about leaving a gift to SCCR in your will, please reach out through sccr.giving@gmail.com. Together, we can make a lasting difference for the horses who need us most.

Just For Fun

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.