SCCR Newsletter, Issue #44 - July 2026

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

A New Life Begins

Welcome, Johnny!

The speculation over whether the mare was pregnant was long over. The anticipation was real and the guessing game was over, choosing a birthdate was on. The nerve-wracking wait was intense!

For weeks, SCCR’s chief, Kris Latham, woke each morning wondering if this would be the day she’d walk from her house down to J Paddock and meet the newest addition to the SCCR family.

Jenny’s pregnancy had been a complete surprise. When she arrived at SCCR a year ago with her foal, Joey, still nursing, we had no idea she was also carrying another baby. It wasn’t until January that Kris began to suspect Jenny’s growing belly was due to more than just generous hay consumption!

Finally, on Monday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., Jenny delivered her newest foal.

The next few hours were filled with anxious anticipation as Kris waited for the foal to stand, find his footing, and begin nursing. Jenny pawed at him several times, encouraging him to get up, and within about 30 minutes of taking his first breath, he was up on long, very wobbly legs. Thankfully, his legs were straight and no abnormalities were apparent.

As anyone who has awaited a foal’s first latch knows, those hours can feel endless.

As Kris grew increasingly concerned that Jenny still wasn’t allowing the little guy to nurse after nearly four hours, she suddenly heard the sweet sound—the music of a desperate suckle—at 11:45 p.m. Once he latched on and got his coordinates right, it was as if he had it programmed in his GPS from that moment on!

By the following day, Kris could confirm what she had suspected: it was a beautiful little colt, whom she named Johnny.

We will most likely never know for certain who Johnny’s daddy is, but there is strong suspicion that Harold may be just that guy since they came to us from the same herd.

It doesn’t feel overly dramatic to say that Jenny must have felt something very different this time. Instead of fear, uncertainty, and danger, she brought this baby into a place of safety from his very first breath.

Welcome to the world, little Johnny.

If you’d like to help support Jenny and baby Johnny with feed, bedding, and veterinary care, please consider contributing to their care by clicking here.

Adoption Success

Bruce & Phil / Phil & Clint

One Chapter Ends. Another Begins.

Sometimes the connections made through rescue feel like more than coincidence. 

Many of you may remember Bruce, the majestic, soft-eyed giant draft gelding who joined SCCR in October 2021 from the 100 Mile area and was soon adopted by Phil Norrish a few months later. The bond between Phil and Bruce was something truly special, built on trust, companionship, and quiet understanding.

When Bruce was humanely laid to rest in February 2025 after a severe onset of degenerative ringbone, Phil lost a deeply cherished partner. Anyone who knew Bruce understood what a remarkable soul he was. He had a calming presence and a gentle spirit that touched everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Losing a horse like Bruce leaves an enormous void.

Fast forward to April of this year, when Clint arrived at SCCR alongside his daughter, Lilibet. Clint, a handsome six-year-old bay draft cross, came from the very same woman who had surrendered Bruce years earlier, this time due to unforeseen life circumstances.

And then something wonderful happened. A connection was made between Phil and Clint.

There is something incredibly meaningful about this full-circle moment. The same home that once entrusted Bruce to SCCR entrusted Clint to us, and the path led back to Phil.

While no horse could ever replace Bruce, those of us who love horses understand that sometimes healing arrives on four legs, with a different face but a familiar kind of comfort.

SCCR could not be happier to see this adoption come together. Even better, Clint isn’t going far—he will be staying right here on the ranch with Phil. Clint will continue to be part of the SCCR family, surrounded by familiar faces and familiar routines, in the place he now calls home.

We are so happy for both Phil and Clint as they begin this new chapter together, and we look forward to watching their partnership grow.

Sometimes when one chapter ends, another begins exactly as it’s meant to.

Hay Season at SCCR

Mid-summer brings one of the most important times of the year for SCCR.

It’s not an anniversary or a traditional celebration, but to Kris, it’s a little like Christmas—except, as she puts it, “I already know what I’m getting… and I have to pay for it!”

Hay Season is when we fill our hay barns with fresh first-cut hay from our local suppliers in Pemberton BC. We’re always hoping to secure enough feed to carry our horses, donkeys, and mules through the long year ahead without completely blowing the budget!

Because hay is “just grass,” many people are surprised when they learn what it costs.

Filling our barns for the year costs SCCR over $100,000.

Yes… for grass.

But to us, hay is so much more than grass.

Hay is warmth on a freezing winter morning.
Hay is full bellies.
Hay is comfort for our seniors who need multiple daily feedings.
Hay is healing for the underweight, neglected, and vulnerable equines that arrive at SCCR needing a second chance.

Quite simply, hay is survival.

That cost is one of the biggest reasons fundraising is such a constant part of what we do. If we’re honest, asking for support never gets easier. We’re always mindful of how often we reach out, and we never want to overwhelm our community.

But the reality is this: rescue is expensive, and feed is non-negotiable.

Every bale matters. Every donation, big or small, helps ensure that when winter arrives, no horse in our care goes without the nutrition they need.

When you donate to SCCR, you’re not just buying hay. You’re buying time, healing, comfort, and second chances.

And for that, we are deeply grateful.

The Scoop on Poop

One of our littlest helpers cleaning the front field/roads

Fun fact!

An average 1,000-pound (450 kg) horse produces 35 to 50 pounds of manure (16–23 kg) every single day, usually deposited in 6 to 10 separate piles, depending on diet, age, and metabolism.

Now multiply that by the 70+ horses, donkeys, and mules who call SCCR home. That adds up to an astonishing 1.2 to nearly 2 tons of manure every single day.

Yes… every day! Rain, shine, snow, mud, and everything in between.

Needless to say, keeping the ranch clean is no small task.

Clean paddocks are about much more than appearances; they help reduce parasites, improve hoof health, create safer footing, and keep our animals healthier and more comfortable overall.

That’s why we’re incredibly grateful for our dedicated volunteers, who spend countless hours scooping paddocks, pushing wheelbarrows, and helping keep the ranch running smoothly.

And the job doesn’t end once the paddocks are clean.

Those ever-growing manure piles are loaded into a dump truck and placed into long rows to break down over time, transforming into beautiful nutrient-rich compost. That compost is then used in gardens and here on the ranch to top-dress our grass areas, helping improve pasture health and future grazing.

So even horse poop gets a second chance at SCCR!

Around here, we like to say our volunteers are worth their weight in gold……and in horse poop!

We Love Our Vollies!

We hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ on the last Sunday of June. The main attraction - line dancing! Lots of veggie burgers, snacks, refreshments and boot scoot’n. Deep appreciation to Sharon Slater and her line dancing crew who volunteer time to teach our volunteers and to raise money for our local hospice through dance. To learn about the work Sharon does with our local hospice, click here. It was a perfect evening and we even had a few small equines show up on the field! With the warmer weather we will see more monthly social events for our wonderful volunteers. And this just in - Sharon will be teaching for us again in the fall in collaboration with The Brackendale Art Gallery, with all money raised going to our equines!

Company Coming?

Looking for something unique to do with visiting family and friends this summer? Join us for a ranch tour, offered most Saturdays throughout the season!

Come meet the horses, donkeys, and mules, hear their stories, and get a behind-the-scenes look at life at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch.

You’ll learn about the care our resident animals receive, the daily work that goes into running the ranch, and the incredible impact your visit has in supporting these deserving animals.

Whether you’re a local looking for a meaningful outing or hosting guests from out of town, a ranch tour offers a memorable experience for all ages.

Bring your guests, your curiosity, and your love of horses, we’d love to welcome you to the ranch.

For tour dates and registration details, visit our website.

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.