SCCR Newsletter, Issue #45 - August 2026

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome

A Horse with No Name

On July 23, SCCR received a call from a group of concerned families in Lillooet BC about a lone mare they’d brought in off the range. They’d discovered that the approximately 15-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse/Appaloosa cross was severely lame from a screw lodged deep in her hoof. To make matters worse, wildfires threatened the area and evacuation alerts were looming. They desperately wanted to get her to safety.

Complicating the situation even more, the mare was partially blind, had received very little handling, and had nowhere to go.

Without hesitation, long-time SCCR advocates, adopters, and volunteers Desiree and Phil stepped up once again. On July 27, they volunteered to make the 3½-hour journey to Lillooet to bring the mare safely to SCCR. Their challenge was earning the trust of a frightened, injured horse who had never been trailered before.

With the patient assistance of the local farrier and his wife, the mare quietly stepped onto the trailer. Despite her fear and uncertainty, she loaded successfully and began the long journey to safety at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch.

Knowing how overwhelmed the mare must feel, we set up portable panels to create a quiet, secure unloading area. Upon arrival, this brave girl made a couple of attempts to step off the trailer. But it was simply too much for her. Rather than rush or force the situation, we gave her fresh hay, clean water, and the freedom to make the decision on her own.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give a rescued horse is patience.

Early the following morning, during feeding rounds, SCCR boss Kris Latham heard the unmistakable sound of hooves on the trailer ramp. Quietly, and entirely on her own terms, the mare stepped off, walked straight to a fresh pile of hay laid out for her, and began exploring her new surroundings. Before long, she was nickering to the horses in the neighbouring North Side paddock, introducing herself in the universal language of horses.

Working with visually impaired horses always requires extra patience and consistency. To build confidence, they rely on familiar surroundings, routine, and trust. Given the time and space to settle, they often adapt remarkably well. Already, this beautiful dark grey mare has begun to brighten. Her curiosity is returning, she’s becoming more comfortable with her surroundings each day, and her gentle personality is beginning to shine through.

Our veterinarian will be assessing her next week, while our farrier will thoroughly examine the injured hoof and help us to determine the best path forward for her recovery.

When she arrived at SCCR, she had no name. Today, she has a future and a name that reflects the quiet beauty and resilience we’ve already seen in her.

Welcome to the SCCR family, PEARL.

Pearl being greeted by father-daughter duo Clint & Lilibet

In Memoriam

Daria & Kai

July was a difficult month at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch as we said goodbye to two beautiful souls.

Daria (Delia) joined SCCR in April 2023 and was adopted later that year by Mary Anne, remaining here at Cheekye Ranch where we had the privilege of witnessing their incredible bond. When cancer was suspected, every effort was made to keep Daria comfortable and surrounded by love in her final days. Mary Anne's unwavering devotion was a beautiful reminder of the lasting connections rescue can create.

Kai arrived at SCCR in March 2026. Despite our hopes for a peaceful retirement, his progressing arthritis and increasing anxiety when separated from his herd significantly impacted his quality of life and made him unsafe to handle. After careful consultation with our vet, the difficult but compassionate decision was made to humanely let him go.

While every rescue story begins with hope, not all end with adoption. Sometimes the greatest act of kindness we can offer is a peaceful goodbye. Rest easy, Daria and Kai. You will both be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Familiar Faces

Stephanie Imeson – better known as Steph – has been a regular at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch since 2018. Born and raised in Adelaide Australia, in 2001 Steph put university on hold to come to Canada and indulge her passion for mountain biking. Except for visits, she never went back. “When I experienced the forest, the mountains, it was like a fairyland. Coming from the hot Australian climate. This was paradise.” 

Steph met her husband at a bike shop he managed in North Vancouver and by 2010 they had 2 daughters and a home in Squamish. Their perfect outdoorsy life was interrupted 5 years later when Steph experienced what felt like a stroke down one side of her body. She ultimately came to accept that she suffers from Lyme Disease. Even now, if she does too much, Steph can still be bed-ridden for days.

Three years after the diagnosis, Steph’s daughter asked to visit Second Chance Cheekye Ranch for her 6th birthday. At the end of the visit, Steph sought ranch boss Kris out to say how much she wanted to come back. Kris’s reply: “Can you muck that paddock right now?”

Steph: “My daughter and I picked up rakes - and we came back nearly every day. This was early days (for SCCR) so there wasn’t really an organized volunteer group. We just came and mucked and maybe brushed or hung out with horses. People gave what time they had, and it was beautiful. I can’t even describe how much the horses have helped me.”

Steph’s girls are now 16 & 18. They grew up giving their time, alongside their mom, to SCCR. No surprise that the eldest is trying to get into vet school and the youngest is thinking about maybe becoming a zoologist.

The family now own 2 rescue horses who board at the ranch, both likely saved from the meat market. As is so often the case in horse rescue, salvation is reciprocal: “Horses literally saved me. Quinnie and Dawson are part of my family for life. I’d do anything for them.

Now the leader of special tours that SCCR arranges just for seniors, Steph continues to give back to the ranch. And she is just as enthusiastic about her tours as she is about horses! 

Steph: “The ranch is an incredibly special place which my family and I are privileged to be a part of and I feel blessed to be able to share some of these magical experiences with members of the public, especially those who have limited access to animals and the magic and therapy that they bring us!”

“Once or twice a month during the summer, I’m privileged to host the seniors from Hilltop House long-term care facility in Squamish. The majority are wheelchair bound but this doesn’t prevent them from having a fulfilling, interactive experience at the ranch. They’re able to sit in the shade under beautiful trees with views of the mountains, just outside a paddock that’s home to 4 of our friendliest equines. As soon as they hear the bus, the 4-leggeds sidle over to the fence to greet their visitors.”

“Since several Hilltop House residents have had horses in their past lives, our ranch tours provide a chance to travel down memory lane and, as we all know, once bitten by the horse bug that love never goes away! For others, visiting the ranch is entirely a new experience, and sometimes even a bucket list one! On a recent tour, I had a lady tell me that she had never touched a horse before, let alone had one rest his muzzle in her hand and look deeply into her eyes. By the end of this interaction, she was in tears, as was I.”

We Love Our Sponsors

Maggi with Dancer

Although she was born and raised in Ireland surrounded by animals, Maggi Cheetham admits she’s always been a little bit afraid of horses — possibly, she says, because of her diminutive size: “5 foot nothing!”

That didn’t stop her from accepting an invitation from an SCCR vollie to come out to the Ranch for a mucking shift.

That was three or four years ago and, while Maggi wasn’t immediately drawn to mucking, she knew that she wanted to help and decided to look into sponsoring one of our horses.

Maggi went to SCCR’s website to learn more about the horses in our care and was almost immediately drawn to Dancer. Partly, it was the name. But mostly, it was her story. Dancer suffers from laminitis, a painful condition that requires ongoing care and careful management, and something about her struck a chord with Maggi. As a fitness instructor, Maggi could appreciate just how debilitating chronic foot pain could be.

This past July, Maggi returned to Cheekye with her partner of 45 years, Tom Hobley. A retired engineer and fellow animal lover, Tom is equally committed to Dancer and to continuing her sponsorship into the future.

Thank you, Maggi & Tom. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support of Dancer and SCCR. Sponsors like you help us provide the long-term care some of our horses need and, just as importantly, remind us how special the connections formed through rescue can be.

Gratitude

Sweets is grateful to her new sponsor, Peggi Diebel. Thank you, Peggi, from the humans at SCCR too!

To learn about sponsorship click here.

On Barn Time

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.