SCCR Newsletter, Issue #14 - January, 2024

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome.

Do you love animals and want to make a difference in the lives of horses, donkeys and mules in need? Our team of volunteers is invaluable and we are always on the lookout for great people to join our team. Without the caring, hard-working volunteers we have at the ranch, we would simply not be able to do what we do.

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch is a sanctuary for horses, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs and dogs too. Ask any volunteer around the ranch and you will hear a tale of how this incredible place has changed not only the lives of all animals who call it home, but also the wonderful people who have dedicated their time and energy to helping these animals in need.

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 help them.

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

• Volunteer at the ranch. No experience with horses is necessary.

Ranch Report

The Second Chance Cheekye Ranch 12 Days of Giving Silent Auction went off without a hitch, $8,568.00 was raised!

We would like to express our deep appreciation to everyone who donated, the generosity of local businesses, and all the hard work Vanessa Savage put in to make it an amazing fundraiser for Winter feed! On behalf of our equine residents, we thank you.

As we say goodbye to 2023 and we welcome a bright New Year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude as I am deeply honoured to be in the company of such compassionate individuals as yourselves that support us. Every effort made by our ranch community, whether it be through donations, volunteering countless hours, sharing what we do with others, joining us for a tour, etc. holds significant value and yields a meaningful result for all of us at the ranch, as well as the equines in our care.

Happy New Year~!!~

~ Kris Latham, Owner

Snapshot of 2023:
-15 horses found their humans this year:
~ Bob, Marley, Cody, Sinead, Charlie, Malichi, Delia, Lady, Obie, Phoebe, Homer, Mimosa, Malibu, Bella, and Cohen.
- 18 equines found SCCR as their safe haven this year:
~  Mickie, Jerry, Tommy, O'gee BoBo, Monty, Shilo, Halan, Rayne, Riley, Eclipse, Tina, Sweets, Tiago, Olivia, Angelina, Delia, and Ryder.
- Sadly, we lost two equines this year, and we will forever remember:
~ Clifford, January 11, 2023
~ Hawk, February 22, 2023

Adoption Success Story: Elle & Homer

As a kid, I spent every available chance around horses - whether that was at the local stable, wandering over to our neighbours, or dragging my parents to pony rides. As you can imagine, my parents weren’t thrilled with my obsession, so they pushed me to get more involved in sports as I grew older. I can remember the exact moment I decided to bring horses back into my life - it was about four years ago. I decided that something essential felt missing in my life, and told my husband that I was going to do whatever I could to get more involved with the horse community in Squamish. I immediately filled out a volunteer application for SCCR and at my orientation, I instantly knew I made the right choice for my mind and soul. Since the very beginning of my journey at SCCR, I’ve been lucky to be in Rescue 2 paddock (aka the frat house) and have had the privilege of knowing some of the horses in that paddock since they first came in. Homer and his crew came in about a year after I started volunteering and I can still remember the brilliance of his flaxen mane, his skinny legs, and his shy demeanor. When Bart and Homer moved into Rescue 2, I spent as much time as I could with the two of them. Both of them have such a kindness to them and I felt instantly pulled towards their energy. This past winter and spring, I started to spend more and more time with Homer. We started going on walks with our friends Taryn and Kumie, gaining confidence and trust while exploring different parts of the ranch. Homer, aka Homey/Homeboy/Holmes, continued to teach me how to be patient, calm, and consistent while providing a sense of peace that I have never felt before. I knew that I could never ask for a better horse partner, and took steps to move towards adoption. On November 1st, the dream that I had ever since I could walk, came true and we became an official partnership. To this day, it still feels surreal and I am grateful every moment to have him in my life and to be on this journey with him. When I see his head perk up at the sound of my voice and him patiently waiting at the gate to go on an adventure, my heart grows a couple sizes and peace settles into my soul. I am beyond grateful to so many at SCCR and cannot imagine this journey without the incredible support from our ranch community!

With much love! Homer + Elle

Adoption Highlight: Jett

Meet Jett.

Jett is a super-sweet and interested ‘traditional’ Appaloosa gelding. Jett is the kind of horse that has his nose in everything and provides constant entertainment. He has a really big personality. He is coming 4 and stands about 14.3hh. He is well built and very athletic. Jett is well socialized and very good on the ground - he stands for grooming, gives his feet, and leads easily. He has well developed groundwork skills, and has been ridden around the pen and the property with no drama. Jett is very easy to fall in love with and he’ll make some lucky person an adorable life partner.

To watch a video of Jett and watch a video of him, please click here.

To see other adoptable horses at SCCR and to learn more about our adoption process, click here.

Sponsorship Highlight: Oscar

Meet Oscar.

Oscar is an OTTB gelding in early twenties. He’s a big boy, likely approaching 17hh, He arrived in late fall of 2022, with his buddy Casper. Both these boys have seen track time and worked the trails for an outfitter in Alberta prior to coming to SCCR.

Oscar has a condition called Locking Stifles which requires daily anti-inflammatories and a huge portion of nightly feed to maintain his weight.

For as little as $25 a month, you can sponsor Oscar in honour of a friend, in memory of a loved one, or as a birthday gift. Sponsorship is tax deductible.

To sponsor Oscar and help make a difference in his life, please click here.

To see our other horses and donkeys available for sponsorship, please click here.

Sponsor a Horse Program

Your donation will help us pay for feed, medical intervention, ongoing care and attention for our beautiful rescues in need.

100% of every dollar donated goes directly to the horses!

SCCR will send a personalized e-card to your special someone to let them know of your generous gift.

Donate now by clicking here.

As always, a big THANK YOU from all of us here at SCCR.

For as little as $25 a month, you too can sponsor a horse, and it’s tax deductible!

For more information on how to make a one-time donation, click here.

OR send an email to: sccrsponsorahorse@gmail.com

Horse Facts: Horse Ears

While humans have just three ear muscles, horses have 10.

A horse can rotate each ear independently, up to 180 degrees, to locate, funnel, and magnify sounds. This allows the horse to position itself towards the sound that is making the noise.  Horses hear sounds over a wider range of frequencies than we do. In general, horses are good at hearing both higher and lower frequencies than humans. Horses can experience a reduction in hearing as they age. Hearing loss can be reflected in changes in behavior, such as not responding to voice cues or being more anxious.

Source: Iowa State University Website. 12/23.

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