SCCR Newsletter, Issue #26 - January, 2025

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rehome.

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch is a sanctuary for horses, donkeys, mules, pot-bellied pigs and dogs. 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 the animals who call it home, but also the lives of the wonderful people who have dedicated their time and energy to helping these animals in need.

New Year’s Baby

As a yearling, we know sweet Jimmy doesn’t really qualify as a New Year’s baby. But it sure is nice to have another young ‘un join us at the ranch.

Back in October, Jimmy was picked up for $100 at auction by a Lillooet ranch family. He was quickly put back up for sale when the owners realized this sweet Appaloosa colt wasn’t going to work out on their cattle ranch.

SCCR owner Kris Latham: “The idea of having him sent back to auction was not an option as far as we were concerned. So we bought him and brought him down to Cheekye.”

Jimmy is currently living in the mini-paddock inside Vernon and enjoying gentle handling and walks. Kris describes him as “calm, curious, and has the longest eyelashes!”

Ranch Report

New Year’s is a real significant day for non-profit organizations like Second Chance Cheekye Ranch that rely heavily on human generosity. Kris is super happy to report that 2024 ended on a great note for SCCR.

While you can give at any time of the year and get a tax receipt, a lot of people wait until the end of the year. Our sponsorship coordinator, Cindy, partnered up with Vanessa on social media, to really hit it out of the park on our Canada Helps donation campaign raising $24,128.39 in December alone!

And thanks to Gina, Deb, Vanessa & Kathryn, our online auction netted another $10,120.

Of course, most of the money is committed but this still allows Kris to relax a little, knowing that SCCR equines are fully supported for at least the next few months.

Where Are They Now?

In 2024, we bid a fond farewell to 18 horses who found their forever homes.

(From left to right, top row to bottom)

Archie ~ April 2024 ~ Upper Squamish Valley, BC
Shilo~ August 2024 ~ Mission, BC
Jazz ~ June 2024 ~ Port Kells, BC
Jewel ~ September 2024 ~ Cheekye Ranch, BC
Oscar ~ October 2024 ~ Pemberton, BC
Willow ~ July 2024 ~ Bridge Lake, BC
Betty ~  January 2024 ~ Vancouver Island, BC
Tansy ~ August 2024 ~ Port Coquitlam,BC
Rayne ~ March 2024 ~ Chilliwack, BC

(From left to right, top row to bottom)

Sloan ~ July 2024 ~ Bridge Lake, BC
Wilson aka Dallas ~ December ~Cheekye Ranch, BC
Irish ~ June 2024 ~ Pemberton, BC
Bailey ~ June 2024 ~ Vancouver Island, BC
Murphy ~ June 2024 ~Maple Ridge, BC
Bobby ~ July 2024 ~ Lower Nicola, BC
Jack ~ February 2024 ~ Pemberton, BC
Zelda ~ September 2024 ~ Cheekye Ranch, BC
Jett ~ March 2024 ~ Hazelton, BC

Happy Ending - Sabrina’s Story

Beautiful Sabrina came to Cheekye in late June 2018, part of a herd of 10 young mares from the wild Pemberton herd. Kris: “Right away Sabrina showed herself to be smart and inquisitive. She was one of the first to allow us to halter and groom her, and ground training came easy. Sabrina was just a joy to work and play with and we knew she was going to make some human very happy!”

Two years later, enter Camille from Langley BC. This young woman came with serious credentials – riding as a very young child, 3-day eventing as a preteen, giving riding lessons even before she finished high school. Plus she lived on an acreage with her family. Kris knew Camille would a good match for a green mare like Sabrina.

It was after Camille had finished nursing school that she seen Sabrina on Instagram and thought maybe she’d make a good family horse, probably more for her parents than for a busy new nurse! She contacted Cheekye to come with her mom to see this beautiful now 4-year-old.

Camille: “I fell in love pretty much instantly. I got on her and walked, even did some trotting, and she was just so calm. My mom and I both knew she was the one.”

By April 2020, Sabrina was installed in her new home, exploring the many trails and even going camping with Camille, an annual thing now. “She doesn’t bat an eye at anything natural. There’s a log down, and she just jumps over. She always notices wildlife way before I do. I used to doubt her when she’d stop on a trail, then minutes later a deer or coyote pops out. On trail, I trust her now more than anyone.”

Camille and her partner will move to their own property next summer, 52 acres just outside Chase BC. They’re renovating an old log cabin and Vince is building a 4-stall barn to house Sabrina, two goat pals, plus a new equine companion.

There’s no way Camille’s leaving Sabrina behind. She’s going to be a family horse alright, just not quite as originally intended!

“I really want to teach my own kids to ride on her.”

Just for Fun

Sponsor: Harrison

17-year-old Harrison Wilson is our youngest sponsor. Born in England, Harrison spent most of his young life in Dubai because of his father’s career in the oil industry. Since Harrison wants to go to college in western North America, in summer 2024 the family chose to make a second home in Squamish.

 Harrison needed community service hours for university applications and got the idea to look for an organization that works with horses. It wasn’t hard to convince his mom (and co-sponsor) Janie since she had rescued horses in Dubai; horses who are now enjoying life at a privately-run horse retirement home in Wales. 

Last summer Harrison and Janie became freelance vollies at SCCR, grabbing paddocks when regular muckers couldn’t make it. They quickly decided they wanted to be sponsors too, first taking on OTTB Oscar. When he moved to his forever home in October, Harrison knew just who he wanted to sponsor next. Over the summer as he and Janie mucked, they’d been drawn to Dollys paddock, and Harrison made a special friend in Bud. “In personality, he resembles our 4 rescue Beagles  – very playful and childish. But when he’s around me, he tends to be more peaceful maybe because he’s rather a bigger horse and I’m tall myself.”  Harrison is 6’6”!

At the end of December, Harrison headed back to Dubai to finish his senior year of high school. “When we leave the ranch and walk past Dollys, Bud always follows us along the fencelines, watching even when we’re way across the field.” 

Good-byes are never easy but Harrison plans to be back on the ranch at the end of June. Meantime, he and Janie will keep supporting Bud.

New Sponsors!
(Louise Thanks you)

Carey Veinotte – Mickey
Winston Rekert – Sweets
Peter Heinrich – Louise
Lindy Renshaw – Cloud
Audrey Wyber - Olivia
Sarah Janyk - Casper
Jayne Touzel - Louise 

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.