SCCR Newsletter, Issue #32 - July, 2025

Parker

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.

Happy Endings

Bart

It’s been a spectacular month for SCCR — with several of our horses heading off to incredible new homes… and already having friends waiting for them! The goodbyes are never easy, but this kind of send-off makes it all worthwhile.

We’re absolutely over the moon to share that the beautiful Bart has found a loving home on Quadra Island — and he’s joining his former paddock mate and fellow SCCR alum, Malachi!

Bart arrived at Cheekye as a scruffy, underweight yearling in early 2021, one of nine babies rescued from Alberta. A sensitive soul, he was understandably cautious around people at first. It took months of patience and gentle care before Bart began to trust — but once he did, his true personality began to shine.

In the last year, trainer Karen Tull Piché has described Bart as an absolute dream to work with. He’s blossomed into a confident, capable young horse with tremendous potential.

Now, with his friend Malachi by his side and an incredible, horse-loving family to call his own, Bart’s future couldn’t look brighter. 

Bart & Malachi reunion

Also Heading Home Together!

Thompson & Josie

Unbelievably, 2 more of our beloved SCCR horses are off to their forever home together! They’ll be living the good life on a beautiful acreage outside Kamloops with a woman we trust wholeheartedly. Why? Because she adopted 4 of our rescues back in the summer of 2017 — all of whom are still thriving under her care!

Three of those original 4 came in as a group, alongside Thompson, who was one of the youngest of 18 horses rescued at the time. Thompson was quickly adopted in late spring of 2017 but returned to us in the fall of 2024, due to unforeseen hardships faced by his previous owner. Since then, he’s grown into the handsome, confident 15hh gelding you see today. During his time back at SCCR, Thompson worked on his groundwork and picked up several new skills. It’ll be fascinating to see if the older boys remember their long-lost companion. We’ll definitely keep you posted!

Joining Thompson in this new chapter is brave little Josie, a 12hh mare who came to us in the spring of 2022 with her foal, Mo-Mo, and another baby, Ashlu. Josie took Ashlu under her wing after Ashlu's mother was tragically shipped to slaughter. Understandably very wary of people initially, Josie slowly began to let her guard down, thanks to lots of love and patience.

As it turned out, Josie was a quick learner. She’s mastered all the basics: trailer loading, having her feet done, vet checks, and even some light riding in the ring and on trails. Now, this brave girl is ready to embark on her next great adventure, alongside Thompson, and with a family that already feels like home.

Here’s to new beginnings, old friends, and the unbreakable spirit of horses like Bart, Thompson and Josie.

Wildfire Wakeup

June 9th, 2025, started like any other day. But by that afternoon, smoke from the Dryden Creek wildfire began to drift in, quickly thickening the air over the ranch. The mountains beyond the property disappeared behind a haze of grey, and the sharp scent of burning forest clung to everything.

The moment sparked memories of April 2020, when fire tore through the Upper Squamish Valley. That fire had burned fast and far too close for comfort, etching itself into SCCR leader Kris Latham’s memory. SCCR had stepped up to help evacuate livestock and horses late into the night, as flames stretched along the road. Many of those animals were housed at the ranch in the days that followed.

“I didn’t feel an immediate threat from the 2025 fire, but this is Squamish—with winds that can pick up in any direction fast—and it sure made for a few sleepless nights worrying about the horses with already suppressed breathing issues in our care from the smoke. We were ready to hose down the paddocks to cool the air and give the horses a break from it—then the wind would change, and thankfully, clear skies returned.” — Kris Latham

While hoping the fire would stay away, Kris calmly began answering questions from volunteers and boarders: What would we do? Could we get enough trailers in time? Where would they go? What about the horses that wouldn’t load—would we have to turn them loose and trust their instincts?

“Well, it wouldn’t be an easy feat with close to 90 horses on the property,” Kris explained. “But priority would be to trailer out the seniors and those not physically able to withstand a lengthy trek to a safer area—making sure their medications and supplies stayed with each horse. The remaining horses that could be ridden would be tacked up to help guide loose horses, and we’d call in anyone who could ride or walk a horse, either north up the Valley or South down toward Squamish. Hay would be loaded on flat deck trailers along with water troughs and all the horses would be spray-painted with ‘SCCR’ for identification, in case they got loose. I hope we never have to test the plan.”

By June 15th, the fire was declared under control. The smoke lifted, the skies cleared, the horses were safe—and we all sighed with relief.

Horses & Smoke

A horse’s lungs are massive; they move more than 2,000 litres of air per minute during heavy exercise, and they also have 50 times more alveoli than human lungs. Alveoli are the microscopic air sacs within our lungs where gas exchange occurs. That alone makes horses incredibly susceptible to respiratory issues when there are impurities like smoke in the air. Horses are also obligate nose breathers, which means they cannot breathe through their mouths like humans can. With only one way to breathe it is vital our horses’ nasal passages remain free of blockages and irritants.

Normal healthy lungs can fend off a bit of exposure, but prolonged exposure is decidedly unhealthy. Damage from smoke exposure often appears as lethargy, coughing, fast shallow breathing, wheezing, nasal discharge, irritated eyes, and an increased heart rate. In some cases, this will be accompanied or followed by pneumonia and fever. Left untreated, and sometimes even after treatment, smoke exposure can turn into chronic equine asthma. 

If there is a good chance that smoke is going to be in your area, you could choose to proactively feed a supplement proven by research to provide respiratory support and improve lung function, in addition to diligently monitoring air conditions and being prepared to manage your horse’s exercise and turnout schedules accordingly.

As a rule of thumb, when the air quality is not good for humans to exercise in, it’s not good for horses either. Canada has a very thorough and real time Air Quality Index (AQI) online to help us make the right decisions regarding air quality. If your horse has a history of respiratory issues such as asthma, a pre-existing cough, or recurrent airway obstruction (also known as “heaves”), it is wise to consider them to be in the at-risk category and more susceptible to the effects of smoke. 

If there’s smoke in the air and you and your horse are breathing it, exercise should be limited.

Source: Horse Journals

Cheekye Moment

Jasper & Deb

It was one of 2025’s first warm spring days and my mucking partner Deb and I had decided to have our lunch at a picnic table along the edge of the grassy field. A perfect place to watch the inevitable shenanigans as a cluster of temporarily free horses and donkeys romped around, rough-housing and teasing each other, and just generally enjoying one of the first truly fine days of the season. Our eyes were glued to the action until I sensed movement off to the left. Coming towards us at a brisk walk was Jasper the donkey. Not at all remarkable, I guess, except for the fact that he’d never before paid much attention to us. This day would be different. Jasper marched directly up to me and lowered his head, waiting for scratches. Delightfully surprised, of course I obliged, feeling quite honoured. Time slowed right down, and so did my heart-rate, as I scratched and scratched and scratched. Soon, Jasper repositioned himself so that Deb was also able to get hands-on and the day turned from beautiful to extraordinarily soothing and calming – for all 3 of us. Perhaps 20 minutes later, Jasper ambled off and Deb and I floated away to our next chores.
- Helen S

Just for Fun

Bob Bets, Horses Win

This is Bob, a friend of SCCR who walks the same North Vancouver trail as one of our vollies. More than 2 years ago, Bob started sending cheques up to Cheekye “for the hay-burners”. Then came the Stanley Cup finals and Bob was part of a betting pool, along with several dog-walking pals. After Florida won, Bob collected $90. And he decided his winnings would go to our horses, the hay-burners.
Sorry Oilers! Yay Bob!!

Thanks to Our Supporters from Freckles & all the sponsor horses

SCCR wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our amazing Horse Sponsors. Your support truly makes a meaningful difference in the care and quality of life for our rescues, especially our long-term residents.

Sponsor a Horse. Heal a Heart. Just $25 a Month.

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.