Second Chance Cheekye Ranch

02/04/2025

New Sponsors!
(Sophia says thank you)

The Martens Family – Olivia

Kaila Jarvis – Sophia

For information about sponsoring a horse or to make a one-time donation:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/44171?v1=true
Or [email protected]

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.

02/02/2025

Who’s loving this snow? ❄️

These rescue horses sure are! Nothing like a little winter magic to brighten the day.

02/02/2025

Check out our February Newsletter! 🤠

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 wh...

01/19/2025

Bobo and Monty left the Ranch yesterday morning to their new home in Lillooet. A family of horse lovers and the lust of adventures in backcountry. The Boys will continue their training, get loving hands on attention, and get ready for some exploring with their new family 🐎

01/15/2025

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.

01/09/2025

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 pr***en, 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.”

01/04/2025

New Sponsors!

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

Thank you!

For information about sponsoring a horse or make a one time donation: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/44171?v1=true

01/03/2025

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.

01/02/2025

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 c**t 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!”

01/01/2025

🌟 Happy New Year from Second Chance Cheekye Ranch! 🌟

As we welcome 2025, we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead. Reflecting on 2024, it’s been an extraordinary year of growth, healing, and second chances — not only for the animals but for everyone who’s been part of this incredible journey.

To our amazing volunteers, generous supporters, trainers, and every person who has poured their love and energy into making a difference: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Every horse, donkey, and animal we’ve cared for has a story, and because of you, they’ve been given a fresh start and a chance to thrive.

From welcoming new rescues to celebrating each small victory in their rehabilitation, 2024 was a year filled with unforgettable moments. We can’t wait to continue this work in 2025, providing hope and healing for more animals and building a compassionate community that believes in the power of second chances.

✨ Check out our first newsletter of 2025 to stay up to date on all the exciting things happening at the ranch this year: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/campaigns/view-campaign/ttUkRD-dxTX6MNQOzG-knaH3YQIUuZYLILyjInlNvApc7Mk5nZ6GfP6eKT7nWVwjJcdcCwyExpjh8FMdDT1bSTJIyvlUQ-30

Here’s to a New Year filled with kindness, love, and new beginnings. Thank you for being part of this journey, and cheers to all we’ll accomplish together in 2025!

💚 Wishing you a joyful and peaceful year ahead.

12/30/2024

Bambi says be one with the tree. 🌳



🐴 https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/adopt/bambi

12/25/2024

🎄🐴 Merry Christmas! 🐴🎄

This holiday season, we’re reflecting on the incredible journey of giving horses a second chance and building a community filled with compassion and care. Thanks to your unwavering support, we’ve been able to provide our rescues with love, healing, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, adopted, or simply cheered us on, you’ve made a world of difference—not just to us, but to every horse who calls the ranch home.

From all of us at Second Chance Cheekye Ranch (two-legged and four-legged alike), we wish you a joyful Christmas and a New Year filled with hope, kindness, and happy trails.

With gratitude and heartfelt neighs,
The Second Chance Cheekye Ranch Team ❤️🐴

12/24/2024

No matter how old you are, we know you want a pony for Christmas🎅🏻

Check out our website for adoptable rescues & if you can’t afford a pony, check out our Holiday Gift Cards! Holiday Gift Cards are the next best thing! 🐴

ADOPTABLE HORSES: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/adopt

SPONSORSHIPS:
https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/holiday-gift-cards

12/24/2024

Dear Santa,

We’ve teamed up to write to you in hopes of getting new jackets this Christmas. Ours are worn out and just don’t keep the cold rain off our 31- and 29-year-old bodies anymore—aging gracefully is tough when you’re a horse!

Jessie has her heart set on a blue one, and I’d love a red one (both $154 each, size 75, please). We promise to be extra good, share our hay, and maybe even put up with an extra hug or two from the volunteers.

With love (and a little shiver),
Midnight & Jessie

🐴 Midnight: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/sponsor/midnight

12/23/2024

Dear Santa,

All i want for Christmas are my 2 front teeth! I lost 2 more teeth last week but I know you can't do that..but how about 2 bags of mash ( $58) to help me keep warm over the holidays.

Louise

🐴 Sponsor Now: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/sponsor/louise

📷

12/22/2024

Dear Santa,

Its been a busy year for me and I’ve been working hard to keep up with my donkey besties, Cheeks and Jasper, but at my age (early 30's), it takes a little extra fuel. With most of my teeth gone, I need high fat/protein grains and supplements to keep me strong.

Could you send a little holiday cheer my way to help me keep up to my buddies ($72) I promise to keep being the sweetest mare EVER!

Sweets

🐴Sponspr Sweets here: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/sponsor/sweets

12/21/2024

Dear Santa, I’m not gonna lie...I’ve been sassy this year but I just can’t help it...I hate getting my feet done but I know I need to get them done to help correct my laminitis situation..Kris and Huw (Farrier) are patient with me but I need the sedation to help me be calm.

Can you help with one sedation ($155.00) and I promise to be better....next year

- Molly

📷
🐴 Molly's Sponsor Bio: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/sponsor/molly

12/20/2024

All dressed up and ready to spread holiday cheer! 🎄✨ This beauty is proof that rescue horses shine brighter than ever with a little love & care❤️

🐴: https://www.secondchancecheekyeranch.com/adopt/ryder