Da Fonz

Gemma has ridden her new horse, Fonzi, almost every single day since he arrived from Ohio! He's been a super good boy so far but I'm still buying her an air vest!

Gracie's 2 Week Update

Wanted to let you know we had a great appointment at UNMC yesterday. X-rays revealed there has been no movement in Gracie's pelvis in the last week which is really great news.  This means we can finally put the threat of surgery to rest!  The doctor was really encouraged that Gracie had not used any pain medication except ibuprofen in the past week and said her pelvis is very stable and healing well.  He even offered to let her try using crutches at home soon and estimated that, at this rate, she may be able to try putting some weight on her left leg as soon as 6 weeks from now!!  This is a BIG change from the earlier plan of 12 weeks in a wheelchair!

Gracie is spending more time each day up in her wheelchair and was able to take the car ride sitting upright in the front seat yesterday!  Her pain has been minimal and today she started "virtual school" by viewing her classes using Facetime on her iPad!!  We hope to get her physically back to school within the next week or so.

The doctor continues to encourage us saying Gracie's pelvis will heal completely and there is no reason to think she couldn't be back on her horse by Spring.  Her goal is to show Magic at Cornhusker Pony Club's annual and traditional April fundraiser, The Shaggy Horse Dressage Show!  I am already tearful with ideas for how we will celebrate her return to riding!

Thanks again for all your support and prayers! We are so grateful for the outpouring of well wishes from family, friends and The United States Pony Clubs from all over the country!!!

Will Gracie Ride Again?

Gracie is still in the hospital in Kansas City. She broke her pelvis in what we now know to be 4 places. 3 of the fractures are lateral and anterior compression fractures. The 4th, and most troublesome is a zone 2 sacral fracture that goes through the neural foramen. That's troublesome because some very important nerves are in that space.

Often times they do surgery on this type of injury to avoid devastating nerve damage, but they feel that Gracie's SI joint ligaments are strong enough to hold the pelvis in place while she heals. Unfortunately there can be absolutely no weight bearing on her left side so she will be in a wheelchair for 3-4 months.  The best news is that Gracie's growth plates reveal she has more growing to do and they expect her to heal well and have a full recovery.

Gracie explained to me that she had just remounted during the game and had kicked him on before she had her feet in the stirrups and her reins gathered up. So with a ball in one hand, no stirrups and a long rein, she just wasn't positioned to handle the buck. We think he bucked her 2 or 3 times before she went off and finally landed just wrong on her right side. Interestingly, the troublesome break is on her left side. 

Magic is not new to the games. This behavior was completely uncharacteristic of this horse as we have NEVER seen him buck her before. The whole thing is a complete shock to us.  Gracie thinks he just got really excited, but I believe he was irritated and over-stimulated from the noise, the new environment, being stalled, etc.. (Here is a link to a YouTube video of Pony Club games. Keep in mind this is an international competition. Things don't move quite as fast at our level, but it gives you a great sense of what was going on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPc5KVHRfeI)

Gracie's first comments after receiving the news that she'd be in a wheelchair for so long:

"Who is going to ride my horse? He'll get so FAT if he's not ridden!"

"Now I won't be able to rate up this fall!"

But then after things settled in a bit she said, "You know, with all that time on my hands, I could rate up several levels in Horse Management (the knowledge portion of a Pony Club rating)!!"  She is a Pony Clubber through to her very core.

I have had several "non-horse" friends and family members ask me questions like "Will you "let" her ride again?" and "Will you "let" your other children continue in horses after this?".  And many others who aren't asking, I know, are thinking it or asking it behind my back.  These are the same questions I received after our horrible trailering accident 3 years ago.  They are fair questions and that is why at times like this I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our Pony Club family.  Their understanding of my situation means the world to me and helps sustain us. They understand why I cannot, and will not, pull all my kids off horses.

Gracie posted a video on my Facebook wall just yesterday and said I could share it with anyone who asks the question, "Will Gracie ride again?".  I wanted you to see it because it reveals what is in her heart.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVI4fyXo9cY

Thanks again to all of you and please continue to pray for Gracie over these next few months.  Feel free to friend me on Facebook if you're interested in following our updates.

Praising God and knowing He will use this for good,

Danna Seevers

Joint District Comissioner, Cornhusker Pony Club

Danna Seevers shared a post with you

View or comment on Danna Seevers's photo » Google+ makes sharing on the web more like sharing in real life. Learn more. Join Google+

Consider who you share this email with – anyone can reshare it. You have received this message because Danna Seevers shared it with danna4.seeversfamily@blogger.com. Unsubscribe from these emails. You can't reply to this email. View the post to add a comment. Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

May Snow Storm!

Gary Rolf got up early today and moved stuff out the NW corner of the barn for us so we could set up stalls for the horses.  After we secured/repaired the doors and brought feed and water in, Gracie and Megan led Magic, Dreamzz and Happy inside for the first time! The horses were really nervous at first but after standing in cold rain all day, I think they were relieved to be inside.  3-5 inches are expected overnight!

 

 

  

 

Gracie and Magic at Colby Creek

Gracie and Magic in fine form over the course at Colby Creek.
 

Happy Is A Little Too Happy!

Happy over-jumps this coop by about 2 feet but somehow, when physics would suggest otherwise (notice heels coming up and out of stirrups), Gemma is able to stick on him!

Yes, she really did stay on!!

Marshall, Nyla and Peanut

 

County Fair

Gemma and Happy equipped and dressed for Western Games at County Fair 

Brushing Peanut

Nyla said, "Peanut is my fav-o-wit ho-wus!

 

 

Mega Rally

Gracie, Gemma and Luke joined fellow Pony Clubbers for Mega Rally in Fulton, MO. Gracie competed in Dressage and Show Jumping, Gemma competed in Show Jumping and Eventing and Luke worked as a Stable Manager.

 

Luke worked VERY hard as a stable manager, but is shown here have a little rest!

Picnic With The Pony

Peanut the pony joins the kids for a little picnic in Grandma's yard at the farm. She is quickly finding her way into the hearts of everyone and soon we will have to decide whether to keep her or not.


 

Quiz Rally 2012

The "Pony Tails"

The "Painted Ponies"

"3 Colts and a Filly"

County Fair

We just completed the horse riding portion of this year's county fair.  The weather was beautiful and everyone had a blast!  Seward's county fair only offers two English riding classes so both girls decided to don some Western riding gear and participate in the Western classes and games.  Both horses and girls were a "bit" confused at times, but overall they were really glad they participated.  The most complicated part of switching back and forth is the steering because in Western  you "neck rein" (one handed) and in English you "direct rein"(two handed).  Gracie and Gemma earned ribbons of all colors throughout 14 different classes so while they didn't take all blues and purples, both kids and horses learned a lot!  Here are a few of my favorite shots or click HERE for all of Day 1 and HERE for all of Day 2!

Bella's Injury

Another serious injury at the farm.  Ketta's baby, Bella, laid down for a nap and got caught under the arena fencing. Luckily we found her right away and were able to save her. Erika Rolf, Kara Einspahr and I teamed up  for a safe rescue, then Dr. Stava came for stitches and bandaging.  Erika will take the lead on wound dressings this time.

Gracie's New Horse!!

After nearly a year-long search, we finally found Gracie's special horse. "Magic Moment" is a 6 year old Morgan gelding from the Grunden Ranch Morgans in Curtis, Nebraska.  He's broke to ride but doesn't have any dressage or jumping skills.  We decided to invest in good temperament, good confirmation and good movement. It will be up to Gracie to put all the buttons on him!

Dreamzz

Gracie and Jessie taking Aunt Karen's new horse, Dreamzz, for a test drive at Dana Kesslering's ranch.