Gracie Rates Up To D-2

Gracie and 4 of her friends from Cornhusker Pony Club took their D-2 test last weekend. All the girls not only passed, but the tester said they were "more prepared than any group she ever tested"! Way to go girls! Click on the blue screen to see slide show.

From 2010-D2 Testing

Posted by MommyD at 6:08 AM

Luke's Birthday Present

So...this is the Gator I wanted....but Scott didn't want to spend the money so I got Luke the battery operated version for his birthday instead! This thing is awesome!! There is a "governor" blocking the boys from second gear because it goes too fast! It has a real lift-up dump bed so after we break it in here at Wildwood, we'll put the boys to work picking up sticks for Grandma at the farm. Marshall wakes up asking to drive it. I had to pull him out of it kicking and screaming today as he was insisting he could drive it to the farm! (5.8 miles from here!) So far, Luke is being a very safe driver just like his Daddy....although Daisy does exceed the dump bed weight limit.

Luke Is 6 Today!

Our baby Luke is 6 today! Happy Birthday to our special Puppy! We all love you sooooo much!

Heart Breaking Tragedy

Many of you know my cousin Renee Whitaker-Buhl (She was class of '85 from Ashtabula).  I was informed today that she has lost her only two sons in a tragic twist of events this past week. Mark, her oldest son was in a car accident last weekend which left him brain injured with little chance of recovery. Her younger son Matthew was so deeply grief stricken over his brother's condition that he recklessly, but accidentally died of a drug overdose on Friday night.  The next day, yesterday, the decision was made to remove the life support from her older son, Mark. 

One son has a two year old child and the other is expecting a baby in May.  Please keep Renee and her family, and the families of Mark and Matthew in your prayers.

Of course neither boy (in their early twenties) had any life insurance, so if you know Renee and would be inclined to send flowers....PLEASE don't! Instead, please direct cards and memorial funds to:
Renee Buhl
123 Phillips Lane
Clinton, TN 37716

I don't now how a mother even begins to grieve the loss of a child, a son....let alone two sons....in the same week.  Please, just stop and pray.....

Games Rally Review

Games Rally weekend was full of heartbreaks and triumphs again this year!  Gracie's team came in 1st place for "Horse and Stable Management" (only the top score of all teams receives an award), but 3rd place in the actual games. We had two "rookie ponies" that got so charged up they could not be controlled-one even had to be removed from the games for the safety of the rider!
Gemma's team came in 2nd place for the games! I was very proud of both Gracie and Gemma as they exhibited excellent teamwork, sportsmanship, control, and games strategy. The US Pony Club Games are a very difficult discipline for kids this age but a great way to learn and grow with your horse.  Check out the slide show below the photos!

Gracie and Joe in the warm-up arena.

Gemma and Happy in the "Bottle Race".

Gemma makes the hand-off in the "Flag Race"!

Broken arm? What broken arm?

Gemma makes a basket in "Hi-Lo"

Gracie in "Hi-Lo"

Gracie's team-Amanda Traphagan, Jessie Juergensen and Anna Baack

Gemma's team: Dani Drbal, Sierra Wilson and Abby Baack

Gracie maneuvering cones on the "Flag Race".

Gracie, reaching for a flag.



Here is a quick slide show of the weekend:

Nyla 5 1/2 Months

Nyla cut a new tooth this weekend bringing her total to 4. The third bottom tooth actually beat her
second top tooth through, but it is very close behind. No more gummy smiles at the Seevers house.

Loaded and ready to leave for US Pony Club Games Rally!

Nyla-5 Months and Crawling

Nyla has been "commando crawling" since about 4 months (which was freaky enough) but now she's up on her knees and on the move at 5 months!  She also has three teeth (two bottom, one top)! Will someone please tell this child she's the 5th kid?!  She's supposed to stay immobile in my sling and nurse until she's three! haha. 

Happy Birthday Brian!

My baby brother and only sibling, Brian Michael Cochran, would have been 35 years old today. I can't believe it's been 13 years since he died. When I let myself stop and think about it, my heart aches like it happened just yesterday. For me, this grief never gets any easier. It just gets placed neatly in a box and put away while I tend to the business of life. I like to think of him more on his birthday, as opposed to the anniversary of his death.  I still miss him very much. I wish my kids could have known him.  I know they would have adored him.  I often see him in their faces, especially when they are silly or tired.  Happy birthday little brother!

Gemma's Broken Arm

Gemma is resting on the couch this afternoon after falling off her horse and breaking her left arm in two places. She was trail riding around the farm on Rocky, when he was suddenly spooked by something and did a 180 degree turn at the canter (there is some dirtwork going on out there so we think he might have been caught off guard by a big bulldozer parked on his normal route.) Gemma went flying off and landed on her hand, breaking her radius and ulna bone. In the x-ray below, you can see the ulna bone has a crush injury and has actually "buckled". The radius is more of a clean break. She was casted clear up above her elbow in an effort to stabilize these "unstable" fractures. She will be x-rayed again in a week and if the bones have not begun to heal properly, or have shifted at all, we may be making a visit to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss having pins put in.

After falling, Gemma got up, lengthened her stirrup so she could re-mount with one hand, and returned to the barn. She dismounted, tied up her horse and then came to me with tear-filled eyes to explain what had happened. I knew immediately it was serious because very little brings Gemma to tears, or off of her horse for that matter. On the way to the ER she had these comments: "I know I wouldn't have fallen off if I were riding bareback, Mommy. That saddle just doesn't fit him right!"....and "I reached out with my hand so I wouldn't hit my head!" .....and "Rocky was so good Mom, he just stood there with me, waiting for me to get back on (as opposed to taking off back to the barn)!"

We are so grateful that Gemma was wearing a helmet and for our barn rule of wearing helmets "EVERY RIDE, EVERY TIME"!