Day: December 6, 2014

On Monday, Maria and I will get up early to catch a train in Albany to go to New York to join at rally to save the jobs of the New York Carriage Drivers to be held at 12:45 p.m. at City Hall. The organizers expect animal rights demonstrators to try and disrupt the rally, as they have done in the past, and the police have done little to protect the horses and drivers in the past. On my book tour, I am learning that many people in different parts of the country are following this story and grasping it’s many implications for people who love animals.

The rally is sponsored by Teamsters Local Number 16, it is a “save the jobs” rally.

New York is one of the biggest stages in the world, and if the horses are driven from the city for no good or rational reason, it will have implications for animals and animal lovers everywhere. Beyond that, the carriage drivers have been subject to a cruel and abusive campaign to take their way of life and work and property from them. It is unjust, without foundation, fairness,  or any kind of due process.

I have never taken part in a public demonstration in my life, I have always been more comfortable in the role of the journalist and detached observer, this conflict calls to me, I am proud to participate. I am as pleased to be sharing this experience with Maria, who wants to go as much as I do and support the carriage drivers, many of whom we have come to know and love. These are not the people who abuse animals, these are not the animals in need of rescue.

The weather looks good for Monday, cold and clear. There are times in one’s life where you have to emerge and stand for something, I am happy to stand with the carriage drivers, they are my brothers and sisters. The horses have truly called me to help speak for them,  how strange and wonderful.

My big debate is whether or not to take my good camera, or a less expensive one.  If there is any excitement or disturbance – this is New York – I would hate to lose my best camera down there. On the other hand, I’d love to take the best photos. Am still undecided. But we are happy to be going and joining the marvelously diverse and wonderful and creative community of people who have gathered around the carriage trade and are working and fighting to keep them and their horses in New York City. I can’t wait for Monday. We are taking a late afternoon train back, although a friend warns me not to make trouble and get arrested.

I don’t think I will, although I never take well to nasty people shouting at me. A spiritual challenge.

Snow and ice storms have followed the Orphan Book tour this week, this time in Manchester, Vt., where Red, Maria and I went to talk and sign books at the Northshire Bookstore.  The weather was nasty – ice, snow and freezing rain – but 30 or so people braved the weather to come and talk with me, and we had a great time, a wonderful discussion about the future of animals that lasted an hour or so past my talk. It was the kind of talk I really love at one of the country’s best independent book stores.

I don’t mind the winter much, but I have to say freezing rain and black ice are taken seriously up here and I am very grateful to the hardy Vermonters who decided to deal with the weather and come and see me. It makes me proud and happy to be a writer. We talked about communicating with dogs and also about the New York Carriage Horse controversy, which I am learning has touched a deep chord with horse and animal lovers all over the country. This struggle is not over, it is just beginning.

The Orphan book tour will move back onto my blog until 2015, when I will hit the road again. I am loving this book tour, it has character and feeling and a great sense of connection. I wouldn’t mind if the weather improved, but that is life happening, beyond the control even of the Gods.

Our farrier, Ken Norman came over today to work on Simon’s feet, twisted and painful from his damaged body in his former life. Ken Norman has kept Simon walking and upright and healthy for several years, he came today to trim our donkeys hooves before he undergoes surgery for two simultaneous knee replacements at a Vermont hospital on December 29. We think the trims will last until he is on his feet and working. Simon’s feet need a lot of work.

Ken needs some assistant maintaining his family, his farm and the donkeys and horses he has taken in and cares for on his Pawlet, Vt. farm. Ken has figured out that he needs $25,000 to get through this period without any income and he is choosing a crowd sourcing site to ask for some assistance. Once he decides which site, I will announce it on the blog, it is a good thing to do before Christmas, I’d love for Ken to go into the hospital knowing his family and farm and animals are secure. He will also be posting about this on his Facebook page, and I know he has many friends and admirers in the equine world around here.

Ken and I will be talking Sunday to figure out how quickly he can move and where. Thanks for the wonderful response to my earlier post about it, if you listen to their news you might forget just how many sweet and good people there are out in the world.

I realized today that our friend and farrier Ken Norman could use some help in the months ahead, just as I have needed some help this year, and gotten it. Ken came to trim the donkey’s hooves today, and he is going into the hospital December 29 to have both knees replaced, his knees are shot from years of bending over and trimming the hooves of horses and donkeys.

Ken and his wife Eli have take  care of many equines, and also rescued countless horses and donkeys, many of whom are still on their farm in Pawlet, Vt.  He does not say know to animals in need.

Ken plans to be back at work as soon as he can, his doctors say his rehab and rehabilitation will take three months. If attitude counts, he will be up and on his feet as quickly as possible, he is not one for sitting around much. Some of you may recall the photos of Nikolene, the Bedlam Farm Barn Fairy, Ken is a loving father who has helped is daughter be strong and confident in her  own life with animals.

I’ve known Ken for years, he has taken care of every donkey I have owned, he is largely responsible for Simon being alive, he worked on Simon in the hours and days after he was taken off a farm by the New York State Police, he has been working on Simon’s twisted legs for several years and has helped Simon heal and move around with little pain or struggle.

Ken is not one of those people who knows how to ask for help, but farriers are like writers and musicians in at least one way, they live month to month, and the loss of income for three months is a tough thing for any farrier to handle.This is not work you do for the money. He and I both think a a crowdsourcing project on gofundme.com or kickstarter.com  might be helpful in a few weeks.

Ken will, I think, will also need some support for the rescue animals in his care and for the support of his family for three months over the winter. Ken has helped countless animals and animal lovers in his life, he has sacrificed his knees to the real lives of real animals. He is a supporter of the New York Carriage Horses and a brave individualist who has devoted his life to horses and donkeys. I’ve seen him with broken arms and wrists, grimacing in pain from bruises, kicks and collisions with troubled animals.

Farrier work is brutal and challenging work, none of us could have horses or donkeys without farriers.

I want to help him get what he needs during this period of transition, Ken plans to be trimming hooves again as soon as possible.  I hope some of you will join me. There are many horse people reading the blog these days, and I know each of you knows the importance of a farrier to the equine world. Ken will not give up his chosen life, no matter what his knees are like,  nor should he have to. So I’d like to help him set up his crowdsourcing project and use the blog to help support it.

I’ve asked him to figure out what he needs, and I’ll keep you posted. We are learning through the carriage horse controversy and other challenges that those of us who live and work with animals are a community, and a community under siege from many quarters. We need to help one another. Update: Ken is seeking $17, 600 to help care for his farm, his family and his horses and donkeys.

Ken deserves or help and has given it to many of us – including me – over the years. I’ll be in touch. You can visit Ken’s Facebook Page here.

I love old statuary, I find it inspiring in my work, and nourishing in a spiritual way. The corner of my study is filling up with stone muses – Madonna, my cherub, our head from Provincetown – yes, it does seem nicely gay to me – and the angel flower box that Lesleigh gave me at the Open House. I feel the energy pouring out of this corner, and I read the note Maria attached to the head, it was in honor of my graduation from cardiac rehab. It read “I love Your Heart.” Back atcha. I think this will carry me to a big book, I feel the spirits pouring out of the corner and into my computer – and my heart.

My spirit corner, the gathering of the muses.