Horses and horse people seem to be in my life this year.  I am so proud and excited to be telling you about  Ken Norman’s GoFundMe  project to help him, his family, his many horses and donkeys get through a winter that is going to be one of the most challenging of his life. Ken has been bending over to trim hooves and heal hooves for more than 25 years, he has suffered countless bruises and cuts, many broken bones. He has helped and saved hundreds of animals. He is much loved and respected – and needed.  Now,  his knees are shot,  on December 29, he will enter the hospital to have both knees surgically replaced.

His recovery, say the doctors, will take about three months, and he will be without income during that period for the first time in his life. Apart from his medical bills, he has a wife and a daughter – Nikolene is the Bedlam Farm Barn Princess and a magical spirit in her own right – a farm, monthly bills and needs and a farm to keep going. He also has more than 30 horses and donkeys, many of them rescues, to take care of. On his gofundme  crowdsourcing site, Ken explains what it costs to care for the animals and keep his farm going.

Ken is the man who saved Simon’s life, he was there right after he was  rescued, he devoted many free hours of his time to getting Simon up on his feet that awful night when he was taken from a farm by the New York State Police near death. He has helped Simon – whose hooves had not been trimmed in years – to stand and walk and recover. He has been in my life ever since I moved to upstate New York, I could not count the times we at Bedlam Farm and others have called on Ken to help – with the animals, with broken locks and gates, or to help with feed and other issues.

Ken also has two donkeys who lived at the first Bedlam Farm – Jeannette and Jesus – and has taken the most wonderful care of both of them. He lives the life of the individual, he does not have a pension or IRA, he does not have a fat bank account to tide him over. His animals need to stay where they are,  his family and farm need to be cared for. There are few good places for them to go to. Ken is a prince in the real world of real animals, in addition to being a volunteer in his local Fire Department, he has also worked to support the New York Carriage Horses in their long and hard fight to stay in New York City.

Farriers work is brutal work, physically and emotionally challenging. Anyone who has seen a farrier like Ken wrestle with a horse or a donkey will not soon forget it.  Ken has been a friend to Maria and I as well as the animals – he helps whenever he is asked, day or night.  I cannot think of a more deserving person to help as this holiday season begins. We love his visits to the farm, his way with our animals is a powerful thing to see. He has shared my life with animals and supported it.

I will be campaigning for him here on this blog and I hope you can help him – no amount is too small or large. Gofundme is different from Kickstarter, he sets a goal and gets to keep whatever you decide to give him – $5 or $5,000, whether he meets his overall goal or not.

For me, this is one of those things that defines me as a human being. We are all asked to donate money, to buy things, most of us feel financial pressure these days, but some causes are especially important and just and worthy. Ken  is one of them. I am thinking of him this weekend, and of Eli, just as dedicated to animals and community as he is. This year, many of you helped to do the impossible, you are helping to save the New York Carriage Horses from banishment. I am sorry to be asking you to help the equine and animal world again, but this cause is just as noble. Ken has always been there for us, we will stand by him.

Thanks for your consideration and your help. You can help Ken Norman and his family and animals by contributing here.