HoofPrints Newsletter
June 7, 2011 Farrier Issue
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A specially chosen group of products just for FARRIERS in summer!
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We've assembled two Sleeveless T-shirts, an embroidered Farrier Towel, and the Cap of your choice into a special set just for farriers toiling in the summer heat.
It's a great bargain at just $59.85! Click here to order.
Below are a few phrases that farriers all over the US may be hearing this summer. We've assembled these and more on a collection of hilarious t-shirts.
Click here to order Things Not to Say to a Hot, Tired Farrier
All it takes to be a farrier is a strong back and a weak mind! He won't stand for me either, but your ad said you were a professional Can you come back? We are home now. Let me get my twitch before we get started. Sooo, when you're finished, do I have to wait an hour before I can ride him/her? My horse hates men. Yep, I put that stuff on their feet right before you got here. Every time we turn him out he throws a shoe. That don't look that hard! Isn't it great to be outside all day? Let me call my neighbors and their 5 kids. They have never seen a horse shod before. It sure is HOT! I used to shoe, and I can tell right away if you're doing a good job. Do those nails hurt him? He's normally gentle as a kitten, but it is the first time I have had a halter on him. Honestly, I DO clean his feet I haven't ever picked up his feet, but he seems real gentle. Can you put these shoes on good and tight so that they won't come off? My vet said for you to call him and he will tell you how to shoe my horse. He kicked the last farrier just like he kicked you. He's never been that bad!! What did you do? The last guy I had won't come any more. Can you come today? I left them out in the field because it was such a nice day. So, how much does your chiropracter run you a month? Sorry - that's my cell phone. I won't let it ring under this colt's nose again. He never does that for me. My horse doesn't kick. ...well he has never kicked before. Are you busy TODAY? Can you make his foot smaller? This is the first time he has EVER lost a shoe. Since he's a colt, will you charge me half price? I used to shoe my own horses, but I could never get the angles right. Do you think you could take a little more off that back foot? My horse is lame. You must have cut him too short. Let me help you clear out a place to work, I've been meaning to get out here and straighten up this old barn... That's not the way the farrier did it back where I come from. Can you save all the hoof trimmings for my dog? Boy, you must have a strong back to bend over all day like that. He's just trying to swat the flies off you. These shoes have been on for only 12 weeks, and they are getting loose.
WARNING - Copyrighted material! We don't mind if others enjoy our humorous quotes - but please include proper credit if you choose to pass this along... �Gina Keesling - www.hoofprints.com |
Hand Cast in Indiana, USA - Aluminum License Plates, Signs & Hitch Covers
| These are NOT the flimsy, wimpy versions that you see sometimes...
|  Our license plates and sign are solid cast aluminum and are a full 3/8" thick - weighing almost a pound! (sign weighs more) The black enamel background is BAKED ON for a durable finish - bugs don't affect it. These are built to last - and they do. We've even got a spiffy oval plate with a horseshoe and snaffle bit for horse owners. See them all here. |
Greeting Cards on Sale - HALF PRICE!!!
| Many farriers have already taken advantage of this great bargain...
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...and we are SOLD OUT on some of the popular designs - check now to see if your favorite is still available - and order soon!
All year I take calls from budget-minded farriers - trying to decide if it's worth the cost to send Christmas cards to their clients. If you're one of those - now might be the time to reconsider.
Anyone who has been getting this newsletter for very long probably has noticed that we aren't doing big sale promotions every time you turn around. We pretty much need to sell everything at regular price in order to stay in business. We are not Wal-Mart, and we hope that low prices are not the reason folks shop with us. However, when we DO have sales, I try to make them memorable. And this one falls into that category, I hope. A special reward for those out there who are clever enough to anticipate how many cards they might need at Christmas time, AND organized enough to REMEMBER that they've already purchased them and WHERE they put them. That's not me. But I know you folks exist - I've heard stories...
This glorious sale ends June 30, some of the card designs are low inventory and will NOT be reprinted, so make your selections early. To get started click here.
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I meet the most INTERESTING people...
| Farrier customer is lookalike to hundred year old farrier/mule print
|  Candace Brown has been a HoofPrints customer for several years now. She loves our selection of horse women products, and her purchases have also included items for farrier husband John Conrad. They live here in Indiana, and called to ask if they could stop by our warehouse to pick up a few items for daughter Ashley Louks - who'd just completed the course at Butler's Professional Farrier School in Nebraska.
When they stepped out of their van, Candace casually remarked that John resembled the farrier in our mule print Time to Retire. Wow. He doesn't just resemble, he's a dead ringer! Check out the picture (that's Ashley on the left) - I think you'll agree.
John has been a farrier for about 40 years, and got started in his shoeing career after spending one too many wasted days - waiting for a farrier who didn't show up. He's self taught, and shared this with me: "To learn, I purchased a book by Robert Wiseman, and I studied. Then I shod my horse. And studied again. Over the next several years I pursued learning by reading, asking questions of farriers and horsepeople, trial and error, and a couple of short, informal apprenticeships. And then I studied some more. One of the main promises I made to myself and to my customers was to always-always-always show up. I'm proud to say I only blew two appointments in my entire career. (Both were the result of injuries and pretty well beyond my control.)"
When Ashley displayed an interest in farriery, both John and Candace insisted that she pursue a different route for her education, and attend a school that taught the trade. She ultimately chose one founded by the best - Dr Doug Butler. Butler's Principles of Horseshoeing book is considered to be the the most comprehensive text on farriery available today.
Ashley's experience at school proved to be quite an adventure:
"I found Dr. Doug Butler and his sons, Jacob and Peter, to be outstanding educators and fine people. My first day at school a horse fell on me, but I toughed it out and made it through the six weeks without an absence. (My back hurt and I had a big bump on my head, but that didn't stop me. I did learn, however, to keep the horse balanced above me!) My two biggest highlights of farrier school was making my first bar shoe, and the first time I put a shoe I made on a horse -- and it fit."
We wish Ashley all the best. Farriery is hard work and we appreciate all of those who endeavor to learn the trade, and then stick with it. Check out our selection of business and educational items to make a farrier's job easier here. |
Recap - From the last newsletter...
| Here's what we talked about last time:
|  Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse - book excerpt here
HORSEwork before HOUSEwork - burlap tote here
Pet's Prayer Framed verse with space for YOUR PICTURE here
Hoof Problems - a great illustrated book about hoof lameness for under $50.00 here
32 Thought-Provoking statements here
Beautiful Jim Key - a great horse story that was almost lost forever - click here PAST NEWSLETTERS - see what you missed!
Click HERE to catch up on the news |
| More about HoofPrints - and miscellaneous ramblings from Gina | | Check out our NEW "GOOD STUFF" links at the bottom of this section! |  ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THIS NEWSLETTER
Farriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling in 1986 (in a very small way) to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. This newsletter is emailed to subscribers a few times a month, depending on how often I have something to share. Watch for special sales, interesting stories, uplifting quotes and more.
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This week's quote comes from DailyOM
Not Always Easy - Meant To Be
Some of our goals and dreams come to fruition so easily that it is as if an unseen hand has done much of the work for us. When this happens, we say it must have been meant to be. On the other hand, when dreams and goals require a tremendous amount of effort, we may interpret this to mean that our dream is not meant to be. However, difficulty is not necessarily a sign that our hopes and plans are ill-fated. On the contrary, difficulties and challenges along the path can be important parts of the project's overall meaning.
When everything goes smoothly, we feel blessed by the universe, as if a fleet of angels is guiding and supporting our every move. When things are rough or ambiguous, we sometimes feel that we have been abandoned. And yet, the truth is that we are blessed in both cases. Our angels and guides are always present. They may choose at times to back off and let us figure something out for ourselves, and this is when things seem difficult. But when things are difficult, we learn and grow in specific ways. There is a unique satisfaction that comes to us when we succeed at something that has been a challenge. Our sense of self-reliance expands, and our ability to endure and keep the faith is stronger for having been tested. We learn that we are capable of confronting and overcoming the obstacles in our path, and this empowers us to dream still bigger dreams, knowing that we will not be daunted by the challenges inherent in birthing them.
When we find ourselves facing difficulties with a particular plan or project, the chances are we know already whether we are meant to continue on or let it go. We simply need to look within ourselves for the answer. When an idea is meant to be, it comes back to us time and time again. Then we know we can go forward, no matter what challenges arise, knowing that it is meant to be.
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Thanks everyone, for reading!
Gina Keesling, owner
Contact Information
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GOOD STUFF!
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Links to things we like, things that make us smile, things we want to share...
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 There's never been a better time to be a horse loving little girl!
Where was all this cool stuff when I was a kid?!? Would have made my mom's Christmas and birthday shopping a whole lot easier! Check out
Wild Horsefeathers
Girls Horse Clothes
There's even a blog written by the mom of a horse loving daughter Horse Lover's Mama
Shown here is our print "Wrong Side of a Right Idea" by Brenda Murphy. It's for sale here
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