HoofPrints Newsletter
December 14, 2011 - It's Almost Christmas Issue
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO ORDER Christmas Cards!
| When the holidays roll around... Remember to take time to be yourself!
|  We are processing Christmas card orders as soon as we receive them, so you still have time to get some cards and get them mailed before Christmas.
Each year we try to come up with at least a few new holiday card designs. This year I am particularly proud of the results. Shown here is a rolling horse - making his own horsey "snow angel" and flying off!
The photo on the front is by Sarah K. Andrew, the winged horse sketch is pictured inside, that's drawn by Lesley Bruce.
Below that is the classic print "The Evening Prayer" updated for Christmas with "May all your Christmas prayers be answered" and the Laura Ingalls Wilder quote inside:
"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime."
To see these, and the rest of our Christmas cards, click here.
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BRAND NEW from Mary Ann Kennedy: This Love of Horses
| This new music CD was not ready at catalog press time, but we have some
|  in stock now! Like all of Mary Ann's other works, this features songs from the heart about the animals that we love. Note - this one is so new that we don't have any sample tracks available to listen to; but I guarantee it won't disappoint.
I've sampled a lot of horsey music over the years. Most of it left me wishing for more - more complexity - more polish... more something. Except for the one with the horses whinnying Christmas songs. We all just wished that one would stop...
Anyway, Mary Ann is just the best. She's worked with all the big names in the country music industry, and it shows. All of her songs show both aspects of her - her technical expertise, and her horse expertise. It's a very powerful combination. To order click here.
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Great gift idea: Christian Cowboy Sculpture
| The Crossroads, by Paul Cameron Smith
|  This richly detailed bronze-look resin sculpture is patterned after cowboy artist Paul Cameron Smith's drawing by the same name. It's 12" long x 4" wide x 7" tall. The front of the base has a brass plate that says "The Crossroads" and Paul's signature is embossed in gold on the top near the cowboy's boot. It's remarkably detailed on all sides. The price is very reasonable at $84.95. We've got a limited number of these reserved from the manufacturer, so if you're thinking it might make a good gift for someone on your Christmas list, you may want to order now. You can see a rotating picture of it here.
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Another great gift idea: The Prayer at Valley Forge
| Arnold Friberg is a widely popular contemporary artist
|  .whose painstaking quest for realism led him to Valley Forge, PA, on a winter's day to paint what became a famous portrait of George Washington praying in the snow.
Mr. Friberg (pronounced FREE-berg) was best known for the "The Prayer at Valley Forge," which depicts Washington kneeling beside his horse while his army winters at Valley Forge. To ensure accuracy, Friberg went to the Smithsonian Institution to study Washington's actual uniform. And when it came time to paint, he stood on the banks of the Schuylkill River in the bitter cold near the spot where he imagined Washington kneeled. He removed his gloves. "It was deserted, the wind moaning through the great trees, silent, lonely, cold," he later recalled. "It was a cold that chilled to the bone," he continued, "a cold that froze my fingers until I could no longer sketch nor even snap my camera."
The resulting painting has been valued at more than $12 million, and is currently on display at Mount Vernon, Washington's home in Virginia. You can order your own, slightly less expensive version here. You can learn more about the artist, and his other works here.
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SOME CUSTOMER FAVORITES that would also make great gifts:
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The Last of the Saddle Tramps story was almost lost forever - until an old copy
|  was discovered in a used bookstore by horsewoman Basha O'Reilly. O'Reilly has an interest in stories about folks who've taken long journeys on horseback. She's ridden her Cossack stallion Count Pompeii, 2,500 miles across the Soviet Union, through Europe to her home in England - details here. She revived Messanie Wilkins' Last of the Saddle Tramps story - and publishes / distributes it from her home in Kentucky, USA.
Praise for Last of the Saddle Tramps book:
"Can't tell you how much I loved the "Last of the Saddle Tramps" book......we were camping and I stayed up late, reading with a headlamp, to finish it. Wow, what a woman." - Cherri C.
The book is Soft cover, 215 pages $21.95 - order Last of the Saddle Tramps here
The Story of Beautiful Jim Key also was nearly lost forever;
 then revived by talented author Mim Eichler Rivas. It's one thing to be able to write an interesting tale using historical facts as fodder - but quite another to piece together a TRUE STORY using facts gleaned from a myriad of sources. Details here
Apparently I am not the only one who is duly impressed, as this note from a customer who'd ordered the book arrived in my inbox last week:
"Dear Gina - as you know, I recently got the book 'Beautiful Jim Key'. As I started to read, I thought that, although there is a lot of historical accuracy, it had to be a fictional story. The combined talents of the good doctor and the intelligence of the horse simply could not be fact. They could not have possibly found each other in their world at that time.
As I continued to read, I decided to take a minute to check on some of the statements. I couldn't believe my eyes! Every line is true! I couldn't put the book down and some parts I read with tears streaming down my face!
I don't know how this wonderful story was ever allowed to fade from current records, but I am so grateful that the author found ways to verify and write the book." -C. Lumley
2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. This book is chock full of fascinating historical facts surrounding this time - Beautiful Jim Key's owner-to-be (William Key) was a slave. He followed his master's sons into war against the Union - in an effort to protect them (if such a thing was possible). At one point he was captured, he charmed his captors with his skills as a cook, and ultimately won his freedom in a card game. After the war was over, and the freed William Key gained acclaim with his exquisitely intelligent horse, he then used some of his considerable wealth to pay off the deed to his former master's farm - and gave it to them free and clear.
To order the book and read more fascinating history click here
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More good stuff on CLOSEOUT - get a great gift for your farrier
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Or yourself! Check these out
|  Shown here is our Tools of the Trade Jacket, it' has a sturdy polyester shell (specially chosen to repel horsehair) and is lined with super soft, warm fleece. This is a durable, good-looking jacket for work or for going out - sure to become a favorite. Manufacturer has discontinued and we are closing out - $20.00 OFF! A good go-with is the Tools of the Trade sweatshirt in ash grey - it's $10.00 off. Note - not all garments available in all sizes. Order early for best selection.
See all our closeouts here.
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More outerwear offers - Bucephalus fleece headband only 1¢!
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Yup! It's just a PENNY when you purchase any other garment from us
|  that's priced over $50 - this INCLUDES THE CLOSEOUT ITEMS.We've embroidered it with a funky graphic of Bucephalus. Who could forget the scene in the Black Stallion, when Alec's father gives him the little figurine and tells him the story of Alexander the Great and the indomitable Bucephalus? It's such a great story, on multiple levels. The accomplished horsemen of the day could do nothing with the stallion, but young Alexander took the time to notice what was bothering the horse, and to work around it so as to establish a rapport. The rest is history as Alexander became a mighty ruler - but did you ever stop to consider?.. He could have had any horse he wanted - surely the best in his kingdom to choose from. Yet he continued to ride Bucephalus for the rest of the horse's life, until his death at age 30. You can see the picture that inspired this logo, and purchase the Black Stallion DVDs from us here. Some garments that qualify for the free headband offer are here. Be sure to give a look to the Sage/Gray two-tone fleece jacket, it's really nice, fits well, and the logo matches the headband.
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Recap - From the last newsletter
| Here's what we talked about last time:
|  BUCK DVD here
HoofPrint Magnets are BACK! here
Horse Woman stylish Wool Flap hat here
Freeze Dried Horse Hoof Models here
BARN Girl Bales again! here
Pink products for breast cancer research here
Protect this HORSE medallion here
NEW Hill Country purse & wallet here
Oh, What Fun it is to Ride T-shirt here
Life is Short, Play with Your Dog here
Snuggly Turquoise Thermal Jacket here
KEEP CALM & HANG ON Sweatshirt here
PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Click HERE to catch up on the news.
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| 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 is by Henry Beston:
"The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth" The above quote is also featured on the Horses & Hope Calendar (August) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thanks everyone, for reading!
Gina Keesling, owner
Contact Information
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Share our emails
| Viral marketing... it sounds bad, doesn't it?
| You can ask my husband - a frequent topic around here is that of forwarded emails - and the psychology behind them - just WHAT prompts people to decide; "I am going to send this to everyone I know!".
We receive a lot of them. Some are pretty good, and others are dumb. Dumb in a myriad of ways... Alarmist email rumors that have been around forever - that folks keep sending "just in case it's true" Pictures of someone's butt (or worse) - don't even get me started about the firecracker butt - but at least that one was timely when it showed up around July 4. Christian messages that are uplifting - until you get to the end and you're threatened "if you're not ashamed that you love Jesus, forward this - if you are, then delete." Pictures of cute puppies and kittens (awww)
I enjoy writing these newsletters - and sharing all this stuff with you all. But the fact is, it's also a way to help us stay connected with customers and sell products during the time between catalog mailings (which is only once a year) So I really, really like it when someone new stumbles upon the newsletter and is excited to "discover" our company and the products we offer.
In all my efforts to make the newsletter interesting and forward-worthy - it never occurred to me to JUST ASK you all to send it! Duh. Sometimes the obvious is elusive, I guess. So here goes - my request to ask you to forward our email newsletter to your horsey friends. All we ask is that you please be judicious and only send to folks who might be interested. Otherwise we are no better than the "firecracker butt". Click to get started. (please note - using this form does NOT subscribe anyone to our list - it is a one-time only forward) |
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