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HoofPrints Newsletter - more format changes
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March 4, 2012
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ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THIS NEWSLETTERFarriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling in 1986 (in a very small way) to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. Along the way we became HoofPrints.com, too, adding a selection of fun horse and dog products geared toward women of a certain age. 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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BIG NEWS - The new newsletter format was well received!
Last time, I surprised everyone with a BIG CHANGE in the format of this newsletter. Since I signed up with this newsletter mailing and hosting service in 2008, I have used the same template for all our newsletters. For quite a while I have wished for a better way to utilize the space and make it more interesting + easier to read. Complicating things are the fact that what I see on my computer isn't necessarily exactly how it looks on other folks' screens. A few years ago we had a formatting snafu that caused the width of the newsletter to be so big that it took several scrolls back and forth to read it. A massive faux pas that I allowed to happen because my dear Macintosh computer fixed the problem on my screen and I never knew it existed. Other viewers were not so fortunate. Anyway, it behooves me to test on different comptuers AND get input from readers to make sure that doesn't happen again. So bear with us as we experiment. And thanks to all for taking the time to send me your comments and encouragement. We couldn't do it without you!
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21 Days of Positivity - more about how that's going...
Recently, in previous newsletters here, here and here, I spent considerable time focusing on negative interactions that I've had with my animals. While it's true we don't dash around under spotlights like Frederic Pignon and Templado of Cavalia (shown here) we all get along pretty well. In an effort to train my brain to focus on positive instead of negative, I've committed to listing, for 21 days, three things that I am grateful for.
The first few days were easy - a good kid, hardworking husband, retired parents having a good time... Then I tried to get more specific - a springtime robin, good weather, and a nap.
After that it was food; leftovers, (old) frozen strawberries, and finding recipes online. I observed early on that as I "use up" all the obvious choices that I will be needing to look harder for my three things.
Things got more emotional when I was grateful that I knew my friend Candace (see August here) was riding her dear old horse Sis in Heaven, even though friends and family miss her so.
And I lightened up a little when I mentioned I was happy that the dogs were tired after spending the day trying to catch an errant muskrat in our pond.
Today's Day 11 - so I'm a little past halfway - and looking forward to what I can/will come up with next.
You can keep watch on how it's going on our facebook page here.
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The picture is from March in the Horses & Hope Calendar; it says:
Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a diference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person. -quote by Richard Buckminster Fuller
This particular picture is one of my favorites, and it could certainly be framed up to make an elegant horsey addition (and powerful statement) for anyone's office wall. It's easily worth the price of the whole calendar ($14.95) and you get 11 more lovely pictures to boot.
In case you missed the story about this wonderful project; It's the result of HoofPrints collaboration with talented equine photographer Sarah K. Andrew. In her own "one of a kind" efforts to help, Sarah photographs unwanted horses at auctions and in rescues, and an army of cooperative volunteers network them on the internet. ALL of the horses pictured in this calender were at Camelot Auction in New Jersey. ALL (nearly 3,000) found homes!
100% of the profit from the sale of this calendar goes to One Horse At A Time. This amount is approaching $40,000. to date, and One Horse At A Time has distributed it wisely and judiciously in ways that an average person wanting to help could not. They are incredibly well networked, both with equine service providers and with entities displaying need. They monitor political happenings that affect the equine industry. They've been around the block and are not apt to be duped by someone scamming for funds. In short, they are doing all the necessary things to make sure monies get where they can do the most good. Stuff that we all wish we could but don't have the time (or stomach) for. If you want to give them a hand, you can do so by purchasing a Horses and Hope Calendar here.
Gina's note: When Sarah and I embarked on this mission, I deferred to her when it came to choosing the recipient for the proceeds. HoofPrints helps a number of worthy horse and dog charities, but the calendar consisted of her photos; her efforts to help horses in need; the recipient of the fruits of this labor needed to be an extension of such. I could not be more pleased and impressed with her choice. With that said, here's my take on the volunteers associated with this effort: It's easy to have your act together when things are going reasonably well, but as I followed the Camelot placement effort online more closely, I realized how often things did NOT go well. And, without fail this group (part of which includes admins from OHAAT) stood united, mature, and VERY professional in the face of a whole host of clamoring folks who were not. There's nothing like a tough decision to euthanize a horse whose physical damage is beyond repair, to bring out hordes of armchair vets or holistic practitioners to advise how that horse can be cured. (offering to pay for it - not so much) Even tougher is the dilemma of what to do with a horse who's so damaged psychologically that (s)he's perpetually miserable and a serious danger to anyone trying to handle. Out come the armchair trainers with a myriad of stories about how they solved the exact same problem. (showing up with a trailer and legal waiver in hand - not so much) And then there's the conspiracy theory gang who are convinced that there's an enormous stream of money being pocketed as a result of these efforts to divert the horses from the slaughter pipeline into private homes. Feeding, housing and doctoring all these animals during the transition costs money, not to mention the huge amount of time given by all involved. Were Sarah paid the going day rate for an equine photographer for her time spent volunteering, she'd have earned well over six figures for her trouble. It's the same with all the others who give of themselves, trainers, equine professionals, etc. People on the outside are quick to think someone's getting gain that just isn't there, and this is routinely voiced online, often in ways that are not very nice. Yet, in the face of all this, the whole group - every single one of them - stayed united and professional, and KEPT THEIR EYES ON THE CAUSE - helping the horses. I can't say that I would have been able to do the same, and it's an example we'd all do well to follow. |
 New Business Card Logo
This is an update of our popular #BC25, featuring a more muted tan background. Joan at Hoof Beat Recreational Services shows us that you don't have to be a hoof care professional to utilize this card. Joan specializes in taking folks horseback through some of the most beautiful country in existence. You can learn more about her business on her website here. To see our complete selection of full color business cards for equine professionals, click here. |
 Another scary picture...
Not that I spy on you all, but we do keep an eye on the number of clicks on each link and on the pictures in our newsletters.
One of the top performing images in this newsletter was the picture of the tarantula. Even though the caption said that it would take the viewer to more tarantula pictures, folks clicked on it anyway. At rates higher than other images carefully chosen for their appeal to horse and dog lovers. Hmmm. What we've got here is my best effort to find a picture that combines the two. A shockingly scary image, AND something for dog lovers. At first it looks like a monster, but what it really is, is an underwater shot of a dog retrieving a ball, by talented photographer Seth Casteel. The amount of distortion that happens to a dog's face when it hits the water is remarkable, and varies in scary-ness by breed. You can see more on the Little Friends Photo facebook page here.
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 RECAP - From the last newsletter
Here's what we talked about last time:
FALL GIRL book chronicles the exciting life of a western stunt double here.Amazing Dog Facts & Trivia Book herePharaoh's Horses Print includes fascinating history and trivia hereThe value of a life - equine veterinarian and feral stallion face similar challenges - story here PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Catch up on the news here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Sweatshirt ~
Handle with Carrots super-soft zippered hood here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Horse Books ~
Horse Tales from Heaven and Heavenly Horse Sense Christian Horse titles here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Dog Book ~
I'm Listening witha Broken Ear here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Christian Products ~
Cowboy & Cowgirl Bible Pocket Partners here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ for Horsewomen ~
The Smart Woman's Guide to Midlife Horses here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Farrier Book ~
Care & Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot here |
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WHAT'S ON SALE?
~ Closeouts ~
HORSE WOMAN Wool Flap Hat here |
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Message
We LOVE hearing from our customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
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Find us on facebook
Be sure to LIKE our facebook page - it's where we announce special sales, breaking news and everything else we find interesting. To see it go here |
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Our Current Catalog
Request your copy of HoofPrints Spring Catalog by clicking here |
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Memorable Quote:
| "Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." ~Dale Carnegie
-From the Horses and Hope Calendar here.
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Share our emails
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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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