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HoofPrints Newsletter
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April 19, 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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Mother's Day is May 13 - here are some ideas to get you started with your shopping. Shown above left is our Horses Leave HoofPrints on Your Heart Hoodie. The logo is intricately embroidered, a detailed hoofprint that we painstakingly developed to look just like the real thing. There's a wispy pink heart in the background, tying the whole idea together on this lovely sky blue hoodie. To see our complete garment selection, click here.
Shown on the right is the cute little silver pony rider has been inspiration for all sorts of products here at HoofPrints. The appropriateness of her nudity (or not) was discussed at length on our Facebook page here.A painting by Edward Robert Hughes serves as inspiration here
She's the logo on the Horsewoman Balm here (LOTS of Mother's Day gift ideas on this page)
We sold a tiny version of the pony girl for a couple years on a silver ball chain. Now we've found a matching large version (should we call her "horsey mama?") and paired her with some colorful, exotic gemstones for an exciting, new effect. These are made right here in Alexandria, Indiana, USA (by me) using stones from all over the world. The pendants are made in USA. To see all the Pony Girl stuff click here. There's still time to order, but not much... shop today! |
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FREE Mother's Day Gift with EVERY ORDER! Just to make sure we've got everyone covered with a little something for Mom, we're giving away FREE, with each order, one of our HORSEwork before HOUSEwork Tin Signs. These are surprisingly nice, with rolled edges and holes already drilled for hanging. They measure 9" wide, so would fit inside one of the larger greeting cards and mailed if desired. Just a fun little "just-because" gift if you've already got the Mom thing covered. Offer good through 4/28/12 and does not apply to previously placed orders. To claim your FREE sign click here.
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A special mention for mothers and babies It's often believed that the only horses that end up at the auction are those that, for various reasons, are not wanted by anyone, anywhere. The truth is, any horse can find itself at auction for a variety of reasons. All the horses featured in the Horses and Hope calendar were sold at the Camelot Auction in NJ. Their high bid on sale night did not surpass that of the feedlot's bid, so a group of volunteers photographed, described, and networked them - in the span of just 3 days between auction night and loadout morning, all horses were sold to alternate homes, and hopefully were given a second opportunity at a happy and productive life.
Shown on the back cover of the calendar is an exemplary horse from each month with their description and selling price. It becomes apparent from the descriptions that there IS NO stereotypical auction horse. There are young, old, large, small, trained, untrained, healthy and sick. Even unborn! April's calendar girl, Guinevere started life with a not-so-bright future. Her dam was heavy in foal, and had been through multiple auctions. She was purchased at the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania by Camelot's owner, who outbid the meat buyer. No bidders wanted her at Camelot's sale, either. Then, Helping Hearts Rescue stepped in and posted her "bail" - so she was safe at last.
Because the mare had been through multiple dealers/auctions, not much is known about her. Her appearance makes us believe she is a Thoroughbred. The filly that she delivered has proven to be a high quality individual, likely her sire is a Warmblood but we don't know for sure. She's now 2 years old and measures a strapping 15.2 hands. She's bright and athletic and her owner thinks she'll have a promising future as a Hunter over fences.
The mare's job is no longer that of producing babies. She's since changed careers and now leads a productive life as a Hunter/Equitation prospect with a young woman in Massachusetts. She's a college student majoring in equine studies.
 These two ladies are proof that slaughter bound horses do NOT all fit into the unwanted category. They are now productive equine citizens, giving their owners companionship and recreation, etc - while also contributing to the equine related economy by requiring the necessary services of farriers, veterinarians, feed companies, tack suppliers, etc.
The horse industry as a whole should be heartily working to keep all horses in homes like these gals landed in, with particular focus on assisting owners in need AND cultivating new ownership and interest in horse industry. The answer is NOT to dispose of excess horses via slaughter but instead to CREATE A MARKET for them in homes that will spend money on equine related services and thus stimulate the economy. It's a no brainer.
We hope that the words and images in this calendar inspire the viewer to consider what they, as individuals, can do to help horses in need. From influencing an uneducated neighbor to NOT breed their pet pony because a foal would be "cute", to sharing auction horse listings with folks who might be ready to buy, to donating funds or supplies to rescues who've pulled horses and are working to place them. Outbidding the meat buyer at the sale is only the beginning; the bulk of the work in these endeavors is pairing these horses with appropriate owners.
We have a good supply of calendars on hand - the printer's been paid so 100% goes to One Horse At A Time (more about what they're up to here). There's still a lot of year left, so consider buying a few more. Even if you've already got your own calendar, these make great gifts - for your farrier, your vet, your feed store. And Sarah and I worked hard to keep the tone positive and hopeful. Each month features a lovely large image, along with a batch of smaller supporting images (about 100 total!). There are appropriate inspirational quotes on each month. It's truly a celebration of what CAN be done when folks see a problem and pitch in to help. To order click here.
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Cowgirl Note Cards make the perfect Mother's Day Card! 10 cowgirl paintings by Terri Kelly Moyers grace this assortment of blank note cards from Leanin' Tree. These cards are a big 5.5" x 7.25" and are printed on heavy, glossy paper. The insides are printed in color with western motifs, and the back of each card tells more about the work on the front and the artist who painted it. You also get 22 parchment textured envelopes that match the cards. These all come gift boxed in a lovely package that you'll probably want to keep once the cards are all used! Rather than spend $3.+ at the drugstore for ONE Mother's Day Card - buy this whole box of blank cards for less than $1. each. There are tons of ideas online for just the right wording - that you can write in yourself - to find just the right one, you can get started here.
To order Cowgirl Note Cards click here. |
 Revisiting weirdness... I talked about this a couple years ago, but I've got some new info so it merits revisiting. Shown here is the hoof of Macaroni, and English Thoroughbred who won the Derby in 1863 (according to the engraved silver plate on the front), It's fashioned into an ashtray, and my husband Rob found it languishing in the back of an antique store years ago when he was recuperating from back surgery. As a young married couple - money was tight - especially with the farrier husband off work, hoping to patch his back up good enough to resume shoeing in spring - spending money on weird stuff like long-dead horse hooves seemed pretty dumb. It wasn't a lot of money, but that could have went toward groceries or gas. However, in subsequent years the interesting paths it's lead us down have been priceless. Way more fun than a tank of gas or a cart of groceries...
We've had pictures of Macaroni's hoof on our HoofPrints.com website for a while (here), and as a result I was contacted by a descendant of the horse's owner - Richard Christopher Miles. He told me that years ago the family estate's office was broken into and many artifacts stolen, and that another relative who lived in Ireland had at least one hoof from the same horse. His was lost also. So we don't know how this made it's way to Indiana, USA - but it sure was a fun find for us.
Nowadays, these things are viewed by many as weird or morbid, in researching it I learned that it was customary in old times to preserve hooves of beloved or special horses, but I didn't find much detail beyond that. This week I hit the information "jackpot" on Fran Jurga's Hoofblog. As is typical for Fran's work, there's an incredibly interesting, well researched, supremely illustrated article here.
I posted a link to it along with some additional Macaroni hoof pictures on our HoofPrints Facebook page. Because I'd tagged Fran in the post, she saw it and shared it with her Facebook friends. One of which is a farrier Mark Aikens from the UK - Mark's great- great- grandfather Tom Challoner was the jockey who rode Macaroni to his derby win! |
 RECAP - From the last newsletter
Here's what we talked about last time:
PROTECT THIS RIDER pendant here
Crossroads Sculpture Father's Day Gift here
Cowboy (and Cowgirl) Cookbooks here
Unruly Bailey earns a diploma here
Research & Development DOG products here
A Dog's Purpose book here
Leather Treat Pouch here
Life is Short, Play with your Dog T-shirt here Need to get help with an animal problem? Don't do what I did - details here
Hoof Problems Book UNDER $50! here
New Farriers Cards added to HoofPrints online directory, see who they are here
PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Catch up on the news here
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WHAT'S NEW?
SALE on Spring T's
BIG sale on Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $10 each here! |
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WHAT'S NEW?
FREE Spring Magnet
with every order shipped, while supplies last. Get one withOUT ordering by sending self addressed, stamped LONG envelope to:
HoofPrints Free Magnet Offer
13849 N 200 E
Alexandria, IN 46001
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Father's Day Gift Idea
Crossroads Sculpture here |
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WHAT'S ON SALE?
MORE stuff 50% OFF
Won't You Fix My Horse, Too? vintage art print $9.95 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?
~ Christian Products ~
Cowboy & Cowgirl Bible Pocket Partners here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ for Horsewomen ~
Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do 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:
| This weeks quote is by Nicole Johnson from her inspirational book (here):
The Invisible Woman: A Special Story for Mothers
"It started to happen gradually. One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, 'Who is that with you, young fella?' 'Nobody,' he shrugged. Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, 'Oh my goodness, nobody?'
I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like 'Turn the TV down, please' - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, 'Would someone turn the TV down?' Nothing.
Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, 'I'm ready to go when you are.' He just kept right on talking.
That's when I started to put all the pieces together. I don't think he can see me. I don't think anyone can see me.
I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She's going... she's going... she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.'
That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women."
There's a powerful video of Nicole performing this sketch 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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