newsletter header wide
HoofPrints Newsletter
June 25, 2012
Rob shoeing Rocky
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. 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.

Thoroughbreds print Horses & Women in Art HALF PRICE
This combination has been a favorite of artists and photographers for years

I was delighted to find these lovely antique images reproduced in high quality on heavy paper, AND offered beautifully matted and framed in period appropriate style.
 
 
They're on sale for HALF PRICE here.
Offer good while supplies last, quantities are limited. 
 
Don't see anything you like? Check out the vast offering on ebay here and here and here 

Blacksmith calendar Kriz page UPDATE on the Blacksmith Calendar - A while back in this newsletter, I announced that we would be taking the reins on the production of the 2013 Blacksmith Calendar. Many of you responded with encouraging words and submissions of wonderful photos. I am still sorting through them all, but thought I'd share an update of what is done so far.

Folks thought it was appropriate to use the wartime image of the blacksmith shop set up in the church in France, so that page is here.

Shown at left for January is Johnny Kriz 1923 - 1996 - A seventh generation farrier, Johnny's father emigrated from Czechoslavakia and settled in the Seymour Valley of Connecticut. Johnny shod all breeds of horses throughout his very long career, as did his brother Joe. For decades, the Kriz family was responsible for the farrier work on the Budweiser Clydesdales. The family worked hard to restore the draft horse industry in the 1950s and 1960s, continuing this tradition even today; shoeing, training and selling draft horses. Their website krizfarm.com is currently being updated, so be sure to check back later if you're interested in learning more about this remarkable family. A large version of this calendar page is on our Facebook page here.

Woman Blacksmith photo
Shown here is an old picture of a woman blacksmith, wearing the long dress common for the period, with her hair drawn neatly up in a bun. This image is used on a month featuring the non-traditional role of women in the trade. A time when most ladies were wearing corsets and riding sidesaddle, etc.

I am having trouble identifying the machine on the right side of the picture, the one with the big wheel. Does anyone know what it is? You can see a larger version of the picture here to get a closer look. Be sure to like us on Facebook, so you can see new updates on the calendar. Those will be posted in the photo album here

Essential Principles of Horseshoeing NEW FARRIER BOOK:
Essential Principles of Horseshoeing by Doug Butler

Filled with practical instructions, interactive training materials and step-by-step illustrations of common horseshoeing and trimming techniques, Essential Principles of Horseshoeing is the keystone text for farrier education or home use. It presents a new, yet foundational way of teaching this ancient craft. Traditional techniques of the farrier craft have changed little in 2,000 years, yet their application has changed dramatically in the last 25 years. This colorful book teaches simple techniques to accelerate learning and mastery.
 
Butler's Principles of Horseshoeing set the standard for farrier eduction. Dr Butler continues to be the trusted voice for farrier training. This Essential book evolved from lessons Dr Butler learned while teaching the craft to thousands of students, including his sons. His teaching materials provide a solid foundation of farrier education in the 21st century, as well as sound principles of horseshoeing for the betterment of horses everywhere. 
 
Whether you are a beginner, do-it-yourselfer or expert farrier seeking to perfect your craft, this book equips individuals of all backgrounds with the best techniques to accurately trim and shoe horses. No more flipping through long, dry text books with too many words and not enough demonstration on how to get the job done! Instead, Essential Principles of Horseshoeing is a highly visual, easy-to-understand, and interactive companion, utilizing colorful guides and even QR codes to send readers to directly relevant video demonstrations on live horses of common solutions and horseshoeing techniques. To order click here 
Counting Blessing Print
Counting Blessings framed print ON SALE! Not to start a frenzy or anything, but this one's on sale and we have just ONE left.

While or friends at UPS need to make money, too, it seems they are trying to make all of it off of shipping large boxes. Dimensional weight charges on packaged prints range anywhere from additional $10. - (gasp) $30. We can't figure out a way to price the shipping on these - to be fair and still make money - so sadly we are closing out all the large framed prints.


To see them all click here.

Horse & Buggy Days framed printHorse & Buggy Days...
Print by famed artist Paul Detlefsen - paired with verse -
The Village Blacksmith
The smith, a mighty man is he, 
With large and sinewy hands; 
And the muscles of his brawny arms 
Are strong as iron bands. 
His hair is crisp, and black, and long, 
His face is like the tan; 
His brow is wet with honest sweat, 
He earns whate'er he can, 
And looks the whole world in the face, 
For he owes not any man. 
 
Paul Detlefsen is known for his paintings of nostalgic scenes. He was a prolific artist in the 1960's, and we are constantly getting requests for more choices in his work. Sadly, we've done huge amounts of investigation, and can only find a few. And NOT the large size version of this print that most folks are wanting. 
 
The Village Blacksmith Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has been published many times - with various images. We think it fits this one the best. Right down to the big, spreading tree. We have to wonder if the artist might have had these words in mind when he painted this picture. 
 
Here is a delightful collection of trivia about Longfellow's verse, from Fran Jurga's Hoofcare blog. I consider Fran to be the best, and most thorough reporter on all issues concerning horses' hooves. You can even sign up to be notified whenever she posts something new. 
 
Our Horse & Buggy Days prints were framed right here in Indiana, using a special, exhorbitantly expensive RED CORE matboard. The skilled craftsman that we've employed to assemble these is embarking on much deserved retirement. So our stock is limited to what we have on hand. If you were thinking this might make a great gift for dad, or that special farrier in your life, DON'T WAIT! Order now - these are on sale and limited to supplies on hand. To order click here

Cosy print - greyhound & jack russell Cosy - by Charles Burton Barber
We love this print - and wanted to call attention to some special details... 
that you might have missed. We can never make the pictures in the catalog and online as big as we'd like. In the lady's lap, is the sweetest little puppy. Slumbering as only a puppy can. The side of his face, and his one ear are all scrunched up - but he doesn't mind. His mistress is absorbed in her book, but her other hand is stroking his velvety soft back. There is nothing like a warm puppy on your lap to let you know all is right with the world.

Of course, on the floor is his mama - and like all terrier mamas - she's worried. Such is the nature of these little dogs. The little sliver of eye-white we can see lets us know that she's worried - but the angle of her ears tell us that she's not TOO worried...

And the arrangement of the greyhound's body - belies the fact that Burton Barber must have spent time with one of these dogs. Anyone who's been around these long, lean canines knows that they have a special way that they fold themselves up when they lie down.

This picture is one of our favorites - and the framing on it is just awesome. The wood frame is wide, ornate, and beautifully finished to look like an antique. You could hang this in an antique store with a little accumulated dust on it - and no one would know that it wasn't an original from 150 years ago when Burton Barber painted it. This is another one that we are closing out due to expensive shipping costs - limited to supplies on hand AND on it's ON SALE. To order click here.  

Greeting Cards STILL HALF PRICE!  
All fall/winter we take calls from budget-minded farriers and other equine professionals - 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 sale ends June 30, some of the card designs are low inventory and will NOT be reprinted, so make your selections early. To see them click here.
 
Also, PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE read carefully the wording options available for the insides of the cards when you order. The website defaults to withOUT "thank you for your business" - but some cards are ONLY available WITH this option, so if you click those, that's what you're going to get. I Heard the Bells, Rejoice!, Peace on Earth and He Knows... are 4 examples of cards that are ONLY available WITH thank you. To get started click here 
Hold Your Horses T
RECAP -  From the last newsletter: Here's what we talked about last time:
Hold Your Horses T-shirt here
Horse Sense Ceramic & Wood Coaster Set here
A Dog's Journey new book here
A Farrier's Prayer framed verse here
Father's Day Tribute
to HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling's Dad here
Flawed Folks' books here
Farrier Invoices
at old prices here
Things not to say to a farrier here
Cavalia DVD here
Woman Needs a Horse here
 
Beautiful Jim Key - true story here
Make a Horsey Scrapbook here

PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Catch up on the news here
In This Issue
Horse Women Art HALF PRICE
Blacksmith Calendar update
NEW Farrier Book
Counting Blessings on sale
Horse & Buggy Days on sale
Cosy print on sale
Greeting Cards HALF PRICE
WHAT'S NEW?
Horse Coaster Set
Faith Coaster with easel
Wood Framed Ceramic Horse Sense Coasters here
WHAT'S NEW?
Hold Your Horses T
Hold Your Horses T
See our T-shirt selection here
WHAT'S NEW?
A Dog's Journey
Dogs Journey Cover
Sequel to best-seller
A Dog's Purpose here
WHAT'S NEW?
Spiritual Book
Desiderata cover
Desiderata for Horse Lovers makes a great gift! order here
WHAT'S NEW?
The Faraway Horses by Buck Brannaman
Faraway Horses book cover
Read more about the life of best-selling DVD star here
WHAT'S NEW?
Farrier Book
Millwaters Farriery Book
Millwater's Farriery here  
WHAT'S NEW?
Farrier Book
Confessions of a Horseshoer
Order Confessions of a Horseshoer here  
WHAT'S NEW?
~ Christian Book ~
Invisible Woman Book
The Invisible Woman - When
Only God Sees here
CHECK IT OUT!
SALE on Spring T's
3 horsey t-shirts
BIG sale on Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $10 each here
WHAT'S NEW?
~ Horse Books ~
Moates Bookmark
New Bookmark FREE with purchase of Tom Moates books on Honest Horsemanship here
WHAT'S NEW?
~ for Horsewomen ~
Long Tall List of Things To Do
Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do here
ON SALE HALF PRICE!
Best Selling Card
Just a LIttle Donkey card
See all our cards here
Message

We LOVE hearing from our customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner
Gina Keesling via email at [email protected]
 
Find us on facebook
facebook logo
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
 
Our Current Catalog
2012 spring catalog cover
Request your copy of
HoofPrints Spring Catalog
by clicking here
 
Quick Links
Memorable Quote:
Learn to Wait
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait. 
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 
 
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)