HoofPrints Newsletter
December 19, 2012 Issue
|
REVISITING FAVORITE BOOKS - A lesson in keeping an open mind...
| I personally read every book that we have for sale.
|  If there's something about it I don't like, or if it doesn't hold my interest, then it doesn't make it in. Like everyone else, I have fairly strong personal opinions about how I think animals should be interacted with. So, naturally, I would likely not be selling ANY book that endorses activities that go against what I feel is appropriate. Until now. Ironically, I ended up with two titles at the same time that each had potential "deal-breaker" content.
The first is I'm Listening With a Broken Ear by Vicky Kaseorg. This book has all the makings of a modern classic. It's so good I think it'd make a great movie. It's 426 pages, and once I started I couldn't put it down (except for essential distractions like work and animal care) until I was finished. It's that good. In a nutshell, the author finds a pathetic, nearly dead dog abandoned in a parking lot. She brings her home and nurses her back to health. Somewhere along the way the family realizes they are in way over their heads as the dog has behavior issues that they can't manage. Dangerous behavior issues. It's hard enough to find homes for dogs who behave perfectly, so rehoming this one was NOT an option. Vicky spends a lot of time online trying to solve the problem, and ends up getting hooked up with a rescuer named Malta. Malta supplies Vicky with a horse whip. And teaches her how to do the "alpha roll" when the dog gets out of line. Now, before you run screaming, thinking you totally don't want to waste your time reading a work written by someone who keeps a whip in hand and rolls her poor dog - give this one a chance. You WON'T be disappointed. I guarantee it. It's thoughtful, spiritual, laugh out loud humorous - and the ending is so very good you will probably cry. Or cheer. Or both. There's a more detailed description and a couple excerpts to read here.
 Next is The Smart Woman's Guide to Midlife Horses by Melinda Folse. I got a copy of this in to review this fall, but was much too busy to give it a thorough look. It sat on my vintage glider for quite a while. I'd picked it up a couple times, and skimmed over it, I kept seeing Clinton Anderson's name, so had pretty much decided this was NOT a keeper as I don't care for this trainer. Now, in all fairness to Clinton, I have not personally attended any of his presentations. My opinion was formed by watching him work with horses on TV. I hate how his horses skulk around with their heads so low. Looking dejected, not softly flexed or collected. Even the horse in his logo looks that way. I hate how the beginning of his show has footage of him spinning and spinning and spinning that poor horse. Enough already. He waves his "handy stick" entirely too much, and doesn't appear to have any consideration for how the horse is feeling about all this. I assumed that this author, since she made so many mentions of this particular trainer and his teachings, would likely not have anything to say that I'd find merit in. But as I read, I discovered that I was wrong. She "canceled out" the negative of mentioning Clinton, by quoting some of my very favorite authors - Linda Kohanov being at the top of the list. It turns out, this book is a wonderful compilation of information that will interest the beginner horse owner, as will as those who've had horses all their life. It's arranged in concisive chapters - you can skip around and not feel like you've missed something. And it tackles unlikely subjects like Finding Your Soul Values, Plateaus, Ruts and Fear, Women of a Certain Age, and more. And is not all technical "business" - there is much information about the aspect of horses as healers, building better human relationships through horses, and other life skills issues that busy women often put by the wayside. An excellent, inspirational reference. You can order a copy here. |
GOOD STUFF: The Ripple Effect
| Links to things we like, things that make us smile, things we want to share...
|  In a world of six billion people, it's easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward. The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make can have far-reaching consequences. You can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world.
Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. Someone feeling the effects of negative energy will be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a group movement or the ray of hope that saves someone's life. Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. You must believe in your ability to be that point of origin if you want to use the ripples you create to spread goodness. Consider the effect of your thoughts and actions, and try to act graciously as much as possible.
A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among your loved ones and associates, out into your community, and finally throughout the world. You have the power to touch the lives of everyone you come into contact with and everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of your influence will grow as your ripples moves onward and outward. One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of love and kindness. - From DailyOM - you can read more, and subscribe here
Gina's note: Shown here is Sarah K. Andrew's picture of Walter. Walter is, quite literally, a homeless horse. He was found wandering loose on a road in New Jersey. Animal Control picked him up, and after he went unclaimed, Helping Hearts Equine Rescue stepped up and took him in. Now, Helping Hearts is not just a rescue. It's spearheaded by a busy professional horsewoman who owns a commercial boarding/lesson facility. She rides and trains her own horses for competition. She could easily let "other folks" take care of rescuing these unwanteds. But horses have given her her livelihood, and she knows it. So she gives back to those in need. As does photographer Sarah K. Andrew - who took time out of her busy schedule photographing high-profile race horses to visit Helping Hearts and take these lovely shots of Walter. She's posted more pictures, along with a synopsis of Walter's story on her blog here. Walter's looking for a new forever home, he's about 14.3, in his late teens, and is gaited. More at Helping Hearts website here. Walter is also pictured in the 2013 Horses and Hope Calendar - he's the middle picture on the right hand side for January. Horses and Hope for 2013 has earned nearly $50,000. (yes - fifty thousand dollars) for One Horse At A Time. We still have a few left, but they're going fast - order your copy(s) here.
|
New version of an old favorite
| Horse Woman Wool Flap Hat
|  These are all the rage in ski country. This one is made specially for us in Vermont, USA of finest quality wool. It's fully lined inside with soft, itch-free fleece. This flap hat is the perfect solution for work in the barn on cold days. It keeps your ears covered and toasty warm, without interfering with your peripheral vision like a hood does.
When working around horses, especially loose ones in a group, it's important to know where everybody is all the time - for safety reasons. And there's that jaunty little tassel on the top - too cool! Hand wash and dry flat.
Our newest version is a lovely chocolate brown and features galloping horses knitted into the design. To order click here |
| 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.
This week's quote is by Garrison Keillor
"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."
Thanks everyone, for reading!
Gina Keesling, owner
Contact Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
