Year-End Farrier Edition - HoofPrints Newsletter

HoofPrints Newsletter

December 27, 2012

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.

FARRIERS: Folks are WATCHING you!!!

Sorry to creep you out, but it's true.

With all the hubbub these days about privacy, huge measures are being taken to manage what various business entities are allowed to do with a person's personal information. As a marketer who uses this information to help make decisions about products & promotions, it is very valuable to me in terms of being profitable to be able to accurately target folks who are likely to be interested in what we have to offer.

But there's a whole 'nother privacy thing that can come under the microscope when you work for the public. Like a farrier does. Every day, all across the world farriers make appearances at various folks' farms to do their work. And they're being observed. And sometimes (probably most times) those folks form an opinion about what they see. If it's interesting enough, they tell their friends. With the advent of the internet, they can tell a LOT of friends.

Consider A Farrier Tale from Horse & Man blog. This blogger tells an interesting account of a routine farrier visit - doesn't much mention the actual work being done - (are they being shod? barefoot? does everybody stand well? etc - typical stuff that farriers would think focus would be on) Instead, she describes her farriers' wardrobe, his grooming, even the behavior of his kids. How well he parks his truck. She becomes aware that the working conditions she's provided for him are less than stellar. It's a fascinating chronicle of how someone else views an ordinary interaction - you can read the rest here

Farriers are being talked about on another online group I belong to - this is a very technical group that discusses (often in detail way over my head) things like operant conditioning, bridge & target training, perception modification, and more. These are highly educated folks who are on the cutting edge of animal training research. I hang out there and read all this stuff that's light years ahead of my own skills - hoping a particle or two will rub off on me? There's one gal who's blind - she writes fascinating posts about her relationship with her service dog. Amazing stuff. Another gal works with troubled horses. She's rehabbed a number of "hopeless" cases. Including a mustang who'd been so traumatized by someone's effort to do "natural horsemanship" on him that he was afraid of even the water in his bucket. The discussion has recently shifted to hoof care. This gal shared her story - she'd spent eons of time getting this horse comfortable enough that she could even touch his feet. Finally she can pick them up and hold for a short time. She arranges for her farrier to come and give it a try. They discuss beforehand - he (the farrier) will do as much as he can on one foot, and they will consider the session a success and quit for the day. The farrier comes. The horse allows him to trim without much trouble. Farrier thinks he can do more. Against her better judgement, owner allows him to try. This is too much for the horse and he "misbehaves". Farrier HITS HIM with the rasp. Ugh. Of course, this negates months of work that's been done to gain this horse's trust. Fortunately for the farrier, the owner did not share his name. That wasn't really the point of her post - to trash the farrier - but to emphasize how very important it is that farrier interactions go successfully for a previously-traumatized horse in "recovery".

There's even a Facebook Group dedicated exclusively to Farriers Butts! With members all posting photos of their farriers butts. Of course I had to get in on the action. Shown above is my husband Rob trimming Billy, while Lucy cleans up. Rob stopped shoeing years ago because of a back injury, but he still trims ours. We've found that the HoofJack really helps with working on Billy's hind feet. His hocks and hips are arthritic and he is very heavy to hold up. This device lets him lean all he wants without strain of the farriers' back.

So, farriers, remember that folks are watching everything you do. Maybe even taking pictures. Make sure the fodder that they have to share is something you're proud of!

More Farriers Business Cards added to online directory

I belong to several online horse groups, and nearly every day someone is
looking for a farrier. There are many reasons for this - and I think we are quick to assume the worst when the "I can't find a farrier..." scenario comes up. Sometimes there's a reason that owners can't get a farrier to come, (bad working conditions, slow to pay, etc) or sometimes it's the farrier (won't show up on time, is rough with the horse(s), etc.) and we tend to gravitate toward that kind of thinking. But the fact is, there are lots of reasons farriers and owners need to "shop around" until they find a good fit. And they aren't all negative. For every story I hear about a farrier that won't keep appointments, or an owner who has unruly horses, I also hear stories about wonderful relationships between owners, farriers and their horses. If you take the time to get it right, hoof care can be a whole lot less of a headache for everybody involved.

Since I started listing the business cards on Facebook as well as in the directory) I am delighted that our followers frequently take the time to chime in a kind word about their farrier. So, it's in that spirit that I list below our current batch of directory additions. (The cards shown here are for illustration purposes, were randomly chosen and are in no particular order.) Click on the state to view details for each farrier listed below.
Alabama - Tim Smallwood
Arkansas - Lilly Ice
Arizona - Jose Reyes
California - Roy Binder, Bill Brunson, Wade Corbett, Sam Fabila, Kevin Grudin, Chuck Mills, Jacob Rexius, Dennis Stirling
Colorado - Dan Besel, Guy Doubleday Jr, Dusty Jager, Steve Schneiderman
Connecticut - Christopher Farr, William Sinnott
Delaware - Chris Miller
Florida - Vernon Bent, Michael Crawley, Heath Dorr, Chris Grimes, Marty Reinbott
Georgia - Eddy Dukes, Jay Shelby, Richard Stephens, Shane Wood
Iowa - Simon & Kathy Bontrager
Illinois - Tom Marshall, Lamar Plank, Lewis Yoder
Indiana - Jim Keith, Bradley Langhofer, Jesse Merriman, Sharon Wirey
Kansas - Dean Stockert
Louisiana - Ben King Jr
Massachusetts - Randy Heminger
Maryland - Dan Garner, TJ Lord, Patty Lynch, Andy Rayne, Jeanne Starr
Maine - Rick Heaberlin
Michigan - Aaron DeHaan, Mary Jo Jansen, Penny Sutton
Missouri - Marc Macey, Roy Schoenbeck, Mitchell Smith
Mississippi - David Whitaker
North Carolina - Gray Boyd, Ralph Coley, Billy W Harris, GW White
New Mexico - Dawn Huth
Nevada - Red Rock Horseshoeing School, Debbie Taylor
New York - Esco Buff, Joshua Conley, Greg Davis, Tom Howard, John Malmquist, Geri White
Ohio - David Beam, Terry Burger, Craig Dennis, George Hoover, Marvin Howard, Lester Miller, David Nando Morgan, Greg Siebert, Alan Taylor, Brock Thockey
Oklahoma - John Muldoon, CJ Ward
Oregon - Wes Hardin
Pennsylvania - Scott Hunter, David Minnich, David Panza, Ernie Sieber, Paul Smith, David Werkiser
Rhode Island - Michael Paparo
South Carolina - Lonnie Fletcher, Cliff Hammond, Ted Hubert
South Dakota - Brad Janecke
Tennessee - Justin Armer, Todd Borthwick, Steven Johnson
Texas - Ray Bach, David Frey, Joe Hazle, Buck Nelson, Mitch Nezat, Jeff Smith, Gary Spears, Terry Whitman
Virginia - Julie Bullock, Walter Davis, RSH Tax Service, Randy Tuck
Washington - Ray Cunningham, Lovell Fink, Jim Kincaid, Jesse Wilson, Chris Wilson
Wyoming - Brad Thompson

You will notice that these folks' cards appear LARGER in the directory. We are in the process of changing over to this new larger size, so any order (or reorder) placed from now on will appear at the larger size. These free listings are good for two years and then drop off, unless renewed by reordering.

There you have it, at least for now. We will feature the next batch of cards once we get some accumulated. If you're a farrier (or other equine professional) and are interested in ordering custom business cards, we have dozens of lovely full color logos to choose from here. And don't forget to look at page 2 here.

SALE - 20% OFF!
FARRIERS:
Consider adding magnetic business card calendars

To your promotional efforts. These little dudes pack a lot of punch...

when you consider that they're going to be looked at, along with your business card, for the REST OF THE YEAR! Each month sports different "Things not to say to a hot, tired farrier" - sure to get a chuckle, and maybe help your working conditions.

These were a bargain at $1.00 each - but now even more so as we've marked them down to just 80�! Something else that we've NEVER PROMOTED (duh!) is the fact that the magnetic part on the top (see top left of the picture here) has a center portion that can be punched out - to create a SECOND MAGNET that will hold a business card by itself. So, you get the calender with the magnet on top for your business card, and a second piece of magnetic material for another business card. To see these, and the rest of our calendars, click here.

Gina's note about ordering business cards:
I get orders from customers all the time - who've needed to get new business cards for a while - and have put off ordering because they are struggling to decide on the exact wording they want to use. I have done thousands of card layouts. If you're unsure of exactly what you're wanting, I WILL HELP YOU get it just right. Tell me approximately what you're wanting to convey and I will make up a good example for you to look at. If it's not quite right, we will revise until it is. There is no charge for revisions, and the vast majority of the layouts I do are approved on the first attempt.

I've even written a 6 page, profusely illustrated instructional article on how to create the perfect business card. To download that (it's a PDF), click here.

Business card orders also include a FREE listing in our online farrier directory. ***NOTE TO PAST CUSTOMERS*** our online farrier directory has grown so large that we had to remove listings that were not current. Listings are good for 2 years.

Got HOOF PROBLEMS? So do we!

This is unheard-of: a hardcover, profusely illustrated text for UNDER $50.

And this is not an old book - full of stuff you already know - it's cutting edge information and imaging - released just a few years ago!

Here's what the publisher says about it:

Hoof Problems by Rob Van Nassau

is a much needed text that can be studied and enjoyed by farriers, veterinary surgeons and horse owners. Books have been written on the subject of horseshoeing for more than 500 years. However they have rarely been written by a practicing farrier and seldom with such detail.

The illustrations are detailed and there are many examples comparing various conformational faults which affect the equine leg and foot. A wide range of horse breeds and types are covered, including a chapter devoted to analyzing the link between the less than perfect leg - and it's effect upon the hoof capsule.

The author has obviously carried a camera throughout much of his shoeing career, documenting thousands of hooves as he worked on them. Hoof Problems is full of good case histories with "before" and "after" photography. A great, current reference book for anyone who deals with horses and their feet and legs.
To order Hoof Problems, and to see our complete selection of specially chosen books on farriery and lameness, click here.

In This Issue

Story about folks watching farriers

More Cards added to Directory

Magnetic Calendars on sale

Got HOOF PROBLEMS?

What's on sale?

Find us on Facebook

Heritage Farrier Gloves ON SALE!

Recognize that your HANDS are one of the most important tools that you use, and protect them accordingly. With wear, your gloves will become tattered, but consider that the damage they sustain would have been to your skin.
These also come in Extra Small; we've had many requests for this size and previously were unable to offer. You can check out our complete selection here.

What can you get for a PENNY? The 2013 AFJ Farrier Supplies & Services Directory!

Just 1 cent while supplies last - useful directory of all things farrier related - order here

SALE! EMBROIDERED CAPS for Farriers

Modern Farrier (shown) is $7.00 OFF! See all our unique, high quality caps designed especially for Farriers here

WHAT'S ON SALE?
Farrier Sportswear

Longsleeve prewashed cotton denim shirt - embroidered with Farrier & Shoe logo - $5.00 OFF! See our complete selection here

Select Farrier Art Prints
HALF PRICE!

Won't You Fix My Horse Too by Arthur Elsley just $9.95 here

HALF PRICE!
~ Pink Heart Gloves ~

Manufacturer has discontinued these - we are limited to stock on hand. Size 8 is sold out, but we still have 5, 6, 7 here

WHAT'S ON SALE?
~ Handle with Carrots ~

Handle With Carrots Hood is $10.00 OFF here

A New Favorite
~ Dog Book ~

I'm Listening with
a Broken Ear here

WHAT'S NEW?
~ Christian Products ~

Cowboy & Cowgirl
Bible Pocket Partners here

WHAT'S NEW?
~ for Horsewomen ~

Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do here

Message

We LOVE hearing from our customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner
Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com

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

Our Current Catalog

Request your copy of
HoofPrints Catalog
by clicking here

Quick Links

Dog Lovers

Memorable Quote:

This weeks quotes about PROBLEMS:

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." ~Albert Einstein

"Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them." ~Ronald Reagan

"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were." ~John F. Kennedy

"Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country."

~Margaret Thatcher

"What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them."

~Henry Ford

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)