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HoofPrints Newsletter
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May 28, 2013
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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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Favorite Print HALF PRICE
The image of Pharaoh's Horses has been popular for many years. There are many different reproductions out there - both old and new - the original artist is not known for sure, even after much research. This print is a reproduction of an old engraving (origin unknown). At the bottom, I've added an article that I compiled as the result of my research, outlining some interesting details about the print, and featuring 11 small color pictures illustrating key points. This is for entertainment purposes only, it's the best info I could find from a myriad of sources - and it's intended to be trimmed off before the print is framed or displayed. For larger image click here. When I first located this color version of an old favorite print, I was disappointed that I could not pass along a little more info about this lovely picture - it's been around for ages and many of us remember it from childhood times. Well, I did some more searching, and came up with a fascinating story (and then some). Did I find it with the JF Herring estate? an art historian? perhaps a horse art guru? No. I found it in the back issue archives of a tattoo magazine; Skin & Ink. Palmer Utterback has written a wonderfully researched article chronicling all about this painting - from it's history and mystery surrounding the original artist, to speculation on it's symbolic meaning. Interspersed throughout are historic facts about the image's use as tattoo art! Here's an excerpt (link to the entire fascinating article follows) "In biblical times, horses were a symbol of wealth, status and, in warfare, power. A joint German-Egyptian archeological team has reported a discovery of horse stables, which housed over 400 horses, on the edge of the Nile Delta. The stables have been linked to pharaoh Ramses II who ruled more that 3,000 years ago. Such stables presumably boarded war horses similar to those used to draw the pharaoh's chariots in pursuit of the Israelites into the Red Sea. While the galloping steeds of Pharaoh's Horses convey a sense of power, majesty and grace, the implied reference to Exodus 14 suggests a symbolic warning against the singular pursuit of a tragic course without regard to the consequences: "The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen-the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived (Exodus 14:28)."
Entire article is hereOne of the best parts of this job is all of the different people I have the privilege of meeting. (even though many days I barely leave my office) Last fall, an end-of-the-day order that I took resulted in a delightful conversation with a fascinating lady who has spent a lifetime collecting and selling arabian horse art. Mary Lou Walbergh is an amazing source of equine art knowledge, and she shared this story about J F Herring and his chosen subject for many of his horse paintings: "The Arabian stallion which Herring used as his model in so many of his paintings was named Imaun, named after the Imaun of Persia, who gave him, along with three other purebred Arabs, to Queen Victoria. The Queen thought, quite sensibly, that Imaun might prove to be too much horse for her, so she gave him to her Chief Clerk. This man immediately (showing great tackiness) sold him at Tattersall's, the famed horse sales establishment which is in business to this very day.
Herring bought him and kept him all the rest of his very long life. His first idea was to use him as the horse model in a series of paintings he planned around the hero Mazeppa, who tied himself to his horse, so Herring hired a trainer to train Imaun to lie down, to be "housebroken," etc. This trainer said that Imaun was the most brilliant horse with whom he had ever worked, and Herring loved him so much that it is quite possible to pick out the horses he painted using Imaun as a model, because of the love and care taken with every stroke of the brush. Imaun is all three of the heads in The Pharoah's Horses, his head is on the big grey work horse in his painting of The Blacksmith Shop here (The woman standing in the scene is Herring's daughter, Jenny), he is in the two paintings Herring did of Mazeppa, and in countless others." The size of the actual image of the 3 horses is 15"x15" - it's a circle with the brown square surrounding it as shown. The PAPER size is 20"x26". Regular price is $19.95 - on SALE 50% OFF for a limited time here.
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NEW! Rose Quartz Pony Girl Jewelry
New for this spring is some Pony Girl & Rose Quartz Jewelry, designed and hand assembled right here at HoofPrints!
Pony Girl gallops along an 18" strand of pale pink rose quartz nuggets. The polished natural nuggets are about 3/8" across and the silver Pony Girl pendant is 1 3/8" wide. Closes with a toggle clasp. The rose quartz nuggets are natural stones and range from nearly transparent, to pale pink, to milky white - and all shades in between.
Rose quartz is a stone of healing powers, of unconditional love and infinite peace. It's said to draw off negative energy and replace it with loving vibes. It helps with releasing unexpressed emotions and heartache, soothes internalized pain and heals deprivation. More about the healing qualities of this lovely stone here.
 Shown here is the new Pony Girl wrap bracelet.It's made to encircle your wrist twice - the Pony Girl charm hangs off the heart motif clasp. It can also be worn as a choker. Regular price on these items runs $39.95 - $49.95. The introductory price (for a limited time only) is UNDER $20! To order click here
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Another Favorite Print HALF PRICE
Everyone remembers this inspiring picture from their childhood days, and we're pleased to offer it in both prints and greeting cards. We do not know the artist's name on this - for sure. Some attribute the work to Albrecht Schenck, other art historians think it's likely by Walter Hunt - (entitled "Shepherd's Call"); Hunt was known for his beautiful paintings of Collies. There is an extensive, well-researched article with a lot of good pictures here. To order our versIon, click here. Gina's note: This picture has been around for a long time, and is a perennial favorite. We've had many, many customers tell us they have fond memories of this picture hanging in their parents, and grandparents homes. It's even visible in the background of this Keith Urban country music video! Click here to watch.
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About Bucephalus...
Who could forget the scene in
The Black Stallion, when Alec's father gives him the little figurine and tells him the story of Alexander the Great and the indomitable Bucephalus? It's such a great story, on multiple levels. The accomplished horsemen of the day could do nothing with the stallion, but young Alexander took the time to notice what was bothering the horse, and to work around it so as to establish a rapport. The rest is history as Alexander became a mighty ruler - but did you ever stop to consider?.. He could have had any horse he wanted - surely the best in his kingdom to choose from. Yet he continued to ride Bucephalus for the rest of the horse's life, until his death at age 30.  I loved the funky shaped horse figurine so much - he inspired me to create an embroidered likeness. Shown here is HoofPrints' super soft Sage Green micro fleece jacket. It's accented with Gray smooth nylon on the shoulders (front & back) and on the backs of the arms (from wrist to elbow - (great idea) It has an adjustable elastic drawstring in the waist with cord locks to provide a custom fit. A slight drop tail covers your fanny while riding or doing chores. This one is another victim of my poor photography - the picture in our catalog is decidedly UNflattering - here is a much better version that shows the neat, trim fit. If you passed over this jacket before, please take a moment to give it a second look. It's a very nice jacket and a great bargain now at HALF PRICE (for a limited time) here. I also found some sterling silver Persian Horse charms that look like Bucephalus - so I designed a necklace and earring set. I make those to order using gemstone beads (Black Obsidian and iridescent Labradorite). Those are here. The Black Stallion DVDs are here.
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Revisiting a favorite - Cowboy & Cowgirl Pocket Partners These make great companions to our Horse Lovers BibleSaddle-Up for Jesus Bible Pocket Partners include a clear plastic front/back protective cover page, 31 days of meaningful devotional pages, and several sheets of note paper bound with the devotional pages. It is the perfect small devotional for cowgirls of all ages, pastors, cowboy churches, bible study, etc. They measure 3" wide x 5" tall. The devotional pages are thick, glossy paper that's durable enough to stand up to daily use. There are 10 extra pages of note paper bound into the back, for jotting down important thoughts and notes. To see this and our other Christian horse books click here.
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Healing Shine - A Spiritual Assignment here
Gina brags, then backpedals here
I Make Horse Calls Books here
Inspirational Stretch Bracelets here
Great Horses Live Again verse here
Vests are best here
Positive Training Products here
Savvy Planners HALF PRICE here
Books help riders manage fear here
Lorenzo Horse Training Book here
Farrier Textbooks here
Horsewoman's Hair Control here Revisiting a favorite: The Horse Boy book here
PAST NEWSLETTERS - see what you missed!
To catch up on the news, click here
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I Know Great Horses Live Again
Somewhere...somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some Paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
Order the Great Horses custom framed verse here |
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Leather Treat Pouch
Perfect for your phone, keys, horse treats, and more (one HoofPrints customer tells us she uses her's to carry her .38 on late night trips to the barn! Whatever the use, it's a great deal at only $19.95! Order here
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WHAT'S NEW?
Hold Your Horses T
See our T-shirt selection here! |
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BELOW HALF PRICE!
"Hug" clay plaque Regular price $14.50 now only $4.99 here |
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WHAT'S NEW
SALE on Summer T's
Cool Summer weight Horsey T-shirts less than $14 each here! |
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LONG TALL LIST
~ for Horsewomen ~
Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do here
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I Make Horse Calls Books
"I was so grateful for the care the gentle senior student took with Pischka that day. ... I will not forget the thoroughness of that student, and would emulate her when I entered practice. I would never dismiss an owner's complaint, because I remember how I felt when vets dismissed Pischka's illness, never trying to find out what made Pischka so sick." -from Horse Calls, available here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
Spiritual Book
Desiderata for Horse Lovers makes a great gift! order here |
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INSPIRATIONAL
Stretch Bracelets
Buy 3 and get the 4th FREE here |
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BOOKMARKS
~ 50% OFF! ~
A Rider's Prayer, A Dog Lover's Prayer & Use Your Talents Bookmarks just 99� 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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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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