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HoofPrints Newsletter
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July 16, 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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FREE 2013 HORSEWOMEN Calendar with purchase of 2014 Horsewomen Calendar
We've got the 2014 calendars in already! This beautiful, large size glossy calendar features 12 different photos of a woman and her horse. Each month shows a different facet of the relationship between women and their various horse breeds. Western riding, English riding, ground work, just hanging out - and more. 2013 was missing the inspirational quotes on each page that these calendars usually have, but I am happy to report that they are back on the 2014 version!
While supplies last - Buy a 2014 Horse Women Calendar and get a 2013 Horse Women Calendar FREE! There are still 6 months left to use - and these big, colorful pictures make great scrapbook page backgrounds, framed art, use in crafts, etc. To order click here
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HORSEPOWER
Matted and Framed POSTAGE STAMP Print - I wanted to keep these all for myself...but they're not giving anyone any enjoyment wrapped in bubble wrap on the shelf. UPS oversize charges keep climbing and if I continue to wait I might have to get a loan just to afford to ship them! (just kidding)
Amazing is the only word I could come up with to describe these. Everything about these is cultural, textural, rich - fascinating. Jack Klein is a graphic designer by trade, and a postage stamp collector too. His passions are apparent in these framed pictures. He painstakingly selects the appropriate stamps from around the world (about 50 per picture), steams them free from their envelopes and then reapplies them to these artfully designed backgrounds - all perfectly straight and centered. Amazing. Then, as if that were not enough, he cuts the words & logos out of the linen textured mat and assembles the whole works up in a nice wood frame. (I think Jack may be a bit of an over-achiever, but I love the results!)  Here's a closeup that shows the detail of the HORSEPOWER mat, frame and actual stamps. Most stamps are postmarked, and many are from foreign countries. They are varying ages, from modern to quite old.
We've also got a dog version that uses canine stamps; Man's Best Friend.
We've put them on closeout, quantities are limited - order yours here.
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More HORSEPOWER...
This one's a memoir written by a regular gal who loves her horse...
When I picked this book up - I was drawn in and did not put it down until I was finished. It is very, very well written - a story about an ordinary horsewoman (like me) and her life with an old horse of questionable usefulness. A very good read that showcases the many spiritual moments interwoven with everyday, horseowning experiences. Here's a short excerpt - read it and you will know what I mean:
"The barn was located in the middle of Amish country, and, every day on my way to and from the barn, I would see buggies pulled along the roads by slim standardbred horses. Every now and then, I would see a team of Belgians towing equipment and loads in from the fields, heading home.
One day, I drove up behind a six-horse team of Belgians that was maneuvering a huge hay rake. The hitch spanned almost the entire road. The sound of twenty-four heavy shod hooves clattering against the pavement was breathtaking. I drove slowly behind and to the side to watch them. In the distance, a semi tractor and trailer approached from the opposite direction. I pulled onto the shoulder of the road, suspecting that this spelled trouble. I didn't want my vehicle to be in the way of either rig. Whatever was about to happen between them was going to take a large amount of space. I expected the semi driver to keep coming and demand the Amish teamster to yield. After all, big business is transported by eighteen wheelers, and time is crucial. The Amish driver steadily pressed on; he also had a right to be on the road. The road wasn't wide enough for both vehicles; one would be forced onto the shoulder. As the semi approached, I could hear the engine's roar as the driver downshifted. He eased the mammoth vehicle over to the side of the road, came to a stop, and let the Amish rig pass. There can't be too many times that semis yield to anything. They don't have to. The driver could have continued; the sheer size and wight of is vehicle would easily have pushed the Amish driver off the road. Instead, he yielded, and it was the most supreme display of respect - perhaps one man's salute to the original "teamster" and the original source of "horsepower." Horsepower is not measure by the ability of just any horse; it is measure by the ability of the draft. The Belgians turned into the drive at their farm, and the semi tractor rumbled back onto the road, clambering up to speed, and disappeared into the west. It was difficult for me to get moving again. The entire incident had spanned only moments, but I had just witnessed an unforgettable drama of such significance and purity that it rendered me emotionally crippled. So much in the world has been carried forward by the power of horses. So much in our lives still depends on the foundation that the draft horse has pounded into the turf beneath him."So - we have this powerful and eloquent observation of horsepower made by the author - contrasted by another story that is just as powerful, but kind of funny, too. Without giving away too much of the plot - most of us have been in the situation where we've got an oldster who's end is looming - as is the difficult decision of euthanasia. The author struggled with this, as we all do. The horse had declined to the point that he was too weak to get up, so she hired a backhoe operator to ready a grave, coordinating that with the call to her vet. Here's what happened next: "A blue truck pulled into the drive. I took a deep breath and said out loud to George and Callie, 'I guess this is it, guys.' I stiffened my jaw and went out to meet Alex, the excavator. 'I didn't bring the backhoe yet; I wanted to come out and see what we needed to do first,' he said as we shook hands. Then we walked around the side of the garage toward the pasture without saying anything further. Braced and calm, I refused to look at my horse. 'Is that the horse?' Alex blurted. 'It doesn't look like anything is wrong with him; why do you want to kill him?'
My eyes flipped up and almost spun in their sockets like wild window shades to see the vacant spot where Ren had been lying. Then they shot like torpedoes in the direction of the elm tree. There was Ren, standing on all four feet and stuffing his favorite elm leaves into his mouth...
'He looks great to me,' Alex said with a frown on his face.
At that point, Ren realized we had a visitor. He tossed his head, whinnied and trotted over to where we were standing by the fence. Alex glared at me as if he had just met his first truly evil person.
'He's been down all afternoon; he couldn't get up; he's very old,' I stammered... Surely it had appeared that I had opted for 'the easy way out' and just wanted to put down an old horse that was no longer useful to me."
excerpted from Horsepower - A Memoir �2008 by Annette Israel. Used by permission.I will reveal that Ren went on to live quite some time after the backhoe incident - in fact to an incredibly old age for a draft. Annette managed his EPSM and he continued to thrive - teaching HER the art of driving. Her story of acquiring the harness, vehicle, and learning to combine these with the horse successfully is one for another time... or you could buy the book here.
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FREE 2013 Underwater Dogs Calendar with purchase of 2014 Underwater Dogs Calendar
Featuring photos by Seth Casteel, this is not your typical dog calendar, picturing impeccably groomed, beautiful specimens of various breeds - this one features a shocking new image each month - of a freakishly distorted dog(s) face - as he or she plunges into the water to retrieve a toy! Guaranteed to give a chuckle. These calendars make great Scrapbook Page backgrounds - example here - and I also think the pages would look good framed and hanging in a vet's office, or groomer's. To order click here
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Revisiting the "bead saga"...
I accused everyone of being enablers, and told how a simple project designed to use up excess jewelry components got completely out of hand. The first set of four Copper HoofPrints Pony Bead Bracelets was created exclusively to USE UP a stash of beads that I found in a drawer; beads that I had originally purchased for another project. The resulting bracelet was really popular and I did, indeed, use up all the beads. Except then I went and bought MORE BEADS so I could fill all the orders I got. And then, while I was at it, I bought MORE COLORS of beads. I just couldn't help it. They were so pretty, and they coordinated with the copper charm so beautifully... So I am right back to having a drawer full. I don't know whether to tell you all to buy them or not. It'll just cause me to buy more beads and add to the clutter problem I am trying to solve. In fact, I am still carrying on about the clutter problem later in this very newsletter. Shown above are some completed bracelets, along with some in progress, and tools, components, etc.
Even though it's my decision - what I offer for folks to buy - the marketer in me just wants to test different colors, combinations, etc. This is NOT conducive to clearing clutter. The other night I finished up this latest batch. I had a bunch of short pieces of cord left. I thought "I'll never use these" - and was feeling quite proud of myself as I tossed them in the trash. OMG that night I DREAMED about using those scraps to make EARRINGS. So I got up the next morning, fished the scraps out of the trash and made a pair. You can see them in the center of the picture. I think I have a problem. Hopefully I don't end up on Hoarders.
 Shown above are the 7 different color choices that I have for the Glass Pony Bead Earrings that match the Copper HoofPrint Bracelet. My efforts to photograph them looking all elegant and luminous were a dismal failure. Never, ever discount the skills of professional photographers. With today's technology, anyone can afford a camera that takes great pictures all by itself. Most of the time. Photographing translucent beads with the right amount of light and a dark, blurry background? Apparently not for amateurs (that would be me). The results reminded me of the Pinterest Fails here. In fact, there is a whole blog dedicated to showcasing crafty, clever, and elegant efforts gone horribly wrong.
At any rate, the earrings did turn out pretty cute - and they're only $7.98 per pair. Personally, I love how dangly earrings look - especially in summer when hair is pulled up. But I can't stand how heavy, or swingy, earrings feel. (It doesn't take much to distract me...) Anyway, since these are made of the cotton cord and just a few beads, they're delightfully lightweight and non-distracting to wear. You can see the complete, out-of-control collection here.
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SPRING CLEANING - (now SUMMER cleaning)
continues at HoofPrints
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my house- house) of accumulated oddball products continues to gain momentum. I've written about it before. The point continues to be, sometimes the space becomes more valuable than the items that are occupying it. So this is where most places say... "our loss is your gain!" Well, check out this super-cheap stuff and BUY IT. And your gain will be my gain, too. Because I need that space on the shelf.
The Half Price Page is here - check this often as they're one-of-a-kind things that will sell quickly and be replaced with whatever else starts to get on my nerves. I am currently going through a large stash of sample books - so many wonderful titles, it's hard to choose just a handful for the catalog. And the rest have got to go! Only one of each available so act fast if you see something you like. NEW is Half Price PRINTS here - there are a lot of lovely prints languishing in drawers here that really should be hanging on folks' walls making them smile and beautifying their homes. Summer is NOT the time that people are inclined for "nesting" - that usually happens during the colder months when everyone's inside. But fall/winter is busy season here and I don't encourage print sales then - I don't have the extra time it takes to wrap these carefully for safe delivery. I've marked them way down now to sweeten the deal. ALSO NEW is Half Price JEWELRY here - The more I got to digging, the more I found. Jewelry doesn't take up much room - suffice to say there is a LOT of lovely stuff that needs to find a new home. Then there's that whole problem I have with the beads. It's getting worse. Stay tuned for details.
Our Closeouts Page is here - it features items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too.
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Here's what we talked about last time
Last newsletter is hereALL newsletters are here |
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Horses in the Yard
#4 of the 5 Horses We Meet On Earth: The Challenger Into each horseperson's life, a little challenge must fall. You'll have read that one final training book, bought yourself a clicker and heading rope, and there you'll stand, arms crossed, assessing the situation as if you actually knew what the situation was. It might be difficult to believe, as you are flying down the aisleway on the losing end of a braided cotton line, but you actually need this horse in your life... More here |
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Exotic Gemstone Necklace
Features 100+ year old Balinese Horse Coin here
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I'm Listening With
A Broken Ear
Wanna read a book about a woman who uses a horse whip and the "alpha roll" technique to train her dog? Me neither. But I gave it a chance and am glad I did. I guarantee you'll love it, too. Order here |
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Whisper Pony Earrings
Aren't these cute?They're just $9.98 here |
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HALF PRICE
Pharaoh's Horses Print
This old-time favorite picture has been updated by HoofPrints with a carefully researched block of illustrated history and trivia at the bottom. More info here |
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What Horses Reveal
It's back! This fascinating book was out of print for a few years. I love this quote: "Superficial friendliness helps you sell vacuum cleaners and win elections, but only with clarity, righteousness, and genuine, relevant empathy can you win the soul of a horse." ~Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling from What Horses Reveal. Order here |
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FREE Pocket Partner
with every Bible
Saddle Up For Jesus small devotional book for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages is FREE with the purchase of a Horse Lovers Bible here |
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BELOW HALF PRICE!
"Hug" clay plaque Regular price $14.50 now only $4.99 here |
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HALF PRICE
Best-Selling DVD
This is a great DVD - there's a lot of wisdom here, and I'll even forgive him for saying that it's a bad idea to train with treats. (hey, no one can know EVERYTHING!) All the Buck stuff is here |
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HALF PRICE
Rose Quartz Jewelry
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. See our rose quartz jewelry 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
SALE on Summer T's
Cool Summer weight Horsey T-shirts less than $14 each here! |
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Message
I LOVE hearing from 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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