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HoofPrints Newsletter
February 13, 2014

YOU ASKED FOR IT ...finally - a COUPON CODE for you to use!
All year we field calls and emails from customers asking how they can get a COUPON CODE that is requested online for special discounts/sales. The truth is, I don't do that very often. I pretty much need to sell items for full price in order to maintain the business. Click here to download a short, but very enlightening article about how consumer-driven discounting ultimately has become a vicious cycle that's undermined the stability of our economy, and has cost more than anyone could have ever imagined. Then, before you order, view this coupon code NOT AS A DISCOUNT, but as a GIFT OF APPRECIATION from HoofPrints to you.

With that said, in celebration of the successful completion of yet another year - I am offering this gift to all of you who've supported us along the way. Click here to get started.
Remember, you need to enter the coupon code TY20
in the special box at checkout time in order to get the discount. The coupon code also works on our CLOSEOUT ITEMS, HALF PRICE ITEMS, HALF PRICE PRINTS, HALF PRICE JEWELRY and HALF PRICE BOOKS / MAGAZINE BACK ISSUES - so you get even more savings on those already marked-down products!  The fine print: Offer ends 2/28/14, and canNOT be used on previously placed orders.

Shown here is our Framed Mule Print titled Stop for a Fix. This lovely picture by Larry Schultz depicts a farrier and mule who are NOT at odds - each a servant carrying a "load". We've paired it with the phrase "You can tell a lot about a man by whether he asks for a light load or a strong back." , double matted it, and framed it with horseshoe (mule shoe) frame stock. You can also add your own custom wording at no extra charge. Click here for details.   

A scary story for farriers
- as the wife of a farrier, I know the stories that elicit a collective groan. And this is one of them. Everybody involved did the right thing and the horse went lame. 
Folks who work with with Thoroughbreds are well aware that most of them are not gifted genetically with robust hooves. Attentive management and correct shoeing are usually enough to overcome this challenge. However, the long toe/low heel syndrome is one that's nearly always a problem to address. Some cases are more serious than others. Here's an interesting case that farriers will want to follow. This horse, a Thoroughbred, has been inclined toward the classic low/crushed heel problem. However, he's been sound for years and has carried his owner on miles of trails, on hunter paces, over jumps and in shows. He's been carefully managed - his owner did all the right things as far as diet, regular exercise, he's lived outside 24/7 in a nice environment for nearly 2 years. He's been on a regular hoof care schedule and his feet were NOT given an opportunity to overgrow. Yet this fall/winter when the weather got wet his feet turned to mush and the situation became serious as he was in significant discomfort. Pictured is the treatment protocol that was prescribed. Interesting stuff, huh?
As radical and shocking as this shoeing job appears, there's a lot of science behind it and also a proven track record of effectiveness. Want to know more? The owner's photographic chronicle with before and after photos is here. More about that funky shoe and it's unorthodox application is here.
Stay tuned as we follow Wizard through his treatment and recovery.

This unique and rustic cut out steel sign is MADE IN USA It measures 15" wide x 6" tall. It does NOT have hangers on the back, so plan for that - but the open design allows for a variety of nail placement, or a clever person could fasten some twine as a hanger for an even more country look. Use the TY20 discount and it's ONLY $15.96! To see this, and our other Christian gifts, click here 
Hill Country Purse & Wallet
So - What's the best way to use the discount? HoofPrints' owner  Gina Keesling points out the best deals:
My first pick would have to be the American West purses. Shown here is the Hill Country Collection - when it was new, I debuted it in the Boobies Newsletter  so maybe folks didn't notice it - the other content was so funny and/or inflammatory...

Anyway, t his line blends rich, dark chocolate and raspberry tones to create a unique expression of western style. It's accented with cream leather trim, antiqued silver spots and a rope style buckle. Purse has interior zip pocket, accessory pouches and also includes a protective storage bag. The Trifold wallet has plenty of pockets and spaces for credit cards, a checkbook, money, driver's license and more.

The manufacturer raised their prices quite a bit this year - making the regular retail price on this purse alone nearly $200. We've held the original price of $167.95. If you use the discount on this (don't forget, you have to enter the code TY20 in the box at checkout) this purse would be just $134.36! Wallet is regular $71.95 - with discount would be $57.56. Still a lot of money - but American West Products are built to last.

2006 was the first year HoofPrints carried the American West brand, I presented my mom with a red leather briefcase/laptop carrier as a gift. She uses it to organize and transport her paperwork pertaining to the many antique car events that she and my dad attend each year. And I must say, it still looks as good (if not better) as it did the day I gave it to her. Not many purses could ride around in the floorboard of an old car for 8 years and still look like brand new! To see the full selection click here

Horse Woman Sweatshirt
Treat yourself to a fun new sweatshirt!
20% OFF ALL ITEMS use Customer Appreciation Coupon Code TY20
With the freezing winter temps we've been having recently, I practically live in a sweatshirt. If you're like me, you've got a handful of favorites that you grab every time, and some of them are looking pretty shabby. Why not give yourself a little pick-me-up and order a few fun replacements?

Here's one of my favorites. This chocolatey brown sweatshirt was YEARS in the making...   A few years ago, while shopping for nothing in particular, I happened upon some fabric that looked like tooled leather. It was expensive, but I bought a whole bolt of it - intending to use it on a shirt design that I had on the drawing board at the time. When the sample was made of that design, it looked terrible. No amount of tweaking improved it, either; much to the chagrin of my embroiderer, who endured my multiple requests to change thread colors and make new prototype sew-outs, etc.

So, sadly, I put my treasure aside. And the fabric "haunted" me - it was the upholstery in a gorgeous Sundowner horse trailer that I toured at a trade show. It's the cover of our Tooled Leather Scrapbook here. It was the background on the cover of a new book a publisher sent me to review...

Everywhere I looked, I saw this elegant brown floral leather pattern. Still - nothing worked out design wise for the shirt and it was driving my crazy. Here I had this perfectly western, beautiful fabric - and I could NOT seem to make it into an attractive design no matter how hard I tried.

This dragged on for two YEARS! Then, we got a sample sweatshirt in - in this nice dark brown - intending to market it to men. Something made me revisit the forgotten fabric, and this time it was a winner! After that, the designing was easy.
It's funny how things fall into place easily when the time is right... I was able to find a company in southern Indiana that specializes in precision cutting fabric using high-pressure jets of water. As luck would have it, the customer service rep who handles my orders is also a horse woman - and she took special care to make sure our H-O-R-S-E letters were cut just right. Then the fabric letters come back here to Alexandria to be carefully stitched onto this lovely brown sweatshirt, complete with the silhouette of a woman and her cantering horse. Whew! I think it was worth the wait.
Click here to see a larger image / order - be sure to check out the embroidery closeup.

Use Coupon Code TY20 and save $10.00 on this shirt today! (offer expires 2/28/14)

Celadon Barn Girl Hood 
The black BARN girl sweatshirt was a big hit in spite of the $60 price tag...
she was even spotted trekking on horseback in Outer Mongolia! (full story here)
 
Many of you preferred a full zip hoodie instead of a pullover (the un-zippered front was necessary to accommodate the bazillion stitches that it took to embroider the design - which, BTW, is beautifully sketched by artist Lesley Bruce) I found one in this lovely celadon green. It's garment washed, super soft, and ladies cut. We've separated the girl from her name, and her rude horses; she stands alone with her hay bale. To order click here

Use Customer Appreciation Coupon Code TY20 and save $8.00 on this shirt today! (offer expires 2/28/14)

Horse Lovers Bible Horse Lovers Bible
Some of you may remember our Cowboy Bible from years ago. It was very popular, and I was really bummed when the publisher was unable to have any more made. For years, I searched for a replacement, continuing to come up empty handed. Along the way, I found a blog heckling the idea that a Horse Bible should even exist! (This poor guy has no idea...)

Ultimately, I DID find one. This is a very nice little Bible - leather bound, embossed with a horse head, detailed stitching, etc. It's the NIV version (words of Christ in red). In the center, it features 12 color pages of horse photos accompanied by inspirational thoughts and scripture verses, and a presentation page in the front for gift giving. Pages are edged in gold, and has a built-in ivory bookmark ribbon. Comes gift boxed, includes our Riders' Prayer bookmark  - and with the TY20 discount it's UNDER $20!- Consider adding a Bible Pocket Partner. Details below.
Bible Pocket Partners
Goes great with the Horse Lovers Bible - Cowboy or Cowgirl Pocket Partner
 
Saddle-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. Only $4.00 each. To see these and our other Christian horse books click here.
In This Issue
Scary story for farriers
Best way to use the discount?
Get a fun new sweatshirt!
Barn Girl bales again
Horse Lover's Bible
Here's what we talked about last time
What Did I Miss? graphic
Last newsletter is here   
ALL newsletters are here
ORDER FARRIER GLOVES AND...
Farrier Gloves
Get a FREE EMBROIDERED BEANIE CAP

DETAILS HERE
Embroidered Farrier Garments are most accurate and detailed available
horse legs embroidery
Read how and why here
FREEBIE!
Ironclad Beanie Cap with every pair of
TUFF CHIX GLOVES

"Best. Gloves. Ever!" ~HoofPrints customer testimonial. More info here
3rd in the Series!

I Make Horse Calls, More Horse Calls & Call Dr Tebow - She Makes Horse Calls (new) Books about living a dream with horses here
Mule & Donkey items
Donkey Charm
Check out this brass longear charm and more here
The Natural Superiority of Mules

Brand new updated second edition covers everything you ever wanted to  know about mules. Order here
Blacksmith Calendar
2014 Blacksmith Calendar
2014 Blacksmith Calendar  back issues only $1.99 here
Stay Warm with a VEST

Read how/why here
Order here
Horse Woman's Balm
Horsewoman's Balm
A great product that DOES WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO!
Order here
This Hug's For You

Equine Sympathy Cards here
HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Barn Blade Pink Knife
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here
Message

I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at [email protected]
 
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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 the company 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.
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)