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HoofPrints Newsletter
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July 30, 2014
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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 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.
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"It will cost extra
if you allow your horse to bite me"
This cap has been a favorite among farriers for years, with it's about-to-bite-the-farrier horse and the ubiquitous circle/slash "NO!" sign. Today I got a chuckle as I processed an online order that included the following special instructions:
"Please send this as a gift to _____. She just saw it on Facebook and posted 'I need this'. I'd love it if you could send it anonymously and not let her know it's from me."
So now the gift cap is on it's way to it's recipient, who will no doubt be surprised at someone's sense of humor and thoughtfulness.
Even though this cap is a best seller, you'd also be surprised to learn that a lot of folks expected to get it for FREE. Each time we attend a farrier function (like the American Farriers' Association Convention), we'd witness this frantic dash to visit all the booths, and reap all the benefits of "freebies" that events of this type offer. Many manufacturers give away all sorts of nifty things, emblazoned with their logo, to consumers of their products. Ball caps are always a favorite, and most farriers have quite a collection of different specimens. It made it a little tough for us to SELL our caps - when other vendors are giving away a similar product.
However, when I look at the huge stash of hats that my husband has - the ones tucked away in the closets, and drawers vs. the ones he actually wears... Certain caps come out on top every time.
As a picky cap consumer, he has specific features that he loves, and hates about his hats. A detail that seems minor to me - that doesn't measure up to his standards - can relegate that cap to the back of the drawer - forever. Our caps are of sturdy, neat construction, made of fabric that is durable and tightly woven - holds it's shape without being too stiff. The fit is sensible - not too low, but not too tall either (who wants to look like Elmer Fudd?) And the buckle closure on the back is the clamp style - allows infinite adjustment options for a perfect fit.
So, for under $20.00, you can buy a cap from us that surpasses his standards - that you can wear comfortably every day. Why be someone's walking billboard? When you can display a tasteful farrier logo that also coordinates with our other farrier business cards, invoices, and golf shirts.
Click here for our complete (but not free) cap selection.
Matching sportswear is here
Matching business cards are here
Matching invoices are here
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FARRIERS: Get your invoices at the OLD PRICE!I announced before that we use a local printer for our 2-part carbonless farrier invoice pads and he'd absorbed the increase in paper costs for a lot longer than he should have. He warned me that there was going to have to be an adjustment... you know - like having to pass on the increased price of shoes, nails, and shipping - after you finally sit down and realize how much more they are costing you vs how much the customer is paying for shoeing;you've given yourself a PAY CUT by not raising prices as materials increase? Anyway, that's what happened here, too.
The official increase took effect with the last catalog. However, we've held the old price ($9.00 per pad) on invoice pad ASSORTMENTS. With the assortment option, you get to choose the "A" or "B" body style, but WE pick the logos that you get. If it's important that your invoices match your business cards, then this might not be for you. But if you're wanting to save money, then here's a way to do it. The price is $40. for 5 pads - which is a savings of $1.00 per pad! To order, click here and scroll down to the yellow box
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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.
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Gloves for FARRIERS!
Are your hands covered with cuts and scrapes? Wear out gloves instead of your skin!
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.
Shown here is a tough, protective farrier glove that's made by riding glove manufacturer Heritage. These utilize goatskin leather, as opposed to the all-synthetic IronClads (below). These also come in Extra Small; I've had many requests for this size and previously was unable to offer.
 Next is IronClad's version for farriers. These are actually marketed to the construction industry and are called Framers - but they've got the exact same features that are important to farriers: the first two fingers and thumb are open for dexterity and sensitivity. They're reinforced and padded in areas that take the biggest beating. A velcro wrist closure for custom fit. There's even a clever (and thoughtful) but of absorbent towel sewn into the back of the thumb - so you can wipe sweat off your brow with the softest, cleanest part of your glove! These are 100% synthetic materials and they wash up amazingly well. No shrinking or stretching or stiffness. Just throw them in the washing machine and let them air dry. To order click here |
 THE HORSE IN ART by John Baskett may be as close as I ever get to seeing a Munnings painting in person. He's one of my favorite equine artists and is featured in my latest HALF PRICE BOOK offer. This profusely illustrated hardcover coffee table book begins with the horse in ancient civilizations, including masterpieces from Asia, and then discusses the horse in the Middle Ages, in which the animal was bred for warfare and agriculture and is represented in such scenes as the Bayeaux Tapestry. Renaissance artists, whose interest in horses was as great as that for the human form, are then discussed, evidence of which is shown in the skillful drawings of Leonardo da Vinci. The 17th century brought beautiful examples of naturalism from such masters as Peter Paul Rubens, while George Stubbs became the premier horse painter in 18th-century England. Works by Americans George Catlin and Frederic Remington are also explored, along with exquisite miniatures of natural scenes produced by Persian and Mughal painters from varying periods.
A new edition of a long out-of-print gem, The Horse in Art brings artistic representation of the horse to life - for only $20! See this, and the rest of the HALF PRICE BOOKS here
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Clutter busting 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 samples* - so many wonderful things, 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.
*A note about the samples - Someone made a comment on the HoofPrints Facebook page that the samples are free to me and implied should thus be priced accordingly. Just to set the record straight - I pay for almost every sample I acquire. Occasionally an author or publisher will send me a book unsolicited, but I prefer to buy these anonymously so if I review and don't think it is a good fit for the product line, I don't feel guilty about not including it.
Half Price PRINTS are 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. 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. Now that Christmas is past, I've marked them way down now to sweeten the deal.
 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 on that.
Newest is Half Price Books & Magazine Back Issues here
This represents a major turning point for HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling. This treasure trove of magazine back issues has been lovingly collected and hoarded for many, many years. It's getting to be a space problem, keeping them all stored AND due to the sheer volume of them, along with my busy schedule, they rarely get any attention. But even now, as I go through them to write sales descriptions, I am feeling sad at the prospect of letting go of this vast collection of pictures and articles about all the things I love - Horses, Dogs, Farriery and Blacksmithing, The West, Pretty Western Clothes and Jewelry, Awesome Country Homes, Recipes for Hearty Food, Healthy Living, Spirituality and more. I'll do my best to mention the content that stands out to me in the descriptions. Prices on these back issues reflect the fact that I am still very much in love with them, however they are at or below what the publishers are charging. The current sales list is small, but I'll be adding more as I am able; going through these is a slow process, as you can imagine, I get sidetracked frequently by all the fascinating content that lead me to hoard these in the first place.
The 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 here ALL newsletters are here
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WHAT'S NEW?
SALE on Summer T's
3 Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $10 each here!
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Leather Treat Pouch
Keep your phone, keys and more with you when you ride
- under $20 here
Use the free Endomondo App on your smart phone to keep track of your riding time, route, calories burned, etc
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Cute Thermometer
ON SALE!
BIG 17" tall! Makes a great gift! Durable enough for outdoors!
Order here
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BEST NEWS EVER!
BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY movie is in the works! Morgan Freeman has signed on as the star! In celebration, the book is $9.00 OFF here
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Farriers Traveling Desk
Corral your paperwork on the road! And it's HALF the cost of the previous version here
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HoofPrints has it! The classic print "FOUND"
12x16 Print available here
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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 |
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Mule & Donkey items
Check out this brass longear charm and more here |
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A HORSEWOMAN'S PRAYER
is printed on parchment,matted in a fancy mat with a brass Epona Medallion inset in the corner. The frame is an antique horseshoe pattern. Order here
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WHAT'S HALF PRICE?
American West Purses
Hill Country Collection here
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Courage doesn't always roar...
sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "i will try again tomorrow." To order click here
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This Hug's For You
Equine Sympathy Cards here |
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HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly Order 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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