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HoofPrints Newsletter
October 19, 2014
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 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.
I wasn't going to talk about these yet - they are still being printed. However... You all have suffered through my whining about lack of shelf space in the past - here I go again. I've got FOUR New Christmas card designs that are at the printer and will be here in a massive amount of boxes in a couple weeks. The best way to make room on the shelves is to sell out some HALF PRICE closeout cards and empty their slots. I'm no librarian by any stretch, but I learned a long time ago that arranging these on the shelf in order by part number is the most efficient way to quickly locate them when pulling and packing orders. This means the existing cards are all going to have to be moved around to make space for the new ones. With over 100 different versions available currently, that's a LOT of rearranging! I'll talk about what's on sale shortly, but first I want to debut the NEW ones:
Forging Holiday Greetings
This amazing image is by photographer Rachel Craig, who hails from Charleston, South Carolina. She's also a Registered Nurse who enjoys rock climbing. Typically, her photography has specialized in capturing details of couples' relationships - documenting engagements, weddings and all the special moments therein.

But on this day, the focus was on the relationship between man, fire and steel. We've all watched the shower of sparks emanating from the forge like a miniature orange fireworks display. The first hammer blows are always the most spectacular as the steel is red hot and the slag releases easily. So, as with all action photography, there are only a few milliseconds' worth of opportunity to get the perfect shot.
And this one is it. Here, the sparks in the background have morphed from fireworks to moody holiday lights and the horseshoe is showcased on the anvil's horn - a perennial symbol of well-wishes and goodwill. To order click here

  

O Holy Night 
is by Christina Handley - an award winning equestrian photographer who lives in Canada. With a career spanning over 18 years, her images have appeared in many well known equine and farm publications.

Christina and her husband Boyd live on a working farm in southern Ontario, and her photos reflect real life in agriculture and with horses. They own draft horses, beef cattle and a myriad of other farm animals, housed on lovely picturesque acres that include traditional farm outbuildings; we frequently see them all immortalized via her camera.

Her appreciation and reverence for the rural lifestyle is apparent in the sensitivity of her images, and this one is no exception. Dapple grey Dash is owned by Randy Robertson, and lives in Lakefield, Ontario. On this particular day it was snowing hard, and capturing the snow, while keeping the camera dry and the lens clean was a challenge. Thankfully, Christina was prepared, with the skills and equipment to capture this lovely winter scene - each snowflake as if carefully placed by the hand of God, echoing the same snowflake pattern in the coat of His most wondrous creation, the horse. Christina tells me that this particular picture has had no Photoshop editing done to it, and that it had been previously rejected by other photo buyers because they thought it had been artificially augmented! To order this one, click here


The Wise are not just men 
This one's also a Christina Handley photo. The wise ones shown are 14 year old Kelly, 9 month old Harry and 18 year old Rachel - members of Christina and Boyd's Belgian herd. This photo was taken in 2009 and sadly Kelly and Rachel are gone now. Harry has grown up to be a strapping big boy and is a standout in harness with his deep chestnut color. He's taken on his two foster mom's share of wisdom, and the Handleys are bringing him along in his training as a productive member of the farm's "staff". To order click here

  

May your neighs be merry and bright... 
Ex-racer Thoroughbred Lincoln now events at the Training/Prelim. level with Nicole Robertson. He lives at (I couldn't make this up) Caberneigh Farm in Ontario. On this particular day it was snowing hard, and capturing the snow, while keeping the camera dry and the lens clean was a challenge. But the very last shot of the session, Lincoln looked back at photographer Christina Handley, with an impish gleam in his eye and a big snort of frosty breath. This spontaneous capture proved to be one of the very best out of hundreds taken that day. To order click here
REMEMBER - these are still at the printer, so if you order them you will not see your package for a couple weeks

NOW - HERE ARE THE REAL BARGAINS - ONLY $3.98 per package! 
Hammering out a greeting card Hammering Out A Christmas Greeting is photographed by Laura Cotterman - a farrier's wife. Laura waited until her husband was out of town - so she could use his anvil and tools as props! The result is this lovely card with cookies and milk waiting for Santa on the anvil!
To order click here.


I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day  is actually a montage of TWO photographs. The horse bells (yes - HORSE bells - more about those to follow) were originally photographed on a corral fence in front of a band of horses - and NOT in the winter. I was able to carefully separate the bells and fence from the rest of the photo, and superimpose it over this lovely scene of a cowboy and his horse, paying homage at sunset to a decorated Christmas tree. It took a very long time to do this, but I think the result was worth the effort.

For what it's worth, I usually don't have a preconceived idea of what these cards will be. They just happen. Sometimes I start with a verse - sometimes I start with an image, and they just evolve as I go along. I was particularly moved by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's verse about Christmas bells. Even though it was written in the 1800's, the words ring (pardon the pun) remarkably true for today's times, too.

...And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."...

Then, I was incredibly fortunate to find this lovely image of horse bells! According to western photographer David Stoecklein, a bell mare is a mare that wears a bell around her neck so that all the other horses in the remuda can tell where she is and stay close to her. The bell is also a signal to the horse wranglers as to the location of the herd. This is a very old tradition in herding of all animals just like cow bells and sheep bells. On the dude ranches, every night the horses are turned out on huge (500+ acre) pastures. The bells help the wranglers find the horses in the dark as they round them up for the dudes every morning. This one is available ONLY WITH the Thank You for Your Business, so keep that in mind as you make your selection(s) here.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas is also ONLY available WITH the Thank You for your Business phrase, but I can't believe that someone involved with snow removal, or ski lodge or other outdoor sports has not snatched these up. Another photo by David Stoecklein, it features Clydesdales standing in more snow than most of us would probably like to see, after this last winter, ever again. But a pretty scene nonetheless.

See ALL the HALF PRICE Cards here

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Some exciting NEW stuff for fall.
The last few years have brought slim pickin's in the garment department. 
Finding this cool stuff for you all, and making it available at a reasonable price can be a challenge. One of my favorite outerwear vendors has had some troubles and the quality of their products is not as good these days. There are other options out there, but fancy jackets with lots of details don't come cheap. Once I add the horsey embroidery, well, that often puts it out of what is reasonable for most folks' budgets.
That's why I am so excited about this new Red Fleece Lined Suede Stable Jacket. 
OK, so it's not really suede of the genuine leather persuasion, but you'd never know by touching it. It's made of a high-tech polyester fabric, velvety red suede on the outside, cushy charcoal sherpa fleece on the inside. The two layers are bonded together so this fits like a dream. Smooth, warm, comfortable. How could it get any better? The fabric is 4-way stretch, and it washes up great with no special coddling in the laundry. Two-way zipper unzips from the bottom for freedom of movement. Lined side pockets and top access zip pockets hold all your stuff without being bulky, Use the upper chest pocket to keep your phone close by - you can feel vibrations if ringer is off and/or have easy access for headphone cord. Sleeves are cuffed so you can adjust for perfect fit, right sleeve is embroidered with elegant Cavalero Horse logo. Comes in sizes S - XXL. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIZE CHART to ensure that you're ordering the correct size. These run big. To order click here
  Bucephalus headband Order the new Red Suede Jacket and get a Bucephalus Fleece Headband only 1�!
Yup! It's just a PENNY when you purchase any other garment from us that's priced over $50
We've embroidered it with a funky graphic of 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. You can see the picture that inspired this logo here. Some garments that qualify for the free headband offer are here
 

Another new one! Mocha colored Suede Bomber Jacket 
with sherpa fleece lining - priced UNDER $50! 
Again, this one's not really suede of the genuine leather persuasion, but you'd never know by touching it. It's made of a high-tech polyester fabric, velvety mocha suede on the outside, cushy oatmeal-colored sherpa fleece on the inside. The two layers are bonded together so this fits like a dream. Smooth, warm, comfortable. How could it get any better? The fabric is 4-way stretch,
and it washes up great with no special coddling in the laundry. Two-way zipper unzips from the bottom for freedom of movement. Zip pockets hold all your stuff without being bulky and right sleeve is embroidered with Cavalero Horse logo. Comes in sizes M-XXL. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIZE CHART to ensure you are ordering the correct size. To order click here

Revisiting the BAD News 
There will be no 2015 Horses and Hope Calendar. 
Sarah and I are taking a break from this big project. Watch for updates, though, as we are not tabling it forever. In the meantime, please support the horse rescue(s) of your choice. Also, you may want to join the Horses and Hope Calendar Project Community on Facebook to get updates and see more of Sarah's pictures.

As a rather pale substitute (how's that for crappy marketing copy?) I do have in stock the
2015 Horse Women Wall Calendar.
 
Shown at left, this beautiful, large size glossy calendar features 12 different photos of a woman and her horse, paired with an inspirational quote. 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. To order that, click here

Here's what we talked about last time
What Did I Miss? graphic
Last newsletter is here
ALL newsletters are here
Farriers Traveling Desk

Corral your paperwork on the road! And it's HALF the cost of the previous version here
BELOW HALF PRICE!
clay dog plaque
"Hug" clay plaque
Regular price $14.50
now only $4.99 here
Silver Dog Whistle
Dog Whistle
Solid Sterling Silver Whistle on waxed cotton cord here
BAD DOG
A Love Story
Bad Dog cover
This story is an epic journey to sobriety and a well behaved dog at the same time. At one point a professional tells the author that his angst is responsible for a great deal of the reason his dog acts out. (How many of us horse owners are learning the exact same thing?) There's excellent commentary on dog training methods currently popular today woven in with the author's experience with AA's 12 step program. This book is funny, serious, and thought provoking. To order click here
TUFF CHIX GLOVES

"Best. Gloves. Ever!" ~HoofPrints customer testimonial. More info here
Horse Lovers Bible
Horse Lovers Bible
Leather bound Bible is gift boxed - it's the bestselling NIV version with additional 12 pages of horse photos accompanied by inspirational thoughts and scripture verses.
Bible Pocket Partners
Bible Pocket Partners
31 days of meaningful devotional pages - perfect for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages! HoofPrints Christian products are 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
COFFEE & DOG HAIR
Dog Hair Travel Mug
I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM
16 oz Ceramic Travel Mug with leakproof lid only $16.95 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
Equine ER Book
Equine ER Book Cover
See this and more books about people helping animals here
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back Necklace
That's Not Where You're Going - Inspirational Necklace only $14.95 here
WHAT'S HALF PRICE?
Farrier & Horsey
AIR FRESHENERS!
Farrier car air fresheners
Farrier Air Fresheners include Money, Leather, and Sport Fresh here
Horse Air Fresheners
Horse Woman's Air Fresheners include Leather, Hay, and Carrot here
MANURE MOVERS
Manure Movers Sweatshirt
OF AMERICA - sweatshirt and sign available here
Cowboy 10 Commandments Sign
Ten Commandments sign
Sturdy Embossed Tin Sign is under $10. - order here
Message

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