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HoofPrints Newsletter
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January 4, 2015
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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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Vests are the BEST! How do I know?
Because I test every product that HoofPrints sells.
If I don't like it, then you never see it. And I'm pretty picky about my stuff. I have no tolerance for any garment that can't survive normal laundering. I wash test everything - and if it looks different once it's been washed, we don't sell it. Sloppy seams that look like they'll come out? Axed. Zippers, buttons, fasteners that look wimpy? It's out. If a garment makes the cut, then I have it decorated locally with one of HoofPrints unique horsey logos. They're not the cheapest, but a good quality, long lasting garment trumps a cheap one in my book any day.
Shown here are a few favorites (both garments and animals). If you click the picture it will take you to a larger version. The fleece Headband is a great little ear-warmer that would be easily worth $9.95 withOUT the spiffy Bucephalus embroidery that makes it stand out as a horsey statement. I like it especially because the black trim on top and bottom has just the right grip to keep it positioned over your ears. And it's the perfect width to fit under a ponytail. Another favorite is the Zippered BARN Girl hood. It's a lovely celadon green and is super soft inside. We've embroidered it with our intricate logo of a gal struggling with a bale of hay. Sadly, the heavy vest I am wearing is discontinued so I'll refrain from singing the praises on that one. However, I'd still like to sing the praises of vests in general. Vests are the best because they give you so much more freedom about the arms than a regular coat. Paired with the sweatshirt or longsleeve T of your choice, you've got more options for climate control, too. If you start to overheat (as often is the case with me) you can take off the vest without getting chilled until you cool down. This is not really an option with a heavy coat as then you get too cold.  Shown at left is the wardrobe staple that's with me as soon as it starts to get cool outside. This soft fleece vest has a flattering, slimming cut and lots of details; zippered pockets, adjustable elastic hem, longer tail in the back for better coverage. With the insanely cold temps we've been having here lately, our 1880's farmhouse has been more than chilly. Pair that with a thermostat war of sorts as propane prices have skyrocketed - and I am throwing vests at everybody in the house. "Here, put this on. It'll solve everything." and it does. Vests are a better solution than piling on another long-sleeve layer. The biggie for me is the collar. If my neck is cold then the whole rest of me is cold. But, being of a certain age - wearing a turtleneck is NOT the answer. Because in 5 minutes I may be overheated. This radical temperature fluctuation is easily solved with the stand-up (or not) vest collar and zipper. In two seconds I can be wearing a turtleneck of sorts - or a v-neck - depending on whether I am chilling or sweating. This fleece vest is only $29.95 - pretty cheap really, for personal climate control. It's available in 3 colors here. ***NOTE - be sure to check the size charts to verify that you're getting the perfect size, and especially note the arm hole measurements. These tend to run a bit on the small side*** It seems dumb to promote a product that HoofPrints doesn't sell (I don't have the space to stock all the sizes) - but if you've not discovered fleece lined jeans, then be sure to give them a look this season. They're the best thing to help you stay warm, and much easier to manage than long underwear. Lots of places carry them, a good place to start is here
The horse I am riding is Billy, he's doing well despite is advanced (and still undetermined) age. Longtime newsletter subscribers will remember the exciting tale of his "discovery", his arrival in Indiana, his accident, and the happy ending here, and all the things I learned along the way here and here ***Please keep in mind as you read these old newsletters that the links/products/sales contained therein may no longer be valid.*** Once a newsletter is archived I am unable to edit it. (solving that is on my to-do list... thanks for understanding)
The black dog is Bailey, one of a pair of young labs who were dumped here a while back. Thanks to HoofPrints newsletter subscriber Bonnie - she gave the other pup (Ellie) a wonderful home. Bailey has settled in here nicely and continues to amuse with her silly antics, there's a story about her foray into the world of good behavior here
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I got a little carried away when I ordered the Suede Bomber Jackets
this fall. I was so excited I bought almost all the manufacturer had on hand.
This is a great jacket, and I'd like to see a lot more of them keeping folks warm as they do their chores instead of sitting here on my shelves.
So I've marked them down by $10.00! The regular price is a bargain at $49.95 for such a nice jacket, so $39.95 is a steal. I won't lie and say "Get them while supplies last!" as I've already confessed to having plenty. However, once the inventory is sufficiently depleted so I'm not getting twitchy as I scan the bursting-at-the-seams shelves - then I'll put it back to the regular price.
MORE ABOUT THE JACKET: 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
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NEW BOOK! Third in the series about Living A Dream With Horses...
Interesting characters, both human and equine, enrich the lives of veterinarians every day. I Make Horse Calls, More Horse Calls and Call Dr Tebow, She Makes Horse Calls are collections of true heartwarming, not heartbreaking, stories from equine veterinary practice.
From the rare diseases that pose diagnostic challenges, to the exhilaration of saving lives and the joy of life itself, the true, uplifting stories allow the reader a glimpse into the world of veterinary practice. These books by Marcia A Thibeault, DVM define the importance of teamwork between owner and veterinarian in order to save the lives of animals, while exposing the depth of the human-animal bond. Humorous and poignant stories entertain readers with a wide array of equine and human characters and along the way deliver small doses of education about horse care. They illustrate the dedication of veterinarians and the important role owners play in the health care team that maintains their horses' good health. You'll enjoy following the author on her challenging journey from show horse groom, through pre-vet classes through veterinary school and into practice.
Gina's note: These stories aren't all about the author curing animals. One in particular stands out in my mind, where the author's own dog Pischka was sick and no vet could diagnose:
"She acted like a horse with colic, sitting with her head held low, her nose hovering just above her toes, refusing to eat. I took her to my regular vet seeking help.
He diagnosed an upset stomach from eating garbage. I knew he was wrong because Pischka didn't have access to garbage. He insisted. I followed his advice, giving her mineral oil for an upset stomach, the same treatment horse vets use for colic, but I know she got better on her own.
When the problem recurred, I took Pischka to a different clinic. The vet again diagnosed "garbage can gut". When I described her symptoms, he told me dogs don't get those kind of symptoms. He implied that I was crazy, because dogs don't get colic. And he recommended mineral oil.
When the problem occurred the next time, I tried a third vet, who said Pischka wasn't sick. I was frustrated that none of the vets tried to figure it out. The problem recurred several times a year, but she remained undiagnosed until I became a vet student. The next time she was sick I took her to the teaching hospital. A senior vet student, in less than five minutes, using only her hands, diagnosed a rare liver condition based on the size of her liver. She just did a thorough physical exam, including palpating her abdomen, and lab tests later confirmed her diagnosis."
.... the book goes on to describe the condition in detail ... the author continues:
"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."
To order Dr Thibeault's (pronounced Tebow's) books click 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.
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 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.
Right now the page is missing it's magazines, rest assured they are NOT all gone and will be back on for sale soon.
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 here ALL newsletters are here
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The Doctor is In Horse Thermometer
Measures a big 17" tall and under $15.00! Order here |
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The Natural Superiority of Mules
Brand new updated second edition covers everything you ever wanted to know about mules. Order here
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Horsey Zipper Pulls
A great way to dress up any vest, jacket, sweatshirt, or purse. Order here
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TUFF CHIX GLOVES
"Best. Gloves. Ever!" ~HoofPrints customer testimonial.
Gina's note: The top picture is one of two pairs of Tuff Chix that I have been wearing for years - before the laundry. The second picture is my second pair that was similarly dirty, AFTER the laundry.
More info here
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HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly Order here |
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NEW - IMPROVED
Horse Woman's LONG TALL LIST of things to do here
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COFFEE & DOG HAIR TRAVEL MUG
I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM
16 oz Ceramic Travel Mug with leakproof lid only $16.95 here
See more gifts for DOG LOVERS here
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BEST NEWS EVER!
BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY movie is in the works! Morgan Freeman has signed on as the star! This TRUE STORY is a fascinating feel-good tale that's loaded with accurate historical details from our country's history. Make sure you've read it before you see the movie! Order here
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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
31 days of meaningful devotional pages - perfect for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages! HoofPrints Christian products are here
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Leather Treat Pouch
Keep your phone, keys and more with you when you ride
- under $20 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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This is part of a newsletter I sent on SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY. Many of you are new customers so I thought it merited a repeat.
HoofPrints is SO SMALL...well, it couldn't BE any smaller than it is (one person).
Farriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling (me) 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. Long story here. For years I tried to make the company seem "bigger" - so as to compete with the thick horsey catalogs that showed up in my own mailbox almost daily. But I finally stopped trying to be something I am not. As I have gotten older and less energetic, it's been of paramount importance to streamline the operation so that I can continue to focus on procuring the unique and inspirational products that you all seem to love. Special thanks are in order, also, to my dear husband Rob, and his mom Judy - who help me get the products onto the shelves (folding and packaging) as well as back off and into boxes on their way to customers during this busy holiday time.The all new website is the latest (and one of the biggest/scariest) steps in that direction. It streamlines a lot of data entry that previously took hours, freeing me up for more important tasks. But the "smallness" doesn't stop in the HoofPrints warehouse (which is a pole barn behind my house in the middle of a cornfield). I use an outside call center to answer my order line 24/7. Call Center Plus is not some detached entity in a foreign land that can't do much but frustrate callers. No, CCP is a small business success story of it's own. This company began as a home-based business in a Utah bedroom loft by a single mom with zero business experience - as a means of supporting her children while still being home with them. The odds of succeeding suggest that any one of those factors would be cause for failure. However the odds of success never went up against someone with as much faith, determination, and imagination as Ilene Christensen. When her business outgrew the loft, in order to still be home with her children and to keep overhead low, Ilene converted part of her garage into office space. With shear grit, determination, and prayer, she continued to grow the business. A call center requires the use of sophisticated equipment, so out of necessity she also learned about computer hardware, software, and servers. She became an IT specialist as she learned to build, troubleshoot, repair, and program computers. You can read about the latest news at CCP here. And the "smallness" doesn't stop here, either. It continues with many of the products that HoofPrints stocks on our "middle of a cornfield" warehouse shelves. So, instead of offering discount prices to entice you all to buy, I'd like to share some of my favorite products that come from companies as small as mine, and encourage you to support them with your online shopping dollars. ~G
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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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