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HoofPrints Newsletter
February 28, 2015
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.
Anvil Magnet
Trials and Strong Backs 
That's what this week was all about here at HoofPrints. 
In previous newsletters, I've alluded to the fact that there's a big remodeling project in the works. A project involving timbers from an old barn, being repurposed in our also-old house. That's been ongoing for a few weeks now, and it's been interesting, to say the least. I guess I should stop watching the HGTV shows, because all I do is criticize them. But really? Where is the reality of the challenge of the home owners and the builders harmoniously co-existing? Because it IS a big challenge. A VERY big challenge. For us, with the disruption and the mess, but also for the workers - with the obstacles they have to navigate in order to do their jobs.
Watching the workers carefully wrestle those heavy timbers into place on the ceiling, is not unlike watching a farrier at work. They must contort their bodies in ways to accommodate the material or creature they are working with. Heavy beams, hot iron, a live, moving animal - all must be managed with efforts to protect everyone involved.
All day long, I sit here in my office and can hear the workers at their task. I hear chatting, laughing, sometimes even singing. But no complaining. You can read more about what they are doing here.
It's like that with farriers, too. 
There is a special perspective that comes with being self-employed (especially if that employment involves back-breaking labor) A great sense of humor is one of them. Another is the wisdom and wherewithal to interact pleasantly with others on a personal and professional level, no matter what's going on reciprocally. While we all know of cranky farriers who've got a chip on their shoulder from hearing annoying owner comments and dealing with difficult animals, most of you have a level of maturity that lets you focus your efforts on doing the job at hand, rather than continually chafing at others' rude behavior. 
And that's pretty cool. 
Here at HoofPrints, I use an outside Call Center to answer our phones when I am of the office. This has proven to be much better than an answering machine as the call center staff can take orders, relay messages and answer questions for callers after hours. Often, though, the calls they get are from folks who've come home at the end of a day to the unhappy situation of a damaged package or incorrect shipment - and they need to talk to someone about rectifying the problem. Call Center Plus is a fairly large company, and the owner has told me on more than one occasion that OUR CUSTOMERS (that's you all) are BY FAR the best to deal with of any of the companies they answer phones for. Bar none. We already knew that - but it's nice to be reminded - and I wanted to pass along the compliment. Thanks for being great customers!

The farrier featured on the 2015 Magnetic Calendar is not faring as well as the mule's farrier above, but he is hard at work - finishing the job AND giving folks a chuckle about a rather serious subject.
Safety. 
Many owners never consider that their leaning, jerking, kicking horse could end their farrier's career with just one incident. Each month in this fun little calendar features a light-hearted look at a serious aspect of farriery. From proper working conditions, to well-behaved horses, to bratty kids and dogs, even marital issues - it's all in there!
Magnetic Farrier Calendars are HALF PRICE while supplies last -
to order click
here 
 


Desiderata cover
Inspirational Book: DESIDERATA for Horse Lovers by Max Ehrmann

Consider this interesting background about the poem from the introduction: "I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift - a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods." These wistful words are Max Ehrmann's, a prolific if unheralded author and poet from Terre Haute, Indiana who lived from 1872 to 1945. His creative wish was finally fulfilled in 1927 when he penned this lovely and timeless Desiderata, a latin word for the term "things that are yearned for." But Ehrmann would never enjoy the accolades ensuing from his sole masterpiece, for the poem was not popularly published until 1948, three years after his death, in a collection titled, The Poems of Max Ehrmann.

Even then attribution and wide recognition for the work eluded Ehrmann. The book garnered little national attention, but one Maryland reader, the Rev. Frederick Kates, was sufficiently impressed with Desiderata to reprint it (apparently without credit to the author) in 1959 as a handout to his congregation. The letterhead atop the poem read, "Old St Paul's Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692" (the date noting the year of the church's founding). And so began decades of confusion as copies of the poem carrying the letterhead were widely circulated. This eventually lead to the urban myth that the poem was originally written in 1692 by an anonymous cleric of Old St Paul's Church - a notion since debunked by scholars as well as attornies representing Max Ehrmann's literary estate.

The mistaken assumptions regarding the timeline and source of the poem are perhaps understandable, for the enduring, serene message of Desiderata crosses centuries and generations. In fact, in this special edition the words transcend mankind itself as Max Ehrmann's humble gift is presented to you in unique gallery of memorable equines. This book makes an inspirational gift (for yourself or another) as it pairs on each page a few lines of the verse with an appropriate equine photo. The verse in it's entirety is reprinted again in the back few pages:

DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
To order click here  


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: An exciting NEW jacket - and now it's ON SALE!
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 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.  
Here's a fun pic of the Ladies Stable Jacket in action: 
Fifteen year old Ty Gordon is daughter of R&M Ranch Rescue's Michelle Gordon. Also shown is the lovely Thoroughbred mare Star, one of the ranch's permanent resident rescues. Star's story is here.

The jacket comes in sizes S - XXL. BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIZE CHART to ensure that you're ordering the correct size. These run a bit strange in how they are cut. And - I've marked it down by $10.00! here 

Clean Up CLOSEUP
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 is 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.

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 overstocks, items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too.

In This Issue
Here's what we talked about last time
What Did I Miss? graphic
Last newsletter is here
ALL newsletters are here
Mule & Donkey items
Donkey Charm
Check out this brass longear charm and more here
Customer Favorite:
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 
HALF PRICE
Best-Selling DVD
Buck 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!)
The Buck DVD is here
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
BELOW HALF PRICE!
clay dog plaque
"Hug" clay plaque
Regular price $14.50
now only $4.99 here
The Doctor is In Horse Thermometer
Horse Doctor Thermometer
Measures a big 17" tall and under $15.00! Order here
2015 Equestrian Day Planner HALF PRICE!

2015 Gypsy Vanner Engagement Calendar just $8.98 here

This Hug's For You

Equine Sympathy Cards here
NEW - IMPROVED

Horse Woman's LONG TALL LIST of things to do here
I Know Great Horses Live Again
Great Horses Framed Verse 2013
Somewhere...somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on
and tall trees grow

Some Paradise
where horses go.

For by the love
that guides my pen

I know great horses live again.
Order the Great Horses custom framed verse here
Silver Dog Whistle
Dog Whistle
Solid Sterling Silver Whistle on waxed cotton cord here
Farriers Traveling Desk

Corral your paperwork on the road! And it's HALF the cost of the previous version here
Message

I LOVE hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner
Gina Keesling via email at [email protected]
 
Find us on facebook
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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
 
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)