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HoofPrints Newsletter
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May 10, 2015
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"If you think you're beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will -
And it's all in the State of Mind."
~ this is the inscription printed on the postcards that Mrs Bryar had made for Last of the Saddle Tramps author Messanie Wilkins. Wilkins became a bit of a celebrity on her journey, and was able to fund a great deal of her expenses by selling the cards to well-wishers along the way.
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Here are some RIDING RULES for Old Horse Women:
* We DO NOT need to show up with our hair combed, make up on and wearing a clean shirt.
* Moaning, groaning and complaining about aching muscles is perfectly acceptable, as is taking Motrin (or something stronger) prior to a ride.
* Helping someone on or off the horse does not mean the rider is an invalid. It only means the horse got taller overnight.
* No one will comment about how big someone's butt looks in a saddle.
* When a horse is acting up we will accept that the horse is just having a bad hair day and it is not the rider's fault.
* Mentioning it is too hot, too dry, too humid, too wet, too buggy, etc., is considered self expression, not whining.
* We will acknowledge that horses are very strange animals and sometimes for no reason at all we fall off of them. If this happens to any rider the other riders will ascertain that the person is okay and then not mention the incident to another living soul, especially husbands and significant others.
* We will acknowledge, without apology, that riding more than 6 hours increases our grumpy level far more than any ego benefits we may get from riding longer.
* Looking at my bouncing fat is NOT an acceptable way of determining if I have a good seat. My fat always bounces, thank you. It is cushion I carry in case I fall off.
(author of the above rules is unknown)
No OTD (Older Than Dirt) rider shall be asked "What's your discipline?", "Are you showing next weekend?" or "What level are you?" Answers like "I am totally undisciplined", "I showed up today; isn't that enough?", and "Actually I tend to list a bit to the left" will be acceptable should anyone younger than dirt ask those ridiculous questions.
Shown above is the popular gift bag:
A Woman's Place is on A Horse!
What mom doesn't want to get out of the house and onto a horse?
This sparkly pink gift bag is sturdy, durable, and UNDER $5.00! It measures a handy 9 "x 4" x 12" (not counting the handles) When I posted a picture of it on HoofPrints Facebook page, a customer immediately chimed in: "I love this bag! It's just the right size for my lunch, or shoes + a big bottle of my favorite flavored water. And, since I carry a giant tote anyway, it takes up no room to have it folded and available when I need it, Plus -- it's pink; what more needs to be said?" ~Jenne
You can see this, and a sweatshirt that matches, along with all our other Horsewoman products here .
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A MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE
- to my mom and her mom...
I've known my mom for a long time. (my whole life) She's always been an inspiration with her "can do" attitude. There was no task that could not be accomplished with perseverance and hard work. Now that she and dad are retired, she's applied that same philosophy to having fun and adventure. They set off across the country in 60+ year old cars. They climb to the top of Sydney Harbor bridge in Australia (gasp) and a few years ago they rode mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The old car stuff is pretty much dad's idea, but the mule ride was something mom always wanted to do. So, she booked the trip, and they did it. For those of you who don't know about this ride, it involves riding mules on skinny trails next to steep cliffs with deadly drop-offs. And riding on a wooden suspension bridge that goes waaaayyy across - a huge distance above a river (and lots of sharp rocks). The fact that they've never "lost a rider" would be little consolation to my very much afraid of heights brain. But they survived, and had a very good time, too. I am flattered that she chose HoofPrints Tao of Equus jacket to wear on such a memorable trip.
Mother's Day marks the five-year anniversary of my grandmother's death on this weekend, 2009. My grandma was one of the strongest women I ever knew, she was a hard worker, enterprising, and smart. She lived her life to it's fullest, right up til the end, even when her aging body was failing her spirit was strong.
Noted women's health doctor Christiane Northrup speaks of mother-daughter wisdom, and the role of mitochondrial DNA. mtDNA is essentially your cells' mechanism by which food is converted to energy. Your ability to take a little fuel and keep going, your guts and fortitude, so to speak. The fascinating thing about this DNA is that it only is passed from mother to daughter. Not one bit of mitochondrial genetic material is inherited from the father. This explains perfectly, now, why horse breeders of old placed such value on the tail-female line, and why the mares (mothers) were so prized.
My grandma was a great lover and nurturer of animals of all species, she passed that affinity to my mom, who in turn passed it to me. You can read more about both of them in my latest blog post "Of Moms and Mitochondrial DNA" here.
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"My horse's name was Tarzan,
but on that morning, he looked like an open moving van. He was piled high with everything essential to our journey, or just about everything I still owned. The only clear space on his back was 12 inches of saddle where I intended to rest my 61 inches and 150 pounds. My pockets were stuffed with gear, so my true weight was closer to 200.
I don't know how old Tarzan was. He was aged, but he wasn't a complainer. Depeche Toi, my dog, was 14 months. With a name like that, you might think he was a poodle, but he wasn't. The shaggy little brown and white dog was mostly Spaniel and Dachshund.
'All I ask of you is patience, ' I said to my 2 companions.
'We're heading off for a long walk, but someday we'll settle down. I promise.'
The someday I had in mind was 25 months away, when I'd be 65 and eligible for old age benefits. I didn't tell them that, nor did I tell them that when and if we settled down, why it wouldn't be for long.
Months back, my doctor at the hospital had told me that I had 2-4 years to live,
'If you live restfully.' I figured I'd get plenty of rest in the saddle. I couldn't rest in my house because the bank was taking over.
I'd lived most of my life in that little house. First with my parents, then with my mother and Uncle Waldo, and finally alone.
'We won't get to California standing around here.' I put my left foot in the stirrup, swing my right leg up and over, and settled down in the saddle. Tarzan swung around and walked toward the road. The dog trotted along behind us. I put my hand in one pocket to make sure that our bankroll of $32. was there. It was.
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Don't Look Back Necklace only $14.95 here |
The road that ran past my ancestral farm was called an endroad in Maine. A plain dirt road running off a paved road, and the farm sat back almost a mile from the traffic.
Now, as we walked down that endroad for the last time, II didn't have the heart to look back at my little house. (I don't imagine that I will ever see it again.)
We hadn't progressed 100 yards when I started having the jitters. I'd been convincing myself for weeks that my plan was a wise one, now only 100 yards from home, I wasn't so sure. What sort of idiot am I anyway? $32. wouldn't get us to California, and who in his right mind would hire an old woman to work at odd jobs along the way? If the newspapers were right, plenty of men were out of work, so who would hire a complete stranger, an old woman dressed like a man?"
-from Last of the Saddle Tramps by Messanie Wilkins, an inspirational story about one woman's trek across the US, from Maine to California, on horseback. To order click here
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Hand Tied Gemstone Shamballa Bracelets
I'd been hoarding these sweet bracelets - thinking I'd come up with just the right charm or element to make them horsey. Seems like a couple years should have been enough time... so in the spirit of Spring Cleaning, I'll clean up the corner of my brain that was supposed to be working on this (maybe it's better suited to another task). You will know I am serious when you see the price = $3.95!
The word "Shamballa" translates to "Pure Land" in Tibetan culture, a place of peace, love, and purity that only people with great karmic connection can find. These gemstone bracelets feature nylon cords woven into knots in a fashion similar to macram�. The weaving includes your choice of four different gemstones. These stones, and their sequence in the weave, supposedly have a spiritual meaning and perhaps even healing powers.
Strung on sturdy braided nylon cord, hand knotted with an adjustable macram� closure (adjusts from about 7" - 9") Beads* are 7 mm., these bracelets great for both men and women. To order click here
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EVEN MORE ITEMS ADDED to HALF PRICE SALE!
Clutter busting continues at HoofPrints
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my 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 website/flyer. And the rest have got to go! Only one of each available so act fast if you see something you like. The image shown here is what was available at the time this newsletter was sent. All prices on this page are at least 50% off retail. The red SALE! tag doesn't show if a product has size or color options. Don't know why. Don't know how to fix it...
*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
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Here's what we talked about last time
Last newsletter is here ALL newsletters are here
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PONY GIRL'S ON THE LABEL!
Horse Woman's Balm
A great product that DOES WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO!
Order 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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DON'T do it yourself
FARRIER COASTERS
No farriers were harmed in the making of these coasters. To order click here
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GINA'S BLOG
Fun on the Farm
read the latest happenings in the Keesling household, involving construction, destruction, remodeling adventures and general wreckage here
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MADE IN USA
Don't Sell Your Saddle
Don't give up on dreams.
Take time to see 'em through.
There are no easy trails.
Hard work makes dreams come true.
You'll make it through tough times.
Friends will stick like glue.
Don't ever sell your saddle,
Dreams won't give up on you.
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Mule & Donkey items
Check out this brass longear charm and more here
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MADE IN USA
Secret Box
Nifty little wood box has a lid that fits so neatly that it's virtually invisible when closed. A real deal at only $19.95 here
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COFFEE & DOG HAIR
I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM
16 oz Ceramic Travel Mug with leakproof lid only $16.95 here
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MADE IN USA:
A CRAPPY MUG!
Same sh*t different day
mug here
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SPRINGY HORSEY Ts
3 Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $15 each here!
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Horsewoman's
HAIR CONTROL IDEAS
Sunny yellow embroidered HORSES LEAVE HOOFPRINTS ON YOUR HEART Cap here
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MADE IN USA
Riding for a Cure
See HoofPrints breast cancer awareness products here |
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MADE IN USA
Tooled Leather Bracelet
Features braided rawhide, engraved heart and fancy buckle. Only $19.95 here
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INSPIRATIONAL
Stretch Bracelets
Four fun styles to choose from here
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HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here
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HALF PRICE AND PRINTED IN USA: "Pharaoh's Horses"
20x26 Print with history and trivia article included is available here
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PRINTED IN USA:
This Hug's For You
Equine Sympathy Cards here
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Copper HoofPrint Bracelets in 7 colors!
Hand tied right here at HoofPrints - see them all here
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Silver Dog Whistle
Solid Sterling Silver Whistle on waxed cotton cord 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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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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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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