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HoofPrints Newsletter
August 16, 2015
ALL NEW Horsewoman's Prayer 
This popular Framed Verse is now available as a blank Greeting Card, too!
This prayer I wrote commemorating our love for horses was previously paired with a brass Epona medallion, double matted, and framed up in a frame embossed with horseshoes. But all good things come to an end - as did the inventory of frame stock. It was discontinued with no replacement to be found anywhere. I spent months looking, to no avail; the suitable replacements I did find would have made this picture end up costing my dear customers $50+

But when God closes a door, he opens a window - and this is it. For years I've fawned over Anwer Sher's lovely images of Yazemeenah Rossi and this grey Arabian. We discussed HoofPrints using the images a couple years ago, but I didn't move forward with creating a new product that would do them justice (remember, making new products is HARD - see below). I never considered that the Horsewoman's Prayer was the perfect go-with - as I already had that product buttoned up and on the shelves for sale. But when the frame source dried up and I had to come up with a "Plan B", the results ended up being better than I ever could have imagined. I found this basket weave leather frame (actually it is resin, but looks just like leather) - it's substantial and impressive - eliminates the need for a decorative mat entirely! The bottom picture is the one I had earmarked for the project, but when Anwer sent the images he included a few extra versions; and the top picture with the two faces fit so beautifully in with the text - it was surely meant to be. The best thing about leaving off the mat - it lets the images and the verses be larger. Sometimes I cannot believe how what seems like an intractable problem turns out to be an amazing stroke of luck. Check it out:
And if this news wasn't good enough - this arrangement with the alternate frame requires less components, and is a LOT less labor intensive to assemble - so the price is LOWER!
I am so excited, I made Greeting Cards (blank inside) too.
The Framed Verse is here
Greeting Cards are here 
But wait, there's MORE!!! HORSEY GIFT WRAP
I was so excited about the new Gift Wrap Assortments that I failed to mention that there are also individual rolls of GIFT WRAP to go with them. Four different colors of heavy paper, coordinated with the assortments, give you even more options for having an extra fancy presentation under the tree this Christmas. Gift wrap and assortments are available here
***ALL NEW***
Deluxe Assortments of Super High Quality Gift Wrap for Horse Lovers - 3 different styles to choose from!

These awesome gift wrap collections were designed by a lifelong horse owner, whose career happened to be in packaging design - so all the details are just right!

Each assortment includes 8 pieces; everything you need to wrap up a hoard of gifts in horsey style.

There's a rich plaid with embossed foil horseshoe -

Gold foil harlequin pattern with classic engraved horses-

and rich tooled leather that looks and feels so real you can hardly believe it's paper and not genuine leather!

Regular price on each of these assortments is over $30 - and they're ON SALE for just $21.95 here



HOT ENOUGH FOR YA?
Keep track of the temps with this horsey thermometer: 
The Doctor Is In! All I Pay My Psychiatrist is the Cost of Feed and Hay - he'll listen to me any day!

Here is a delightful way to keep track of those ridiculous cold temps we've been experiencing! We found this spiffy metal thermometer - with the perfect horse saying - for only $14.95! It's made of durable, fade resistant tin, measures a big 17" tall, and is suitable for indoor our outdoor use. The thermometer glass is a FULL 6" tall - and the numbers are big enough to read easily.

What a great (and useful) gift idea for a horse-loving friend. And it's inexpensive enough to send "just because".

I have dozens of folks I call my friends - that I've met along my horse challenge journey, who I have never actually met in person. They're part of various internet communities that I frequent, and they've all helped me immensely with their wise words and advice for all manner of equine quandaries. Training, nutrition, tack - you name it - someone in cyberspace has answered my questions about it. In my experience, when used with discernment and further research, this information has proven to be every bit as helpful and valuable as the advice that I have gotten from a myriad of professionals that I have PAID along the way. When one of my internet friends goes out of his or her way to help me - I always wish I had something appropriate that I could send as a thank you gift. This is the PERFECT solution. To order one for yourself or for your friend(s) click here .

Well, this is unusual...
The horse's eye is not very well understood - in fact, scientists just did notice that the eyes ROTATE in the horse's head so that the pupil stays oriented vertically to the horizon when he puts his head down to graze. Details here 

I am no scientist, but I have always had a fascination with the structures of a horse's eye, so I had these necklaces made up by one of my favorite vendors - Lizabettas.

These necklaces look like something you'd find tucked in the bottom of an antique dresser drawer, except this new version depicts in accurate detail the features of a horse's eye - the iris, pupil, and of course the unusual looking Corpora Nigra, which is said to reflect the sun's rays away from the pupil.

Lizabettas lovely jewelry is made one piece at a time. The glass dome covering the picture is NOT a separate component that's fastened into the bezel. An assembly process that, at first blush, might seem rather simple. On the contrary - it's actually a special resin compound that comes in liquid form - and Tiffany pours the exact correct amount into each one - to encase and preserve the picture permanently within the pendant. I can't imagine how messy this process could be - she must have it mastered as I have never, ever received a piece from her that wasn't absolutely perfect.

The new  Horse Eye Necklace, is available in four different chain colors for a limited time. Once I sort out which color is the favorite then the others will be discontinued, so if you have a particular affinity for brass, copper, gunmetal or silver you may want to order now here.

Lizabettas also makes four other necklaces for HoofPrints:
Found Vintage Necklace, featuring Walter Hunt's image of the print by the same name. You can order that here
Vintage Indian Horsewoman sold here
Pharaoh's Horses sold here
KEEP CALM AND RIDE ON sold here 

Long, Tall List for Horsewomen: The original version pictured in the HoofPrints flyer is sold out. BUT - I came up with a replacement for that, too.

For a couple years we carried the Long, Tall List pad picturing the bedraggled woman on her bedraggled horse - scanning the list with worried eyes. It was so popular that I brought on board a second pad of similar ilk that features a woman riding, facing backwards: "Some days I don't know if I'm comin' or goin'!" - and bundled the two into a money saving set.

But then, I got the news that the original Long, Tall List pad is sold out at the publisher! So I fabricated this replacement, using artwork by my friend, horsewoman Lesley Bruce. You can see closeups of  these diligent women chipping away at their Long, Tall List here.

I think she's captured the feeling that most women experience when they scan their own list of chores! The list is magnetic (so you can stick it on the fridge) measures 9" tall x 4" wide, and has 60 full color sheets for you to keep track of your tasks.

At HoofPrints, we know what it's like to have a long, tall list of things to do. That's why we've assembled this fun group of unique and creative gifts for busy horsewomen. Whether you need to find a thoughtful gift for a horse-loving friend, or a little pick-me-up reward for yourself, we've got you covered. Right down to the long, tall list notepad to keep track of it all. I've placed these, appropriately, in the Useful Stuff category on the all-new website. There are plenty of great products for horsewomen - see them all here
 

Finally - some NEW products!
Coming up with new things is HARD. 
I get a lot of wonderful feedback from folks, praising the unique variety of items that HoofPrints has available for horse lovers and equine professionals. This is a fairly fun process - wandering around the internet, and in stores and catalogs, looking for ideas for cool stuff you all might like to buy. Or getting ideas for things I could make or have made.

But the reality is, it's also HARD. If I didn't care about the PRICE, I'd have 10x the stuff for sale in my little online store. However, my warehouse would be packed to the gills with product just sitting - because no one could afford to buy it. That is the case a LOT with the really nice garments - my cost is too high for me to be able to add horsey decoration and not have it cost a fortune to the customer.

A second facet is QUALITY. With digital cameras and editing capabilities being what they are these days, it's pretty easy to make any old thing look really good in a picture on the internet. But I never, ever want anyone to be disappointed with an item once they receive it. And that extends to after they USE it, too. All my garments are wash-tested, jewelry is worn for comfort testing, etc. Products are USED to make sure they perform as expected.

Finally, there's AVAILABILITY. It's really dumb to go through the first two steps to procure a great product, only to discover that the supply has run out and there are no more to be had. These days, with everybody tightening their metaphorical belts, manufacturers are doing the same - they are producing products conservatively. If an item is a huge hit for Christmas gift sales and sells out, they often consider that a success - and do NOT replenish their stock to fill additional orders.

Shown above are a dozen of my latest. greatest finds. Most are in stock now for immediate shipment. The rest are on the way and can ship very soon. I am still in the process of writing the descriptions and adding size charts on the garments, so stay tuned. You can check back to see what new items have been added by clicking here.
In This Issue
Here's what we talked about last time
What Did I Miss? graphic
Last newsletter is  here  
ALL newsletters are here
GINA'S BLOG
Fun on the Farm

read the latest happenings in the Keesling household, involving construction, destruction, remodeling adventures and general wreckage 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
NEW BOOK! Great Horse Stories for Girls

Fourth in the series of Christian Horse Stories by Montana Horsewoman Rebecca Ondov - available here
NEW! Tuff Chix CHORE GLOVES

great for grooming, building fence, baling hay and other farm chores, gardening, and even riding!
To order, click here 
HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Barn Blade Pink Knife
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here
NEW! BLACKSMITH COIN NECKLACE

ON BRAIDED LEATHER CORD -  available here
DON'T do it yourself
FARRIER COASTERS

No farriers were harmed in the making of these coasters. To order click here
It's Back! HOLLYWOOD HOOFBEATS

New updated version includes 10 more years of horse movies - to order click here
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back Necklace
That's Not Where You're Going - Inspirational Necklace only $14.95 here
MADE IN USA:
A CRAPPY MUG!
Same Sh*t Mug
Same sh*t different day
mug here
This Hug's For You

Equine Sympathy Cards here
SUMMER HORSEY Ts
3 horsey t-shirts
3 Summery Horsey T-shirts less than $15 each here!
MADE IN USA
Secret Box
Horse 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
Message
Gina Keesling with Clydesdale
I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at [email protected]
 
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 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.
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)