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HoofPrints Newsletter
September 27, 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 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.
Bailey rolling closeup
Could a crazy dog be a cover dog? Maybe so - read on to find out how...
First, a little background: Longtime subscribers already know that I have been on an epic journey involving my horsemanship. I went along fine for years, quite fearlessly, with no trouble at all from my mounts. Then, I got a little (ahem) older, and along came a horse (chestnut mare Allie) who didn't appreciate my bossy attitude. We had some spectacular confrontations that left me shaken to the core, any confidence I had in my abilities to ride, let alone train, was vaporized. I spent considerable time sulking, in a despair that no animal would ever want anything to do with any kind of partnership involving me. 
Then, along came Bailey.
Bailey's a black lab who was dumped here at our farm a few years ago. She could be legitimately classified as a "crazy dog". Her default behavior is jumping. Like she as springs for legs. For the most part I've stifled her her urge to jump and put feet ON people - but that doesn't stop her from springing along beside me as I walk, leaping shoulder high and occasionally planting a friendly lick to my cheek. Which I allow as long as no muddy paws touch my clothes.

Professional photographers Lauren Duncan and Brittany Henderson did NOT capture a single image of her that failed to impart her charismatic silliness. As I tell in my story below, this dog is an explosive, enthusiastic jumper, but what the cameras saw made us laugh even more. You can see larger versions in my Facebook album here.

The spastic jumping thing is a little weird, but she's a happy girl, and tries really hard to please. As I worked on helping her improve her manners, she proved to be an astoundingly willing pupil - and would try anything I asked her to do. If she didn't understand a request, she just kept offering up answers until she got it right. And jumping.

Bailey doesn't limit her jumping efforts to conventional obstacles. 
 
Notice that the tagline says Orvis Cover Dog Wannabe
. For Bailey to earn a real cover dog title, she'll have to win the popular vote against some very stiff competition.
Everything is fair game, at least once. The horses' water tank is a regular destination in summer when it's hot and a refreshing dip is in order.

The day Lauren and Brittany were photographing the horses was as good as any, and Lauren just happened to wheel around at the perfect instant and capture Bailey's exit leap. The resulting picture is too good not to share with the world! It epitomizes the life of a farm dog, working hard all day, making do with amenities that are available, and loving life the whole time.

quotation mark left
It occurred to me that Bailey might make a fine Orvis Cover Dog." 
 
For those not familiar with the Orvis Cover Dog Contest - the Orvis Company is best known for its mail order fly-fishing equipment. But this Vermont-based business, which operates the oldest mail order operation in the country, also has a robust dog products catalog and online presence, as well as 70 retail stores in the United States.

They partnered with the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit that invests in science to promote animal health, and is a leader in funding scientific studies for companion animals, horses, and wildlife. When Morris launched its Canine Cancer Campaign, Orvis seemed like a likely partner and together they created the Orvis Cover Dog Photo Contest - there's a video about the project here.  Participants are invited to submit a picture of their dog to the contest and then invite friends and family (through social media) to vote for their pooch online. Each vote costs $1 with a $5 minimum vote/(tax deductable) donation. All the entries are here, Bailey's entry is here. It seems especially poignant that Bailey's image is helping to raise funds for Canine Cancer Research, as she lost her BFF Puppy-Girl earlier this year to cancer.

There is not much time - the voting closes Wednesday 9/30!
To vote for Bailey, click
here.


Want to read more about Bailey and her crazy jumping? She's got her own blog post with even more pictures here 
Dog figurines Great gift ideas: for your dog sitter, groomer, vet, etc 
A few years ago our German Shepherd Zack had a very serious altercation with the mail lady's SUV. He was gravely injured and spent several days at the doggy ER. Now Zack is a big, scary-looking dog. He apparently behaved rather badly at the clinic as there was a big sign on his cage that said "BITES". When we went to see him, he was in such pain and was so wild-eyed we thought he might bite us, too. The days stretched on and he wasn't improving. He was too bad to bring home, but not doing well there, either. Not to mention the cost. The staff was obviously eager to get him out of there and they were all pretty grim whenever we showed up for an update. There didn't seem to be a lot of compassion for the big, black, scary looking dog. And not much for us, either. They complained that he wouldn't eat. And told us that only one tech could get him to eat - if she sat with him and fed him by hand. Now, looking back, I suspect that one tech who ignored the "BITES" sign and took the time to hand feed my frightened, hurting dog, may have been the one who really saved his life. I wish I'd had one of these angel figurines back then to have given to her.

They're a great little gift for lots of occasions, and inexpensive, too. To order click here.
Dogs Purpose Book Cover
Many of us contemplate what a dog's afterlife must be like.
I suspected this was the case, but it was brought into focus again as I searched the internet for the source of the "All dogs go to heaven" graphic above. I never found the source, only hundreds, if not thousands of places online where the image had been shared by other folks considering the same thing.

 

I normally prefer to read books that are at least based in fact, but this fiction work by W. Bruce Cameron gives me great comfort:
A Dog's Purpose
is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog's Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?

Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders-will he ever find his purpose?

Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny,
A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

 

Gina's note: 
"I'm an avid reader, and appreciate all sorts of genres, but I struggle with reading first person accounts that are written from a viewpoint (or language dialect) that's vastly different than my own. I just can't get "into character" enough to appreciate what's trying to be told. I almost didn't get this title in to review for that very reason.
*Would it be a series of hard-to-read phonetic spellings of whines and barks and grunts? 
*A dorky telling of a dog's viewpoint from a best-selling author who thought he could pull one off for the pet market? 
*A new, even sadder and more gory way to describe the terrible unwanted pet problem? 

 

I was emphatically wrong on all my theories, and I am so glad I gave this one a chance. I was not very far into the pages... and I WAS that dog - reading from his viewpoint and understanding his world. And yes, you will need kleenexes, but I wasn't distracted from the story line by the occasional tragedies. They were more than offset by the happy, and humorous moments (kind of like real life). And the spiritual slant on this one left me feeling very good. I highly recommend."
To order click here

And there's a SEQUEL! 
Dogs Journey Cover
A Dog's Journey - Another Novel for Humans is a sequel to the bestseller A Dog's Purpose - Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own.

When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs - who will take care of his girl?

A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.
 
Gina's note: A wrote about A Dog's Purpose above. It's one of my all-time favorite books. This sequel did not disappoint. Although I did give some thought to trying to market these with their own big box of kleenex as it's certainly needed. But this presented a packaging challenge with the bulky kleenex box not fitting into any of the nifty USPS packaging AND adding extra weight - so you'll have to get your own. I also considered the little travel size packages - but they're just not enough. There, you've been warned
 
So, if you're still game to read these emotional stories, click here
 
dog lovers bookmark A Dog Lover's Prayer 
FREE bookmark with each dog book ordered 

My prayer book's unconventional,
An Album scarred with age.
The dogs who shared their lives with mine
Stand out on every page.
The Spaniels of my childhood days,
All floppy ears and fluff;
The Dobermans who shared my bed,
Magnificent and tough.
Though some folks picture Heaven's gates
Atop a golden stair,
The precious photos in my book inspire this humble prayer:
Lord, lead me to a sun-washed field,
Then send them one by one;
Let yelps of joy lead wagging tails as to my arms they run.
Sad eyes so pleading, paws that beg,
A symphony of barks
Invite a romp in fragrant grass to songs of meadowlarks.
This Heaven that I pray for, Lord,
Where lilacs scent the air,
Is blessed with all the dogs I've loved
Who come to greet me there.

With the purchase of every dog book, get a FREE Dog Lover's Prayer bookmark featuring the lovely verse above. Additional copies are just $.99 each. To order, click here.

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.

*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.

Copper HoofPrint Pony Bead Bracelets - colors 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

GOOD STUFF: Check out Giant Spider chases woman

Giant spider chases woman
With apologies to those who will have bad dreams over this one... click on the link here to find out what happens when the spider catches up to his victim.

For some more spider pictures, click here (if you dare)

And for some fun dog Halloween costume ideas click 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
These just in...

Check out new products here
When they're gone - they're gone...

Don't miss one you've been wanting - sadly, some favorites have been discontinued with no replacement - see them here
DON'T DUMP THE DOG
Don't Dump The Dog Cover
This book is written by someone who works in a shelters where people surrender their dogs every day. Randy does what most of us can't - he works tirelessly to place all these dogs without euthanizing any. Mama dogs dropped off in the nick of time - BEFORE they deliver a litter of puppies, fighting dogs, starving dogs, sick or injured dogs... you name it, Randy's had it. And he's pretty mad. Cleaning up all these messes left by irresponsible and stupid people can do that to a person. In the stories, he speaks of therapy sessions, psychiatric medications, alcohol and caffeine. Thankfully, he's channeled his anger in a productive way - this book. It's about the funniest book I have ever read. And he's included concise, step-by-step instructions for solving most dog behavior problems. There's none of the "pack leader" bullying stuff, either - it's all delightfully positive, constructive and sensible training.To order click 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
My Favorite Dog Book

I'm Listening with
a Broken Ear 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
HoofPrints has it! The classic print "FOUND"
Found Print
12x16 Print available 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
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
Western Zipper Pulls
Zipper pulls
A great way to dress up any vest, jacket, sweatshirt, or purse. Order here
Suede Bomber Jacket
Machine wash & dry!

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. To order click 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
Message
Gina Keesling with Clydesdale
I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at [email protected]
 
GINA'S BLOG
Fun on the Farm

read the latest happenings in the Keesling household, involving construction, destruction, remodeling adventures and general wreckage here
Find us on facebook
facebook logo
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)