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HoofPrints Newsletter
May 10, 2016


 
I never thought I'd be proudly sharing pics of my dog's dandruff, but here goes...  
I have been dealing with dog hair my whole life. My early childhood dog memories involve watching a black and white TV on the floor in front of an oil stove with my head on a hairy Saint Bernard Dog as a pillow. With outside dogs especially, Spring brings with it an explosion of hair that almost cannot be reckoned with.
And I thought I knew all about how to do it. Boy, was I wrong.
When these HandsOn Grooming Gloves came along, I read the manufacturer's literature (because I am nerdy like that). One of the benefits touted was the spreading of natural skin oils and releasing of dandruff.
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Yadda-yadda-yadda" I thought, ANY kind of brushing with any tool does that; it sounded like just another bit of hype to promote this new product.
Imagine my surprise, however, when after just a few strokes with the gloves, along with the expected amount of hair, I also began seeing a shocking amount of dandruff! I have owned this dog for years, and her coat is ALWAYS shiny; no hint of dandruff, so she is living proof that these gloves really DO achieve results that other tools do not.
This day was also bath day, so next the gloves were put to the test with soap and water added:
How wonderful it is to be able to scrub with both hands 
Bailey only gets a few baths a year, so she's always a little concerned about what is going on. Since we were in the middle of the driveway, I needed to be able to grab her leash quickly in case she decided to leave the scene. The gloves let me do that with ease. A luxury you don't have with regular grooming mitts.

You don't even have to take them off to serve up the shampoo!
You can open the bottle easily, and pour into your palm without it running everywhere and being wasted. And see the wide wristband? That's got a grippy velcro fastener on the other side, so these gloves do NOT move around on your hands, even when slippery with soap.
 
Look at all that hair. And just like the manufacturer says - All you have to do is flip your hand and the accumulated hair in the gloves falls right out.
The hair on the driveway is what was loosened by the gloves and rinsed off. As if the successful grooming and bath was not enough, I discovered that these gloves actually CLEAN THEMSELVES. Look again at the top picture with the dandruff. See how dusty and cruddy my glove looks? To this point I had only used them dry on the horses, so the breathable fabric on the back was quite dirty, as were the palms. When I finished up with Bailey's bath and rinsed everything off with plain water, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that I was wearing what looked like brand new gloves. I just hung them up to finish drying and that was it.
Regular price on these is $29.99, but the manufacturer has authorized a $5.00 discount for a limited time, making them a bargain (I think) at $24.99
To order click here
 
 
From the Favorite Dogs Coloring Book 
Favorite Dog Breeds to
C O L O R ! 
I don't know exactly how or when this wonderful trend started, but I've watched it with great interest for quite a while... 
All over the world, tired, frazzled adults are turning to coloring to clear their minds. The internet is full of articles that attempt to explain the "why" of this phenomenon:
"Of course, coloring within the lines compared to, say, painting a blank canvas is mostly simple decision-making - choosing which color goes best where, with relatively little skill involved. Our prefrontal cortex is responsible for coordinating thousands of decisions each day, from which socks we should wear to life-altering relationship and career choices. As an unconscious response to this so-called daily 'decision fatigue,' making a series of small, inconsequential decisions (teal or mahogany for this squiggly line?) may give us a refreshing sense of self-control after a long day of big, important ones." -from this article by neuroscientist Jordan Gaines Lewis 

These wonderful coloring books from Dover have been around for a while; Dover knows how to do them right. I remember what a treat it was to get my hands on one of these as a kid, so am diving into them again a half-century later, hoping to recapture some of that wonderful childhood enthusiasm.


I invite you to do the same. I hand picked a fun variety to choose from - covering horse and dog subjects - anatomy, art, trivia and more. Below is my own first effort; a page from the Horse Anatomy Coloring Book. At first, I started to get all up tight - worrying about what color I should make each bone...
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Duh - I don't think that's how it's supposed to work! I was a more than a little embarrassed that this 'relaxing' new hobby was stressing me out already. So,  I regrouped and looked at it in a different way."

I looked at all the beautiful colors in my pencil set that I had not used since college. The browns and greys were all worn down to nubs, but many of the bright colors had never been touched to paper. I made good use of them on the background, channeling my inner hippie, I guess.

Lucy snuggled up beside me in her blanket on the recliner, and as I colored, I couldn't help but read some of the informational text that was printed along with the picture. Did you know that a normal adult horse skeleton contains 205 bones? But that variations are possible; hocks can contain six or seven bones? And tails can vary from fifteen to twenty-one vertebrae? Forelimbs and hind limbs each contain twenty. The Horse Anatomy Coloring book examines both the internal and external structures, with all clearly labeled. It's only $4.95 here.

Since I completed my PSYCHEDELIC SKELETAL HORSE, I've been looking at things through new eyes...
 
Image by Greater California German Shepherd Rescue 

Look above at the amazing variety of colors that the German Shepherd Dog comes in!
The Favorite Dogs Coloring Book has these three lovely German Shepherds posed together as the center spread - so you can experiment will all manner of color combos and arrangement. I am itching to get out my rainbow pencils once again and try my hand at colorful psychedelic dogs!
And if you're not feeling like using wild colors for your dog coloring efforts - you're still in luck 
The inside covers of Favorite Dogs Coloring Book has colored examples of all the pages, so you can refer to those instead. The areas where markings start and stop are thoughtfully delineated in these drawings, so your own coloring results will be accurate.

Don't want your dog to be marked like the example? Just color over those lines - they're appropriately weighted so will recede into the background as you add your own color choices.

Or - you can look at your own favorite dog - perhaps the one lounging next to you - and color a likeness in his or her honor!

To see the complete selection click here 

Amazing Dog Facts & Trivia 
Did you know that the Charles Bridge in Prague (construction began 1357) is decorated with numerous statues & plaques. One plaque shows a guard rubbing a dog's head. It has become popular for visitors to rub the dog to ensure that a spouse will remain faithful. Look how shiny the dog is in the picture here - he's been polished by years of visitor's hands rubbing.

This info (and photo) is from the dog version of the very popular Amazing Dog Facts and Trivia. For just $12.99 you can get 192 pages of trivia and pictures of things you did not know about dogs. This is a fun, and interesting book that has all sorts of dog trivia that many lifelong dog lovers will discover that they did not know. And pictures - bazillions of color pictures showing all that stuff you didn't know that you didn't know! And it's written in such a way that folks of all levels of knowledge and experience will find it interesting. Not too elementary - not too technical. There are lots of great training tips, too.

Also did you know... 
- The oldest dog ever was Bluey, an Austalian Cattle dog who lived to be 29? 
- The term "Dog Fancying" means breeding dogs for particular features and was coined in the 19th century. 
- The ancient Greeks believed that the sultry summer heat was caused by Sirius, the dog star, hence the term "dog days". 
- There are paintings of dogs in the Lascaux caves of France (not just horses!) 
To order click here

 
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.

*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
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
ADULT
COLORING BOOK

Art Nouveau Animal Designs Adult Coloring Book 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
HoofPrints has it! The classic print "FOUND"
Found Print
12x16 Print available 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
Found Dog Necklace

Looks like something you'd find tucked in the bottom of an antique dresser drawer. Glass domed pendant measures 1" across. Order  here
DON'T do it yourself
FARRIER COASTERS

No farriers were harmed in the making of these coasters. To order click here
GREAT FOR DOG TRAINING: Leather Treat Pouch
Leather Treat Pouch
Keep your phone, keys and more with you when you ride
- under $20
here

Use the free Endomondo App on your smart phone to keep track of your riding time, route, calories burned, etc.
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
Courage doesn't always roar...
Courage Pink Mug
sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "i will try again tomorrow." To order click here
HoofPrints
BARN BLADE
Barn Blade Pink Knife
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
Order here
It's Back! HOLLYWOOD HOOFBEATS

New updated version
includes 10 more years of horse movies - to order click  here
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
PRINTED IN USA:
This Hug's For You

Equine Sympathy Cards here
Silver Dog Whistle
Dog Whistle
Solid Sterling Silver Whistle on waxed cotton cord 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
 
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)