A new business was born out of a need for smaller halters for smaller equine
“We’ve been around livestock all our lives,” Lee Thomas said when asked how he and wife Sandy became involved with making tack for miniature donkeys.
The Newton, Kan., native and the lady he calls “the boss” came to Missouri in 1987, after Lee’s brother asked for his help with a new business venture.
“He was in the process of buying a trucking company, and needed a terminal manager,” Lee recalled.
A long haul trucker “for more years then I care to remember,” Lee was anxious for a change of scenery, and eager to help.
The couple quickly settled into life in the Ozarks. Sandy was raised on a livestock ranch in Wild Horse, Colo., and Lee also grew up on a farm.
With their experience with animals, it was an easy step to begin to work with equines.
“I was training some mini-ponies for a lady who lived over in Radar, Mo.,” he recalled.
Through word of mouth, Lee’s experience with donkeys spread.
One customer with a particularly difficult donkey wanted Lee to train him. “They had a 3-year-old mini donkey gelding they had bought at a sale, and they couldn’t handle it.” Lee said. “Even before we started training minis, we were making our own rope halters.”
In addition to sewing the halters and other pieces, Sandy helps with training, and has had success showing their donkeys. Sandy’s favorite donkey is a white, blue-eyed jack named Lightning.
Friends noticed the smaller halters Lee used on the donkeys he trained.
“It was really hard to find a mini halter that would fit a little donk,” Lee recalled. “A donkeys head is bigger than a ponies.”
One friend was impressed by the colorful handmade halters and she offered to create a business to facilitate their sale, and HalterUp was born in 2010.
“Business got so good, we could only make six to eight halters a day, and she was selling more than what we could make,” Lee said.
Eventually, the friend found someone else to supply halters for her animals, but Lee and Sandy carried on, and named their business I Lazy Heart, which they operate out of their farm in Buffalo, Mo.
The couple proudly displayed their handmade halters, and it was obvious the care they take with each piece. Both nylon and cotton halters are sturdy, and are made in 16 colors.
Lee and Sandy enjoy seeing their halters used by large show barns that travel all over the U. S., showing their mini donkeys.
In addition to making halters, I Lazy Heart designs and produces pack saddles, surcingles, breaking halters, lead ropes, cowboy rope holders and panniers.
The price for halters range from $13 to $15. A full set of panniers are $100 and lead ropes are $6.
Lee and Sandy have enjoyed traveling to Kansas Donkey Days, and selling their product to participants.
“We enjoyed it. It was three, four days,” Sandy remembered.
Their work designing tack in no way interferes with their dedication to their beloved donkeys, and the couple continues training donkeys to drive. Currently five donkeys reside at their farm, including Rowster, the cantankerous fellow who helped start their commercial enterprise.
Lee and Sandy do not consider themselves professional trainers, despite the success they have enjoyed over the years.
“We just enjoy playing with the donkeys,” Lee said. “If they like you, they are your friend for life.”
A visit to the pasture was all it took to see why mini donkeys are so popular. All five donkeys crowded around, braying and searching for treats, which they gently took from any hand proffering them.
When asked what their favorite memories were of working with mini donkeys, the couple had no trouble recalling:
“Lee was told that he couldn’t train Rowster.” Sandy said. “And when he was able to sit in the cart with him and Rowster took off, I think that was my favorite time. Cause, they said he couldn’t.”
“We sent her a picture,” Lee said, laughing.
Lee’s favorite memory was when Sandy showed Pickle Puss, whose registered name is Brayberry Just in Thyme and they won reserve grand champion in the halter class at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Mo. in 2013.
