Where Donkeys Grow Wings and Halos

With our departure from the miniature donkey business, I wanted to write a note to all of you as a way of sort of saying goodbye, and to introduce the new owner of Li’l Angels Miniature Donkeys. I guess we always knew this dream would not last forever, but this has been one of the best experiences of our lives. The hardest part was knowing all the work we have put into building a quality herd of miniature donkeys, and walking away just when we finally reached some of our long term goals.

In our years in this business, we have met some great people and enjoyed watching other breeders build their own breeding herds, just as we have done. One of the great things about this business is that we are all individuals, just as the donkeys are individuals. We each see different characteristics that we appreciate for our own reasons. For us, it was important to breed for movement since we appreciate the miniature donkey for it’s natural ability to pull and work, but halter conformation, as it is judged in the show ring is critical for any serious breeding program. Blending the two together has always been our dream, and our end goal.

We met Jenny Eastep at the Colorado sale in 2010. I had talked with her before that, but when we met her we were both very impressed with her and we both liked her right away. Sometimes you just click with people, and that’s how it was with us, I think. At least it was for me. Jenny was getting into the donkey business, and she was seriously doing her homework, and seemed genuinely interested in learning what it was going to take to build a quality herd, and a sound breeding program. I gained a lot of respect for her right away. We both did.

After our first meeting, Jenny and I continued to talk. Now and then she would ask me if I would sell Lacey Doll, or Allegra, or Easter Frost. Well, I wasn’t anywhere near ready to part with any of my favorite girls, but I found it interesting that she always picked my favorites. As the list grew longer with her, I began to think that one day I would turn over some of them to her, as I replaced them. Having had a much larger herd at one time, we had made a commitment to keep our numbers down, and I knew some would eventually be available. I told her so, and she held me to it. Her donkey list began to grow, and so did my esteem for her.

In the summer of 2011 Jenny made her first trip to our farm, and Kenny and I could both see that we were right about her. Jenny has a very inquisitive nature, and is always willing to listen and learn. She wanted to get it right, and for the right reasons. She wanted to know every detail of our views on conformation, and we poured over it for a few days, until she understood our animals, what we breed for, and why. Best of all, we were all on the same page. By the time she left I think she was interested in at least half of our herd. Her list was growing bigger, and so was our confidence in her.

When the time came for Kenny and I to retire from this business, we both knew that Jenny would be the perfect person to carry on with our program. She was young enough to carry on for many years, and clearly shared our vision for the future of our herd. I remember how nervous I was when I called her to ask if she would be interested, but I didn’t expect that she would jump at the chance. Once we got over the initial shock, Kenny and I were overjoyed. Jenny wanted to carry on with our herd, and with our name. This was just too good to be true, but it was very much her dream as much as ours. It is one of those things that was meant to be.

Kenny and I wish to express our deepest appreciation to everyone who has purchased donkeys from us in the past, and we hope to continue to enjoy the friendships we have found through sharing our donkeys. Thanks so much for your confidence in our donkeys, and in our breeding program. And also, we thank those of you who have shared your donkeys with us and entrusted us with their care.

As we turn the majority of our herd, and the Li’l Angels donkey business over to Jenny, we wish to express to the whole donkey community how much we think of her as a person, and as a breeder. We have a great deal of confidence that she will be a very strong influence in this industry. We very much appreciate her honesty and integrity, and feel sure that others will see her in the same light. Simply put, she is the ideal person to carry on our farm name. Our Li’l Angels are in good hands!

Jenny and I have a very good relationship, and we both look forward to years of working together. She has asked me to stay on as a consultant for her, and I’m very happy to be useful. Kenny and I have kept a few of our favorite performance donkeys, and we plan to continue to train and maybe show a little, just for fun. Hopefully we will see some of you out there in the show ring. I may even still teach a clinic now and then.

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Don't you just love beautiful little miniature donkeys? So do we! Miniature donkeys are among the most gentle of God's creatures. They are extremely appealing as pets and companions. Many people enjoy training their donkeys for miniature donkey shows or just hitching them up to a cart at home and driving around.  Driving donkeys are a blast! Although many of our donkeys are chosen to become family pets, we never compromise quality in our breeding program.  Be sure to visit our  Awards  page to view our champion show stock.

 

What a Summer!  These are all donkeys we have sold to others, except for Sterling Moon, who is Full Moon's first foal! I think I need to stay out of the show ring, and let everyone else show! Pictures to follow! Li'l Angels Candyman - wins Best Yearling, 1st Place Miniature Jacks, and Best Turn Out and Condition, at the DBS Championship show, England. Congratulations Julie and Robin Boyce, Gorcott Miniature Donkeys, UK. Then, Li'l Angels Candyman - wins the Championship at Glouster, UK. This time he showed against the standard donkeys, and all ages! Again, a big congratulations to Julie and Robin! A HUGE congratulations to Lynn Podesta of L Bar L Ranch, for winning Champion Jack and Best of Breed at the 2010 NMDA National Show in California Li'l Angels October Rising Son - Champion Jack & Best of Breed. Big congrats to Amy McBirney, or Amy's Barn, CA for winning Champion Youth and Best of Show with Li'l Angels Jazzlynn. Thanks to Gayla Rankin of GLR Ranch for getting Li'l Angels Sterling Moon ready to show while we were in England, and for taking him to the Texas State Championship show where he won 1st Place Yearling Jacks and Reserve Junior Champion The same weekend, in Oklahoma, Missi Webb of Little Rascals Miniature Donkeys wins High Point Champion with Li'l Angels Two Socks. Then, Li'l Angels Sterling Moon goes to the Texas State Fair and wins his Yearling Jack class and Junior Champion. And, a big congratulations to Shanna Cruz for her win with Li'l Angels Axelle, Champion Youth Miniature Donkey

 

Li'l Angels Full Moon

National Halter Champion

Multiple Performance Champion

Li'l Angels Axelle

Halter Champion

Performance Champion

2009 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

 

Shown by Rose Jones...Congratulations Rose!

 

Li'l Angels Axelle - Halter Champion

Shown by Rose Jones

Short & Sweet Razzberry Sizzle - Reserve Halter Champion

(See Razzberry on our Jennets page)

 

Li'l Angels Axelle - Performance Champion

shown by Rose Jones

Little Chief - Reserve Performance Champion

shown by Ken Richards

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For more information please contact:
Jennifer Eastep

Telephone:  (309)314-3186

Lilangelsjenny@gmail.com

 

 

Proud members of the following:

NMDA - The National Miniature Donkey Association

www.nmdaasset.com

GCDMA - Gulf Coast Donkey and Mule Association

www.gcdma.org

SDMS - Southwest Donkey and Mule Society

www.swdonkeymulesociety.com

ADMS - The American Donkey and Mule Society

www.lovelongears.com

ACOSA - American Council of Spotted Asses

www.spottedass.com