My journey with Renard Leather officially began in late 2021, but when I look back, I notice that hints of founding my own brand with leather equipment for horses and dogs had appeared much earlier.
Let’s go back in time a bit – to the summer of 2013, when after a successful European Championship in Germany, I decided to fly to Texas, USA. It was a great experience, but that’s a different story. The essence of today’s story is that from this internship, I brought back leather halters, with brass hardware and nameplates for my two horses. Classic signature halters, as we all know from movies about racehorses. This type of halter has always meant prestige and class to me. Many people see halters as a consumable product, but if you already have a leather one, and personalized with a nameplate for your horse? That’s something else.
Hlater from USA
I cherished the halters from US and used them exclusively for shows only, but after some time, I thought it was a shame to only use them on special occasions, so I started to use them on daily basis, and that’s when it started. Tons of questions started coming up on Instagram about where I got the halters from and where they could be found. I couldn’t resist. I did some research and found out that finding leather halters with triple stitching like Secretariat had really wasn’t easy. This idea lingered in my mind for several months, and then I told myself – I’m going for it! Well, sewing a halter with your own hands, without prior experience, is a big challenge. I had to approach it different way around.
I ordered leather straps and started learning how to smooth the edges, sew, and dye. I’ve always enjoyed handwork, so it was a pleasure. After some time, I sewed the first collar for my dog Foxy, and once I added a photo to my story, more reactions and questions started coming in. That reassured me that I was on the right path.
Next step was to make a collar for my friend Naty for her birthday, who has a Border Collie named Annie, then for other friends who spread the word about it, recommended me to their friends, and before I knew it, I had orders on a weekly basis. Then the first requests for bridles came, but people kept asking me, “When will the halters be ready?”
I had to buy a sewing machine. After a long research – you can’t just buy saddlery machines in classic shop – I found one in Slovakia and went to get it. Learning was challenging, but I managed, and I had many people waiting for halters for several months. In a short time, I sold 3 halters to Germany and it was a success.
Foxy and her very first collar
What is the message here? Don’t get discouraged; ask questions and try to find out about the your interest as much as you can. Most importantly, it’s crucial to have the right friends around you who want to support your business. They won’t ask for discounts or take anything for free, and moreover, they’ll help you by recommending your products and wearing them. I’m very grateful for them.
Even though I don’t spend as much time in the arenas as I used to, Renard Leather is something that still connects me to the horse show community. It’s a combination of craftsmanship, business, marketing, creativity, and the equestrian world that I loved since I was little – what more could I wish for?
