NSBA is saddened to report that Carole Leeman, of Massillon, Ohio, passed away on Friday, November 10.

Carole grew up in Brewster, Ohio, where she and her husband, Fritz, first met. After the couple started their family and the Leeman children expressed and interest in horses, it wasn’t long before horses were a primary interest for Fritz and Carole. Although neither of them rode themselves, Fritz and Carole have been constant supporters of their family’s horse experiences.

All three of their children, Jeff, Douglas and Melissa, had ponies, then horses and progressed from Open and 4-H shows to AQHA breed shows around the nation. Grandson Kyle Leeman and granddaughter Katsy Leeman Flarida have continued the family’s passion for horses.

Together Fritz and Carole grew a couple of backyard horses into a first-class breeding, training and sales facility on their 200-acre Northeast Ohio farm. Along with the horses their children and grandchildren have shown, the couple have owned and stood AQHA stallions that have included Jonathan Swift, Marshal Coker, Snazzy Story, How Bout This Cowboy, Willy Be Invited, Invitation Only, Lazy Loper and Cheesin It, as well as their Reining stallions Footwork Revolution and Luckie Moonstone.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Carole once said in an interview. “There’s no place else I’d rather be than on our farm. I love the beauty and peace and watching the babies in the spring. Even though I don’t ride, except an occasional ride on the horse my son used to show, I love being around the horses, being involved in our horse business, and going to the shows to watch our horses, our children, and our grandchildren. You fall in love with your horses, and they become family too.”
 
Fritz and Carole Leeman were inducted into the NSBA Hall Of Fame in 2015.

NSBA extends its condolences to the Leeman family. We will share arrangements once they are finalized.