Hi there! My name is Marisa Marmas, and with my husband, Eric “Midge” Marmas, we own Leiby’s Carriage Service, LLC in Tamaqua, PA. We are a small, horse-drawn carriage company featuring Belgian Draft horses. We offer horse-drawn vehicle services for all occasions such as parades, parties, sleigh rides, holidays, weddings and engagements. We also handle all aspects of caring for the horses ourselves: minor vet care, horseshoeing, farming and baling hay, repairs, and managing the bookings, all while working full-time jobs. None of these tasks are unusual or unique to horsemanship; however, even though this is a part-time business, it’s full-time work (and then some!) In 2021, we won "Best Family Entertainment" in Schuylkill County in the Republican Herald newspaper’s Reader’s Choice contest!

 

On April 24, 2022, our hearts were shattered when we walked into the barn and found our top horse, Brady, had passed away in his stall. Midge and I were devastated at this sudden and unexpected loss. Brady was not only a horse – but a partner, a friend, a teacher, a confidant. He and our other horses are so loved - they are our family. We have often joked that the horses get more pedicures than I do and that the barn always has paper towels, yet we always run out at home. Brady was a horse that challenged us and made us better. Brady was an essential part of our program and the face of Leiby’s Carriage Service. Brady did not exhibit any signs of illness or distress, and we can only surmise that he had died of natural causes. In addition to this, our current barn lease will not be renewed next year, so we need to construct new stables to house the horses.

 

People who have taken a ride with us have likely heard me talk about our horses and the excellent local agriculture in our county. Midge will even bring children (and adults) onto the driver’s seat to see the horses working, explain how they are harnessed and even let them try their hand at driving! This cause is so important because we want to continue bringing breed awareness to our hometowns, shouting out the greatness of draft horses and helping people create beautiful memories that we are fortunate enough to be a part of.

 

We are coping with our grief and planning a new barn, but we are slowly accepting the reality of what losing Brady does to our business and our upcoming events. Without Brady, we only have three workable horses: Bill, Moe and Duke, who cannot take on all of our work. Without at least one horse to replace Brady, the future of our business could be in severe jeopardy and an uncertain future for the rest of our herd. At this point, we realized we needed help from our community.

 

We intend to use the funds raised to purchase a horse or team to be able to continue our carriage service. Currently, carriage horses are close to $6,000. A new horse will require a pre-purchase examination, x-rays, possible professional transport and quarantine – all of which are added to the price of the horse. We intend to diligently search for the best fit for our program and ensure we get the best value for the price. Should we exceed our goal, we plan to put those funds towards the new barn construction materials to ensure a sturdy and safe home for all of our horses.

 

If our horses and services have touched your lives somehow, please consider donating to our cause to help us continue the legacy of Leiby’s Carriage Service. We always thank our clients for their support of what we do, and we sincerely mean it – without you, there is no Leiby’s Carriage Service.

 

From the bottom of our hearts,

Marisa and Midge Marmas