A Different Kind of Experience
Island Hopper Farm was built for riders who want more than just time in the saddle.
We created a space where adults can feel safe, supported, and truly seen — whether they’re returning to horseback riding after years away or starting fresh.
As a family-run farm, we value:
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Safety above everything
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Honest, well-trained horses
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A welcoming, non-intimidating environment
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Long-term relationships with our riders
We are intentionally selective — not to exclude, but to protect the experience for both riders and horses.
Because this isn’t just where you ride.
It’s where you come back to yourself.
We Believe in Never Stopping the Learning
Running a horse farm well takes the same mindset as earning a master's degree — except for us, the classroom never closes. We are continuous learners, and we put in the work to prove it.
This year, we traveled to Europe to learn dressage straight from the masters at a true breeding and training farm. We watched how they train, how they operate, and how generations of expertise come together to shape both horse and rider. It's knowledge that simply can't be picked up from a screen, and we brought it home with us. We're already expanding our relationships and researching new ways to grow because of it.
Kayla travels to shows to watch and learn cow sorting. She continues her education with clinicians and coaches, putting herself in the arena alongside the masters rather than just reading about their methods.
We have heart and grit, and we show up to do the work every single day — because we're not interested in standing still. We're working to become something greater than we are: true masters in our field.
We are intentionally selective — not to exclude, but to protect the experience for both riders and horses, and to protect the standard we're always working to raise.
Because this isn't just where you ride.
It's where you come back to yourself.
Become a Part of Our Barn Family!
Looking for horse care like no other?
Board with
us!
Meet The Team
the Oelschlager family
Kayla
Kayla is the heartbeat of the horse care here on the farm, she lives for the horses and animals. It has always been a dream of hers to have ponies in her back yard and she is grateful everyday. She is our resident Western cowgirl here on the farm. But she rode hunter/jumpers and dabbles in dressage occasionally.
Kayla is the head of horse care out in the barn. She consistently deep dives into nutrition, care and management practices through research and care. Constantly learning and growing Kayla prides herself on communicating with top professionals and making herself better.
Suzanne
Suzanne is the matriarch of the farm. Around the farm you will see her drive around her Suzie mobile with her trusty cavaliers with her. She has made the dreams come true for her two daughters and loves being able to be apart of the farm and continue to help it grow. She comes from a background of retail where she ran a business for most of her life.
A force to be reckoned with, you will definitely see her out and about on the farm. She grew up with horses in her backyard, so she understands horse care and the management of the farm from the business and care perspective.
Brittany
Brittany has always loved horses, from the time she was little and took her first pony ride. She took lessons growing up and enjoyed spending time around them. After the loss of her dad, she used horses as an unconventional form of therapy. Leading her down a path of helping others through their own trauma and anxiety as a social worker.
Today Brittany is the "office" of the farm, utilizing her experience in marketing and social work to manage the farm from the business to clients. Brittany rides primarily dressage, but don't be surprised if you see her riding Western as well, she rode Western Pleasure for many years before transitioning to Dressage.
Philip
Phil is Brittany's husband, he is a FDNY firefighter that works in Queens and loves supporting his wife and her dreams. He married into farm life and while horses weren't his first choice of a lifestyle he embraces this life everyday.
The Island Hopper Story
Island Hopper was named after the Oelschlager family's boat. This legacy was built before Kayla and Brittany were born from Suzanne and Doug. They created Island Hopper as a retreat from the real world on the sea. After Doug's untimely passing in the WTC attacks in NYC as a FDNY firefighter, the family continued his legacy with another boat, "Island Hopper Hero." Many years later and finding themselves out of boating and into the world of horses, when the Oelschlager's bought the farm, they wanted a strong name built on tradition and legacy for their family. It felt right to honor and continue building the family tradition of Island Hopper.
The sign is created with our first family horse Imus jumping the iconic NYC skyline. This image symbolizes more than a horse jumping, it is our strength and resiliency that we have found through tragedy you can find light and love again. if you look closely the outline of the sign includes a rope to tie in our nautical roots.
Island Hopper present day is a boutique equestrian experience here on the beautiful north fork of Long Island. Our goal is to create a safe, confidence building and judgement free zone at our farm, where we want to offer that family friendly environment. We pride ourselves on being that middle ground between a casual backyard barn and a high-pressure performance barn.