Our Trainers
Our dedicated team of professionals is here for you
Marty deLeyer
Marty deLeyer has been working with the Silver Oak Stables team since 2004. As well as giving lessons, Marty has been integral in the training and showing of our young horses.
With 40+ years of teaching and training experience Marty offers a wealth of knowledge for both horse and student. Marty‘s success with young horses comes from his straightforward belief that "90% of all horses try to be good. The key is giving them the correct amount of time and guidance to let them achieve that goal". Marty’s approach when working with students is that, in riding, no one is perfect. Students should learn from their mistakes and not let it ruin the whole experience.
In 2006 Marty was honored by the Long Island Professional Horseman’s Association as the recipient of the Virginia Rice Trophy for "extraordinary, outstanding and unique achievements in equestrian sport".
Debby deLeyer
Debby deLeyer began her riding career at 12 years old. For six years Debby rode with Harry deLeyer at Hollandia farm. At age 18 she decided to move to Florida and worked on two farms starting race horses. Two years later Debby returned to Long Island and went to work at Belmont race track where she worked as a groom and exercise rider. After five years at Belmont she found herself missing the show world and returned to her riding roots at Hollandia farm.
Debby has been teaching the young riders at Silver Oak Stables since 2006. With 25 years of teaching experience Debby’s specialty is building confidence in her young students for the show ring. Not only does she work to instill good showmanship in her students, she also understands and stresses the importance of having fun.
Linda Crouse
Originally from Massachusetts, Linda has been training on Long Island for over 20 years. An accomplished rider, she has shown on the East Coast from Florida to Vermont, having tremendous success and dominating the jumper rings. Although she has retired from showing, Linda continues to teach in the ring and stand at the in-gate with her students. Her training methods focus on the horse and rider combination, applying basic knowledge along with expertise acquired from years of experience as rider and teacher. She is an exceptional trainer, with many students who have been successful at all levels.
Katie Milton
Katie was born, raised and has resided on Long Island her entire life. She started riding at age 10 and worked her way up as a working student, having successful junior and amateur careers. She placed at the top equitation finals, was circuit champion in the A/O jumpers at WEF and competed internationally for the U.S.E.T. She turned professional 10 years ago and has continued her success by placing 5th at the Hampton Classic in the 5-year-old Young Jumper Championships and winning numerous hunter awards, including blue ribbons in top hunter derbies and grand hunter champion at M&S Finals. Along with her riding success, she has coached students to numerous wins throughout her career.
David Josiah
David Josiah specializes in working with hunters but has trained Big Eq riders, qualifying them for the finals at Harrisburg and New York, along with jumper riders. He has shown in the jumpers and did the Grand Prix’s in 2001-2003 with his horse, Fortino. David also qualified a 5 year old in the Young Jumper Championships at the Hampton Classic in 2003. David holds a small “r” as a licensed official with the USEF.
David is a graduate of Virginia Intermont College, majoring in Business Management and Equestrian Studies. He rode on the Intercollegiate Team, placing 3rd at the Nationals.
David worked as assistant to Robert Hoskins for years before working for Ralph Caristo, where he mainly rode the sale horses as well as doing some teaching.
David ran his own Morning Mist Farm in Jamesport, NY before moving his business to the West Coast where, in Los Angeles, he had a very successful full training barn for 12 years before returning to the East Coast in 2003.
This year David was overall Circuit Champion in Ocala, FL in the Low Hunter Division on Midshipman owned by Illissa Loewenstein-Meyer.