Five Oaks Farm is an
Arabian horse breeding facility located on 42
acres near York, in the
rolling upstate of South Carolina. Owner and
operator, Joy Gildersleeve, has family roots in
agribusiness that trace back for generations to
England and Ireland. Our farm name is a tribute
to ancestors who traveled from New York state to
Illinois in 1836 to co-found an agricultural
settlement. Their new homestead in the
settlement was named "Five Oaks" because of the
majestic oak trees on the property, and the
first building constructed was the Gildersleeve
barn.
The
current Five Oaks Farm has been located in South
Carolina since 1984. Joy has had a life-long
passion for horses, but the compelling beauty
and interesting history of the Arabian breed hold a special appeal for her. Childhood dreams
became a reality in 1973, with the
purchase
of a charming Half-Arabian mare. This mare was a
companion horse to all at Five Oaks for more
than 30 years, and was the catalyst that led to
the acquisition of purebreds and our subsequent
breeding program
The
predominant purpose of the Five Oaks breeding
program is the preservation of type. Arabian
horses have a unique beauty and charisma that
has been cherished by many, and nurtured
world-wide by breeders for thousands of years.
At Five Oaks, Joy and her staff strive to
continue that tradition. We endeavor to breed
pretty and athletic horses with the distinct
Arabian characteristics, not only to appreciate
now, but to help insure that future generations
will have the opportunity to experience the
timeless allure of the Arabian horse. After some
early experimentation with several bloodlines,
Joy was fortunate to obtain some mares from
Focus Farm....renowned for an excellent
line-breeding
program. These foundation mares and their
off-spring have then been crossed with
individuals from other proven bloodlines for a
blending of qualities that we feel represent the
Arabian breed in a classic and positive manner.
Please take a moment to review our Gallery and
Sale Horses pages for photos of a few of the
horses that are representative of our breeding
program.