~ Beat the Heat ~

cool breezes refresh body and soul

Beaver Dam Farm Resort

Pomquet village, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia

tel:  902-386-2304 home/office  . . . 352-459-8537 cell

beaverdf@ns.sympatico.ca

NEW at the farm . . . Old Barn Gallery & Decor - a wonderful art gallery filled with paintings, sculpture, folk art, found art, fiber art, large collection of vintage quilts, linens and rugs, plus fabulous shabby chic treasures.  All handmade, and most by Nova Scotian artists.  -- All this in an immense 1845 maritime barn loft.  ---  Also, a sublime court yard garden with tables, chairs, and English Cream Teas Sunday aftgernoons.   

Unlike many farms that offer farm vacations, Beaver Dam Farm is NOT isolated.  --- Our village is 10 min. from the university town of Antigonish where you'll enjoy good restaurants, live theatre, Celtic music, championship golf, galleries and shopping.  Beaver Dam Farm is in the ideal location for touring Nova Scotia.  --  half an hour from Cape Breton Island with its world famous CABOT TRAIL.  And  45 min. from the PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ferry. ---  Fabulous scenery, beaches and fishing villages are all around us.  --- Arthur and I have traveled the world, and there's nothing that could induce us to leave Nova Scotia in the summer and fall. 

  Excellent Accommodations - Stay on the farm in The Charming Cottage (sleeps 4) or The Carriage House Loft (sleeps 2 - 3)

Old-Fashioned Family Farm Vacations

We're  pet friendly -  Bring your well-mannered dog and cat, and you can even bring your horse to enjoy on our wonderful 400 acre farm.   

We're open mid June - September

New at the farm  . . . Old Barn Gallery & Decor ---- 

paintings, sculpture, garden art, folk art, found art, fabric art, antiques, vintage linens & quilts -  The 3500 sq. ft. gallery opens to a delightful courtyard garden where we serve English Cream Teas on Sunday afternoons.  -- Wonderful art and antiques in a spectacular Maritime barn built in 1845 -  and so well built that it's the same today as 166 years ago. 

 We’re Carol & Arthur Rivoire . . .
and we're retired from the horse business after 32 years importing, breeding, training & selling Norwegian Fjord Horses.  --  We still have 3 Fjords on the farm that we love and use.  We use these horses to teach short courses in horsemanship, stable management and the theory of driving a horse to a carriage.   Courses have "hands-on" for harnessing and hitching demos.   ---

 

In 2010 we launched Beaver Dam Farm Resort  with new attractions to enhance the vacation experience of our guests.   French Cooking Lessons and Art Classes, and in 2011, The Old Barn Gallery & Decor.   (see Old Barn Gallery page)  

 

 We continue to offer two charming accommodations on the farm - The Carriage House Loft and The Charming Cottage.  (click on ACCOMMODATIONS)

 

In 2011, we opened Old Barn Gallery & Decor in the magnificent loft of our 167 year old barn.  The old barn's loft with its massive hand hewn beams is a splendid backdrop for the objects we offer in this unique gallery.  Old quilts, original paintings, sculpture, and high end crafts, most everything handmade in Nova Scotia. The gallery is surrounded by gardens.  There are cafe tables with coffee and tea available.  The Norwegian Fjord Horses will greet you just over the fence.  The incredibly friendly kittens will curl around your feet delighted with your visit. 

Vacation with your friends and family at Beaver Dam Farm Resort.  We are pet friendly - 

You can even bring your horse and enjoy a unique equine facility in a beautiful and fascinating part of the world. -- Beaver Dam Farm is a full- facility equine resort with good stabling, pastures, run-in sheds, and fencing. There are miles of trails of every sort, mown grass, wooded, and most suitable for both riding, driving, hiking. We have hills and natural water crossings. There are natural obstacle courses for drivers, and log jumps for riders. - Training rings - We have a competition quality 40 x 100 meter grass dressage arena, and wide open cones courses.  – Beaver Dam Farm is an ideal place to train and condition your horses. The beach is 15 min. by horse trailer from the farm gate, and is lovely to ride on.  And, the water is warm.  Warmest this side of the Carolinas, they say.

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You don't need to bring a horse, or even know anything about horses to enjoy a vacation at Beaver Dam Farm.  Come for the beauty of the countryside.  Enjoy the lifestyle.  Step back in time 50 years to our gentler way of life.  It's the Real Deal!  --  Want to learn about horses?  We offer short courses on horsemanship, safety around horses, stable design, pastures, and management.  Also, short courses on driving theory.  ---- We're located in the best area of the province -  Gourmet restaurants, St. Francis Xavier University, 2 golf courses, spectacular scenery, artists galore, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre, warm-water beaches, shopping, regional hospital, and lots more - 

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 Beaver Dam Farm guests enjoy a trailride on the farm.  This photo was taken a few years ago when we offered equine learning vacations with our horses.  --  We don't have school horses anymore, but you can enjoy the facility with your own horses. 
 

 

Champie, best carriage dog in the world died in 2011.  We miss him.  --  We no longer offer driving lessons, but we do offer short courses on driving theory.  These include hanressing, hitching and SAFETY. 

two riders on Boy Scout Beach   --  Bring your own horses and enjoy riding on the beach. 

ACCOMMODATIONS on the FARM  - See accommodations page for more photos                                                                                                                       

The Charming Cottage - sleeps 4 with 2 baths - Booked before Jan. 1st, the rate is $1250 wk.  After Jan. 1st, $1450

The Carriage House Loft - sleeps 2 -3, 1 bath, with second back downstairs. Booked before Jan. 1st, the rate is $1050 wk.  After Jan. 1st, $1150.   

Cottage living room


 
C
Loft livingroom

Both accommodations are attractive and comfortable,  filled with antiques and original Maritime art, and surrounded by lovely perennial, old-fashioned gardens. A couple from St. Louis, who have traveled the world said the following about The Carriage House Loft.  –   "We've never stayed in such a romantic place." 

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 Available from Beaver Dam Farm now in second printing and almost sold out.   

THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK - by Carol Rivoire

Sheila Libby Alexander, American Driving Society judge, clinician, professional librarian had this to say about Carol's book. 

“Carol Rivoire has written a love story . . . a delightful book . . . will make you want to go to Nova Scotia . . . Brew up some tea, get comfortable, and enjoy this book.  It’s a treat.”  

  $39 VISA or check includes s & h.  902-386-2304  beaverdf@ns.sympatico.ca

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  OTHER STUFF  happening this summer at Beaver Dam Farm - 

French Cooking Lessons with Mme Helene Amiable from Paris.  Helene is an old friend of Carol and Arthur's from their 10 year stay in France.  Mme. Amiable will be returning in 2011 for her third stay at Beaver Dam Farm.  Cooking lessons weekly all summer. 

 

Nature Walks on Pomquet Beach with Bob Bancroft, Nova Scotia's most well-known naturalist.

Fitness Classes -  Ed will work with you individually for health, strength, and agility. 

Painting Lessons with professional artist.  Ed can teach you to paint a very nice picture in a very short time.  Ed will also do custom portraits of you and your horses and your farm.  Just bring along some photos. 

Fishing with a Nova Scotia fisherman -  Something we're working on for 2011. Several of our friends are fishermen.  They’re charming and knowledgeable men, if it works out,  you’re sure to enjoy your day on the water with them.

Arthur’s ART GALLERY 

Arthur is a professional painter.  He’s been painting all his life, but now in retirement from the leather business, he has had time to get really serious about his art.  He was the leading painter at a large art show this year at the UTATA GALLERY in Windsor, Nova Scotia.  The gallery at Beaver Dam Farm has been called “a jewel of an art gallery” You’ll understand why when you visit. Arthur specializes in local landscapes, and he uses an unique method of mixing his paint with sand from the beach. 

 
Carol & Arthur Rivoire

Beaver Dam Farm, Antigonish, N.S., CN B2G 2L4 - 902-386-2304 - beaverdf@ns.sympatico.ca

 

                                Carol's Blog . . . .

DATES for 2011 -   Vacation with your horses & pets, or just the family -  Open mid June of 2011 through  mid September, and possibly later depending on demand.  Remember, We are dog friendly!   Bringing Horses?  -  Book before January 1st, and YOUR HORSES STAY FREE!          

Driving, Stable Management, Horsemanship Lessons -  rates arranged privately

               

THE OLD BARN SHOP & GALLERY-  New for 2011 - antiques, quilts, painting, sculpture - bridle chests, armoires, hutches created with old wood and painted in the style of European and Canadian folk art. 

   The old barn at Beaver Dam Farm housed cows and horses for 130 years, and recently sheltered 25 Fjords.  But now the old barn needs a new job. ---  Starting in June 2011, the loft with its exquisite joinery and hand-hewn beams will showcase original Nova Scotian art - from handmade furniture and folk art to fine oil paintings. 

We're particularly excited about the hand crafted furniture built and painted by artist, Ed Mattie.  Ed is a craftsman at home with woodworking tools,  palette and brush.  Bridle chests, hutches, cupboards and tables will be handmade with old wood, painted in traditional designs from Scandinavia and Europe, and finished by hand rubbing with natural waxes to preserve  the beauty of the old wood.    --  Our vision is to offer a delightful shopping experience - a feast for the eyes under the magnificent beams of the old barn. 

 

FRENCH Homestyle COOKING LESSONS with REAL FRENCH CHEF - We began classes IN 2010.  They were wonderful!  Mme. Helene is a superb chef and teacher and she is FUN!  --  The classes were so popular that in 2011, we'll hold weekly lessons including 3 course luncheon with wine. 

Where we're located  -   Our 350 acre farm is in Antigonish, Nova Scotia on the northern coast of the province -  We’re on the Northumberland Strait, located between Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island.  --  gorgeous countryside, yet close to the amenities of a university town 15 min. from the farm.  Shops, gourmet restaurants, golf, beaches, fishing, hiking, Gaelic music, professional  theatre, and art galleries.

Carol & Arthur Rivoire  -Beaver Dam Farm Resort, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, CN B2G 2L4 - 902-386-2304 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              902-386-2304      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  -  beaverdf@ns.sympatico.ca