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 Hello!
I’m Carol, and my husband, Arthur, and I saw our first Fjords back in the
seventies when we were living in Alsace, France.
I rode regularly
at a stable outside the city of Strasbourg. One weekend, the Riding Club
held a Horse Festival, and invited local horses and ponies to come for fun,
food, and games.
A highlight was a pony race on the club’s track. A
group racing ponies showed up with their jockeys in proper silks. The
biggest surprise of the day was seeing local farmers ride in on Fjordhorses.
It was a sight with the French farmers in their bleu de travail
(blue coveralls) and riding the Fjords bareback. They too were primed
to race.
FJORD RACE
The starting gun went off, and the Fjords exploded
into action. -- We were astounded at the power and speed of these
heavy-looking horses. -- They went off like a shot and held it to the
finish line with a Fjord taking first, and another Fjord coming in second.
What an introduction to this amazing Fjord breed.
Racing is actually part of the Norwegian Fjord’s heritage. In Norway,
stallions are raced in sulkies, and racing on ice with Fjordhorses is a
sport that goes back centuries.
When Arthur and I said goodbye to France to return to New England
and set up on an old farm in New Hampshire, we momentarily forgot about the
Fjords in France. -- We bought a beautiful, 100 acre farm and named it
Beaver Dam Farm. We dreamt of having horses on the farm, and thought most
about Morgans -- We loved the idea of the old-fashioned Morgans. The ones
that did everything. Horses you could use to plow a field, bring in the
tree, drive in a buggy, and ride down the lane.
 So, we did some market research, looking for
sound, healthy, versatile horses with the best temperaments, and
surprisingly, the results pointed them to the Norwegian Fjord Horse breed; the horses they’d known in
France.
To make a long story short, Arthur and I used ourr European contacts to
import Fjords from Holland. We started with three certified, Dutch
Studbook”Model” mares, who were bred to three different Studbook approved
stallions. Those mares had their foals, and the next year, three more bred
mares came to Beaver Dam Farm. After that, we continued to import wonderful
Fjord mares (and a few geldings) from Holland –We imported over one
hundred Fjords from Europe.
FINDING A GREAT STALLION - On a trip to Holland to look at Fjords,
I saw the magnificent Studbook Stallion, GJEST. I knew immediately that
this was the stallion for Beaver Dam Farm. He would make the farm’s
reputation.
You can read lots more about the gorgeous stallion named Gjest by going to
THE GJEST PAGE.
Very briefly . . . Gjest was born and approved in Norway in 1977, and
purchased by a Dutch Buying Committee in 1983. Beaver Dam Farm purchased
him and brought him to the States in 1987. -- In 1991, Arthur and I moved
18 Fjords to Nova Scotia where we’d purchased a much bigger, more fertile
farm - A farm capable of supporting a larger herd, and the possibility of
creating a major driving center, which was our big dream. - Beaver Dam
Farm Fjords II, Ltd. was the name of the new farm.
THE STAFF
During spring, summer, & fall we
have a great group of European Interns and in the winters part time trainers. Over the years, we’ve had interns
from all over Europe and Scandinavia, as well as the U.S. and Canada. – Many
of the young people are working towards a career in the horse industry.
They come to BDF to fulfill requirements of their equine colleges, and they
come to improve their English. -- We have as many as eight Interns at the
farm at one time. This means that all our horses get ridden and driven
daily, and often two or three times a day. It also means that our Riding
& Driving guests always have somebody available to help and answer
questions.
NOVA SCOTIA DRIVING VACATIONS
In 1992, the first Nova Scotia
Beginner Driving Vacation took place. -- It was a success from Day 1, and
how could it not be? -- Quality, well-trained Fjords and beautiful land to
drive on. -- Our Nova Scotia Riding & Driving Vacation guests come because
of the Fjords, and they come to gain confidence and learn new skills.
However, because of our fabulous locality, our guests come to experience
Nova Scotia. -- -- A place that’s truly back in time in the
most wonderfully kind and gentle way. -- They come for the Celtic
Music, the live theatre, and the famous Nova Scotia Folk Art.And they come
for the clean and almost deserted beaches.
NOVA SCOTIA RIDING VACATIONS
After a few years, Beaver Dam Farm
started Nova Scotia Riding Vacations along with the Driving Vacations.
These were also a big hit. Our guests are singles, couples, and parents
with children. Often, the parents will drive, and the children do a Riding
Vacation watched over and taught by Beaver Dam’s skilled staff of European
interns. Learn More...
THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK
THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK was written by Carol Rivoire in 1988.
This book is the only “how to” book on the Fjord breed published in
English. -- The book has had wonderful reviews by professionals and
readers alike, and is in its second printing.
Learn More...
HEALTHY & ACTIVE VACATION
Arthur and I are not ‘Spring
Chickens’, but we’re in pretty good shape despite our advancing age. My
background is in gourmet cooking. Living ten years in France helped me
appreciate good, healthy food and the benefits of an active lifestyle. --
There’s a reason, French women are generally thin despite the wine and
wonderful food.
I learned a thing or two in France, and when we moved back to new
Hampshire, I ran a French restaurant, Le Coq au Riesling, right on
the farm. -- You’ll have plenty of opportunity to be active during your
Nova Scotia Riding & Driving Vacation ---- walking the cones course, for
instance. -- Bring your walking shoes because we have lovely trails mapped
out in various distances. -- Lunches are as healthy as can be. You won’t
believe how many nutrients can be incorporated into one very tasty buffet
lunch. -- Staying strong and supple is important in working with horses.
The good part is that working with horses keeps you strong and supple.
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