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For
the last 15 years through our Nova Scotia Beginner
Driving Vacations, Beaver Dam Farm has specialized in
teaching beginners to drive. -- Driving has been the
focus of our vacations, but all through the years, we’ve
provided Riding Vacations for those who preferred to
ride. --- All our Fjordhorses are trained to
ride, and since many of our guests are riders, riding has
always been part of our vacation program. We’ve had the
great pleasure of starting lots of people both in riding and
driving. We have the horses and the teachers and the facility to
offer Riding Vacations to absolute beginners, and those
riders with experience. |
Because of the large staff we have each summer,
we’re able to offer valuable lessons on the lunge line to our
beginner riding students, and to those who already ride. This is
obviously a one on one exercise, but it’s one of the best
ways for a beginner to acquire a riding seat, and for more
experienced riders to improve their seat. -- And for both
riders and drivers, we teach the art of longlining. –When we
began our program 15 years ago, most of our students were
adults, but increasingly over the years, more and more
families with children are vacationing at Beaver Dam Farm.
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In the family groups, often the parents will do our Driving
Vacation, and the children will do a Riding Vacation, customized
for their age levels and experience. – Some children as young as
11 years old have elected to take the full driving vacation, and
some of those kids have done well. -- The bottom line is that
we’re a small farm, and we enjoy very much getting to know our
guest, and take pride in giving each of them a surprising amount
of personal attention.
The big news is that for 2006, Beaver Dam Farm has
developed a complete 4 day riding vacation. The
Riding Vacation is suitable for all ages and riding abilities as
we customize your vacation to fit your needs. – We welcome both
children and adults of all abilities.
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Charming Cottage for Rent on Farm
This is not your average cottage. --The Charming
Cottage is actually our winter home. -- It’s light and
bright, filled with antiques, oriental rugs, and
original Maritime art. There’s an open floor plan in the
living/kitchen areas, and the kitchen is totally
equipped including a Jenn-Air range.
The cupboards are
filled with everything you’ll need; such as a lobster
pot and wine glasses. -- There are two bedrooms with
twin beds, and two full baths. Washer & Dryer --
Gorgeous perennial gardens surround the cottage, and the
horse pastures are just outside your window.
Click here to
read more about the Charming Cottage and our other
accommodations.... |
Your Personalized Vacation
Every summer Beaver Dam Farm has such a large staff, that
the instructors outnumber the students! This allows each
guest to receive an unusual amount of personal attention. We
keep the groups small so that we can be as flexible as possible,
and cater to your special needs.
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We are very lucky to have a
wonderful group of equestrian interns from around the world.
The girls are all experienced horsewomen, and we screen them
very carefully to be sure they have the experience and the
background study to be useful to us and to our guests.
Many
of our interns are enrolled in equine schools in Holland,
Germany, France, England, Austria, Scandinavia as well as the
U.S. an Canada. -- Their stay with us at Beaver Dam Farm is
often to fulfill school requirements. At the end of
their stay, we submit a written evaluation of the
student’s work. This requirement assures us of
getting serious young people to work with us. |
Our priorities at Beaver Dam Farm are - Safety, a
Conservative approach in everything we do, and the Welfare of
our horses.
These concerns always come first at Beaver Dam
Farm, and on these issues we are inflexible.
However, on
most other things we’re very flexible and we’ll work hard to
give you the best horse vacation you’ve ever had -- Perhaps
even the best vacation (of any kind) you’ve ever had. |
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Our policy is to evaluate each student’s riding. If he is
comfortably capable of riding and controlling the horse at all
three gaits without stirrups, then in our opinion, he’s capable
of doing a trail ride. If not, then the student will stay in the
ring for a lesson. --
Sometimes, for the pure enjoyment of a student, we’ll take
him on a leadline trail ride. We’re able to do this thanks to
our large summer staff.
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Our 17th Season
Booking
Schedule for 2008
Our Season for 2008 (10 weeks) is much shorter than in
the past
June 23 – Aug. 28
Driving/Riding Vacations
June 21 – Aug. 30
Cottage & Loft accommodations
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LOW
SEASON |
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We have just one
Low Season week this year, low season rates are a $100
off regular season rates for both accommodations and
both riding and driving vacations. |
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June 21st – 28th
Accommodations – Cottage
$950 & Loft $750
The Cottage & Loft rent from
Saturday - Saturday |
June 23rd – 26th
Driving/Riding Vacations - $775
Driving & Riding Vacations are
from Mon – Thur, 4 days |
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REGULAR SEASON PRICING
– Rentals start
on Saturday – |
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The Charming Cottage |
$1050 |
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The Carriage House Loft |
$850 |
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Driving or Riding Vacations |
$875 |
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* Prices are in US Dollars.
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DRIVING & RIDING VACATIONS
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Week #1 June23 – 26
(only week of Low Season)
Week #2 June 30 – July 3
Week #3 July 7 – July 10
Week #4 July 14 – 17
Week #5 July 21 – July 24
Week #5 July 28 – July 31
Week #6 July 28 – July 31
Week #7 Aug. 4 – Aug. 7
Week # 8 Aug. 11 – Aug. 14
Week #9 Aug. 18 – Aug. 21
Week #10 Aug. 25 – Aug. 28 |
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Payment and
Cancellation Policies
Riding &
Driving Vacations
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$350 per person deposit required upon reservation
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Deposit is non-refundable, but may be transferred to our
2008 season
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If transferred to 2008, you will again have your choice
of week, depending on availability.
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Full payment for vacation is due 6 weeks prior to
arrival.
Charming
Cottage
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Due to the popularity of the Charming Cottage, full
payment will be required upon booking. Cancellations prior
to 12 weeks of arrival will be refunded, minus $250
cancellation fee. If you have booked the cottage and must
cancel late, we will do our best to re-rent it. If we are
successful in doing so, we can refund your money minus the
$250 cancellation fee. Accommodations on the farm are highly
desirable, so we usually have no problem renting it on
relatively short notice. Cottage payments are
non-transferable to the following year.
Carriage House
Loft
Canadian Taxes
Husbands,
Wives & Friends
Auditors
Date Changes
Competence Levels
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BEGINNER |
| A rider, who has limited experience, is unable to post
the trot and does not canter. |
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NOVICE |
| A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting
unassisted, capable of applying basic aids, comfortable and in
control at a walk, moderate length posting trots and short
canters. |
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INTERMEDIATE |
| A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control
at all paces (including posting trot, two point canters and
gallops), but who does not ride regularly. This level rider
should also be able to ride the three gaits without stirrups and
competently control the horse. |
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STRONG INTERMEDIATE |
| An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly.
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ADVANCED |
| All of the above plus an independent seat, soft hands,
and capable of handling a spirited horse in the open country.
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Top Of Page
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
BEGINNER LEVEL
(A rider, who has limited experience, is
unable to post the trot and does not canter.)
Monday
9 am: Meet at the Hill House for coffee and scones.
Introduction to other guests, both riding vacation and driving
vacation students.
10 am: Go to the barn and meet some of our horses. A brief
explanation of Stable Management at BDF.
10:30 am: Video and un-mounted lesson in classroom.
11:15 am: Prepare horse for a mounted lunge lesson. Lesson in
reading your horses’ body language. Basics of lunging are
explained and student works on correct position.
12:30 pm: LUNCH – Buffet at the Hill House.
2:00 pm: Riding lesson, on the lunge line. Reviewing grooming
and tacking up.
*Students are
responsible for grooming their horse, cooling out their Horse
after the ride, and cleaning their tack.
Tuesday
9 am: Video on a balanced seat over coffee and tea.
10 am: Riding lesson (1 or 2 hours). Based on a combination
of what students wish to improve, and where instructors sees
improvement is needed.
11:30 am: Tack care and cleaning lesson. –
12:30 pm: LUNCH – BBQ @ the Carriage House.
2 pm: Lesson in Classical Long-Lining
Wednesday
9 am: Training and desensitizing young horses – weanlings,
yearlings, 3 year olds.
10:30 am: Riding Lesson.
12:30 pm: Picnic on the beach with horses. Beach rides all
afternoon.
3:30 pm: Return to farm.
Thursday
9 am: Feeding and First Aid Lesson.
10:30 am: Video with coffee & muffins
11:30 am: Prepare for riding lesson and short trail ride. (leadline
trailride for beginners)
1:00 pm: – Picnic Lunch at top of Hayfield.
2:30 pm: – Return to barn.
3:00 pm: – Awards Ceremony
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Top Of Page
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
(A rider who has a firm seat, is confident
and in control at all paces (including posting trot, two point
canters and gallops), but who does not ride regularly.)
Monday
9 am: Meet at the Hill House for coffee and scones.
Introduction to other guests, both riding vacation and driving
vacation students.
10 am: Go to the barn and meet some of our horses. A brief
explanation of Stable Management at BDF.
10:30 am: Video and un-mounted lesson in classroom.
11:15 am: Prepare horse for a mounted lunge lesson. Basics of
lunging are explained and student works on correct position.
12:30 pm: LUNCH – Buffet at the Hill House.
1:30 pm: Prepare horses for trail ride. Make a stop at the
driving field to watch driving students. Brief explanation of
basic driving.
Tuesday
9 am: Video on a balanced seat with coffee and tea.
10 am: Riding lesson (1 or 2 hours). Based on a combination
of what students wishes to improve on, and where instructors see
improvement is needed.
11:30 am: Take care of horse (cool out, sponge, etc.) Clean
tack – Relax before lunch
12:30 pm: LUNCH – BBQ @ the Carriage House.
2 pm: Lesson in Classical Long-Lining
Wednesday
9 am: Training and desensitizing of Young horses – weanlings,
yearlings, 3 year olds.
10:30 am: Riding Lessons & Observe dressage training session
with explanations.
12:30 pm: Picnic on the beach with horses. Beach rides all
afternoon.
3:30 pm: Return to farm.
Thursday
9 am: Riding or Driving Lesson.
10:30 am: Video with coffee & tea
11:30 am: Prepare for trail ride and picnic lunch.
1:00 pm: Picnic Lunch at top of Hayfield.
2:30
pm: Return to barn.
3:00 pm: Awards Ceremony
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This is a sample program & both our Riding Vacation
and
Driving Vacations contain much more
as well as some
wonderful surprise attractions
About Antigonish
Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II, Ltd. is located in Antigonish
County, Nova Scotia, which, frankly, is about the nicest place
to live and visit in the entire world! -- You think I might
be exaggerating? -- Well, let us know how you feel after you’ve
spent a week here. -- There’s no finer place to be in the summer
and fall months. -- The ocean is warm, the beaches are . . . how
shall I say? “uncrowded” just doesn’t cover it. -- On a hot day
in August, there may be 25 people on the beautiful beach.
The town of Antigonish, home to St. Francis Xavier
University, which is the #1 undergraduate university in Canada,
is a delightful place to visit. There are great shops, art
galleries, cafes and restaurants, and the nicest people you’ll
find anywhere. – We always tell our guests to go into town and
meet the people, and believe me, meeting the people is very
easy to do. -- Nova Scotians are genuinely interested in
meeting you, and finding out where you’re from and why you’re
visiting their town. -- They might even say to you . .
“Welcome Home!” And, surprisingly enough, they mean it most
sincerely. Antigonish is fiercely Scottish in heritage.
There are more MacDonalds, MacGillivrays, and MacDougals, etc.
than you’ve ever seen before. -- So many “Macs” that they have
to be identified as for instance . . . Donnie MacDonald, son of
Regie MacDonald. -- A young MacDonald girl, from the area,
that used to ride at Beaver Dam Farm tells the story of her high
school days when she’d meet a new boy, and have to ask her
mother . . . “Am I related to him?”
We even have a law firm in Antigonish called .
. .Mac, Mac & Mac.
Beaver Dam Farm is located just outside of Antigonish in the
little village of Pomquet, which is proudly Acadian in
heritage. -- You’ll meet the Acadians of Pomquet as well
when you visit Beaver Dam Farm, and hopefully you’ll learn a
little about their culture.
THEATRE & MUSIC is very big in our area. On many
summer nights, you’ll have a choice of musical and theatrical
events at three or four locations. -- There’s everything from
deep drama to comedy to Gaelic music and dance. -- It’s all
of very high quality, and absolutely delightful! -- You’ll
marvel that such a small, out of the way place could produce
such talent.
ART IS ALSO EVERYWHERE -- There are several art
galleries in and around town, including a “jewel of a gallery”
right here on Beaver Dam Farm. Arthur Rivoire is an artist and
exhibits his acrylic and oil paintings in the BDF gallery. --
Also at the gallery, you’ll find exquisite wood turnings by Nova
Scotia artist, Louis LeBlanc. -- The very well known watercolor
artist, Alice Reed, exhibits at the BDF gallery, and if you want
to see more, Alice’s own gallery is right down the street in
Pomquet. -- This year for the first time at the Beaver Dam Farm
Art Gallery, we’ll be exhibiting wonderful watercolors by the
famous, William Rogers. -- Bill does marvelous, highly acclaimed
work, and is a professor of art at the university. -- Bill
paints figures, and recently has started painting Beaver Dam
Farm Fjordhorses, and will be exhibiting those at the farm this
summer.
SPLENDID SCENERY -- It’s just spectacular,
practically everywhere you turn. You’ll be amazed at the beauty.
Beaver Dam Farm is in an ideal location for touring -- We’re
right between Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island. --
The PEI ferry is 45 min. from the farm, and the Cape Breton
Island causeway is ½ hour from the farm. Both are definite “must
sees” for a Maritime Vacation. -- You can see PEI in a day, but
two would be better. -- Same for Cape Breton. -- Many people do
the famous Cabot Trail in one day, but it is a lot of driving --
But, then again, it’s one of the wonders of the world, according
to Alexander Graham Bell who used to summer on Cape Breton.
Closer to the farm, we have the “Mini Cabot Trail” just
outside of Antigonish. It’s a lovely drive on a clear, crisp day
with stops at the fishing piers of Ballantine’s Cove and
Livingston’s Cove.
There are wonderful hiking trails of all levels with
spectacular views. -- Antigonish Harbour is ideal for kayaking,
and you can rent kayaks and take a guided or non-guided tour
just outside of town.
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The truth is, there’s way too much to do and see for just one
trip -- Which is one reason why so many of our guests return
year after year.
We hope you’ll join us at Beaver Dam Farm in Antigonish, Nova
Scotia this summer. We promise you a marvelous vacation -- And
at the end of your stay, we think you’re likely to agree with so
many other of our guests who said . . .
“It was the best vacation we’ve ever had”
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“It was the best horse vacation we’ve ever had”
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“Thank you so much. Your staff is wonderful, and we got
way more than we ever thought possible.” ..
“Thank you so much for a fantastic week! We really want
to come back. Thanks for the teaching, fun, and great food.” ...
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