This message is from: "Arthur Rivoire" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello from Carol Rivoire at Beaver Dam Farm in Nova Scotia -
I've just returned from two wonderful weeks down south enjoying sunshine, flowers, and driving Fjordhorses. This trip has become something of an annual treat for me. I get to visit with customers who've become dear friends, and drive their lovely Fjords. What could be nicer than renewing friendships, both human and equine. Claudia Gallup from NC met me at the airport with news that we'd been invited by Barbie Black to a cocktail party given by her vet in his barn. - A great start for the vacation. We met nice people, many of them dedicated drivers, ate some super food, and were entertained by a bluegrass band. -- After an hour or so, the three of us went back to the Pinecrest Inn for a dinner celebrating Barbie's 60th birthday. Claudia posts to the Digest now and then. She's the owner of the exquisite mare, Rosan, a mare we imported as a yearling from Holland. Rosan suits Claudia to a "T" as both of them are petite and very pretty. Claudia and Rosan are training now, and will be competing in a few weeks at the elegant Pinehurst Classic in NC. Barbara Black is the owner of three Fjords, including another of the yearlings we imported from Holland, the great Ohlsen-Junior daughter, Trientje. Barbie calls her "Trinket", and Trinket is now 6 years old. -- Barbara is a complete horsewoman down to the marrow of her bone. She's been steeped in horses all her life -- Everything from Pony Club as a child, to fox hunting, and now driving. - This lady has all the credentials. She's a past president of the American Driving Society, and has been twice Chef d'Equipe for the U.S. 4-In-Hand World Championship teams. -- Today, she runs almost single-handedly a very busy training and lesson barn. She continues to compete, and to host clinics at her farm. -- Along with her horses, all of which are well-behaved, Barbie has about 20 dogs of various breeds --- also beautifully behaved. Hard to believe, but true! Arriving on Saturday, Claudia and I had lessons with Barbie on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the three of us headed south to Atlanta to visit Mike and Cindy Bickman, the owners of three super Fjords from Beaver Dam Farm. -- The imported mares, Tanja and Silaika, and the gelding Kastar, one of our consignment horses. The Bickmans are a wonderful story. --- Cindy was a dressage rider married to a non-horsey husband; that is, until they took a trip to Norway and Mike saw Fjords. He decided that if he were ever to have a relationship with any horses, this was the breed. -- The next step was a trip to Beaver Dam Farm for our Nova Scotia Beginner Driving Vacations. -- Arthur took Mike in hand and taught him to drive using Arthur's old mare, Tessa. Mike did as well as could be expected, but he really was starting from zero. However, on that trip, Cindy and Mike purchased two-year-old Tanja, a Gjest granddaughter, and 3 yr. old Silaika, one of our imported mares. -- Kastar came a few months later. - The Bickmans were committed. Last Spring we made our first trip to the beautiful Bickman farm, and this time, Mike took Arthur in hand driving him all around the farm in perfect confidence with Silaika in a snaffle bit. ---- This Spring there were even bigger, more impressive changes in Mike which all of us noticed. I had the pleasure of driving Tanja and despite the fact that she hadn't been driven in a year (Cindy's riding her), she was incredibly good and fun to drive -- Super forward with a lot of power, but well-behaved. Mike had several lessons with Silaika, and we were all impressed at his new skill and confidence. At the Bickman Farm, all of us had lessons from Barbie with Tanja and Silaika. The only downside was the weather which was cold, something this Nova Scotian didn't expect in Georgia. We piled on all the clothes we brought and were still shivering. Cindy's dressage interest has resulted in their farm hosting clinics with all the big dressage names, including Betsy Steiner. -- Cindy gave me a beautiful book on Pilates for dressage riders, autographed by Betsy. Something I'll proudly cherish. - Cindy's main occupation is the owner of a renowned gym which teaches able-bodied and handicapped people. This gym has produced many winning gymnastic teams, and each year Cindy travels around the world with her teams - China, South America, Europe, Scandinavia, etc. -- One night, before dinner, Mike took us to the gym for a special presentation by the handicapped gymnasts. It was heart-wrenchingly wonderful. Our faces were wet with tears of joy. -- One of the gymnasts, a woman of 51, took a liking to Barbie, and before she did her routine, she cried . . . "This one's for you, Barbie!" That brought down the house! After 3 days in Atlanta, we headed back to SC. Claudia stayed one more day so the two of us could have another lesson with Barbie, then she headed home. -- On Sunday, I went with Barbie to Aiken, SC for a Lisa Singer Clinic. Barbie was driving in the clinic, and I audited. -- Lisa has a great microphone system so that auditors can hear every word she says. -- If any of you ever have the opportunity to take lessons from Lisa, I highly recommend it. -- She's really terrific! I watched 8 lessons, and came away with a lot of new knowledge and confirmation of things I'd learned in the past. -- While in Aiken, I stayed with dear friends, Mel and Joanne Goble, owners of BDF Jason, (the foxhunting Fjord), and the 4 yr. old BDF Ranstein (Gjest x Riena). It was delightful being with Mel and Joanne. They moved to Aiken from Maine a few years ago, and are thoroughly integrated into the Aiken driving scene. Mel is driving his own horses, and training horses for others all day, and Joanne is organizing shows and clinics. What a ouple! -- I got to drive Ran, and he's a pistol! Just like his mother, Riena, who is now owned by the Sullivan family who showed her all over the place last season. Riena won Champion Mare at Woodstock, and then went on to the Ohio Evaluation winning several blues there. --- Mel and Joanne will also be at the Pinehurst Classic in NC competing BDF Jason. After Aiken, it was back to SC and four more days of lessons with Barbie before flying home. While with Barbie, I drove Claudia's mare, Rosan, and Barbie's treasured schoolhorse, Sophie (a Fjord, of course). Sophie is super forward and big strided, and I learned a lot with her, especially on the cones course. What a great time I had, and I tell you, it never would have happened if it wasn't for the Fjordhorses. We wouldn't know these terrific people, and we wouldn't be doing the things we do. -- The horses keep opening doors for us. I hate to sound so Pollyannaish, but it's all true. The Fjords have greatly enhanced our lives, and we're very grateful. Kind Regards, Carol Rivoire http://www.beaverdamfarm.com Beaver Dam Farm Fjords II R.R. 7 Pomquet, Nova Scotia B2G 2L4 Tel:(902) 386-2304 Fax:(902) 386-2149 Carole Rivoire, author of THE FJORDHORSE HANDBOOK, only book in English on the Fjord breed, available from Beaver Dam Farm, $36.95 US includes P&H http://www.beaverdamfarm.com/book.htm
