Two of my equestrian dreams came true in August 2001 in Nova Scotia, at the beautiful 350-acre Beaverdam Farm owned by Arthur and Carol Rivoire. Our family vacation is usually spent at Chincoteague, Va., where the wild ponies roam on nearby Assateague Island, but after reading about the Beginner's Driving Vacation in Nova Scotia, I convinced certain members of my family that we should head north for our vacation. My two dreams were to ride a horse on a picturesque beach and to drive a horse through the countryside. Both of those dreams came true at Beaverdam Farm, which breeds and trains one of my favorite breeds, the Norwegian Fjord.

That week of vacation was perfect. The weather, the people, the food, the horses, and the natural peacefulness of Nova Scotia were unmatched by any other vacation I have taken. The remote cabin that we stayed in suited us perfectly, although most vacationers stay in the nearby town of Antigonish. The Beginner's Driving Vacation also included a gourmet dinner in town at Gabrieau's Bistro and tickets to the theater.

Monday morning began with a delicious brunch at the Rivoire's home and the guests got to know each other. The Rivoires asked about our experience with horses, then explained the week's agenda and stressed safety. We even watched a video showing driving accidents; the video did not dampen our enthusiasm, but it did instill a deep respect for the need of safety as with any horse sport.

The driving lessons began with learning how to handle the reins using a reining board. This helps save the horses' mouths from being ruined by beginners using the reins incorrectly. Next we learned how to harness a horse, and before long, we were ground-driving horses in the ring. After a delicious home-cooked lunch, we learned how to hitch the horse to a carriage and began driving with their excellent instructors beside us. The instructors held the whip and the well-trained Fjords knew their voices and cooperated beautifully. This made the lessons pleasurable for the beginner driver and made certain that the horses received the kindest handling possible