Fulfilling a life-time dream of owning and operating an event facility, Lori and Jeff purchased the farm in June 2003 and named it "Brae Fearann", which is Gaelic for "hillside farm". This name was chosen in honor of the Scottish history of Harvey Station, where the farm is located. Originally a thriving Jersey dairy farm, Brae Fearann has been converted into a competition facility.
Both Lori and Jeff work full-time away from the farm, so it is a real challenge to juggle work, riding, building the facility, haying, and competing. We realize that you have to be either really crazy or really passionate about horses to live this lifestyle…we are probably a little of both!
Besides housing horses Dez, Fred, Sam at Brae Fearann, Lori and Jeff enjoy sharing the farm with their dog Bradford (a boarder collie, sheppard cross), cats Lester, Callie and Molly, and a hen house full of busy layers.
We have dedicated our Cross Country water complex to Webber, our chocolate lab, whom we lost to old age in May 2008. "Web" loved to swim and his warm spirit is always with us.
Having received her basic riding skills at Geary Hill Stables as a young girl, Lori moved to Toronto in the early 80's and discovered the world of Eventing under her coach at the time, Joni Peters. Lori found Eventing to be the ultimate challenge for both horse and rider and began a long love affair with the sport. With her horse "Lucky Devil" Lori Evented all around southern Ontario, training primarily with Martha Griggs before moving herself and her horse "Lucky Devil" to Germany to work and train. There she gained upper level riding skills and learned advanced training techniques.
Upon returning to Canada she attained her Equine Canada Level One Coaching Certification and continued to Event at the Preliminary level and competed at jumper shows becoming the NB Provincial Level One Jumper Champion, riding with jumper coach Deanna Phelan. In 2001, Lori was the NB Preliminary Eventing Champion and was 10th at the Glen Oro Three Day in Ontario competing against some of Canada's best Eventers. In 2003 Lori had a serious riding accident that took her out of riding competition for a time period, and now back in the saddle Lori is enjoying success competing zer WarmbloodxThoroughbred 16.2 hands, "I Love Lucy" (aka Dez).
Lori also has her Level Three National Coaching Theory Certification and in winter 2005 completed the course work for recognition as a Jumper Judge with Equine Canada.
Harvey was originally settled in 1838 when approximately 160 people set sail from Berwick, Scotland carrying all the aspirations and dreams of a new life in New Brunswick. After enduring the hardships of the long voyage by sea they learned their land grants in the Parish of Stanley were no longer available. Their plight fell on the sympathetic ear of the Lieutenant Governor of the time, Sir John Harvey who offered each settler 50 acres along the new road from Fredericton to St. Andrews. According to historical accounts, the new community they developed would be known as Harvey Settlement, in honor of the Lieutenant Governor. The rolling fields and pastures that became the working farms of the day still remain and stand as a monument to the perseverance and spirit of those early Scottish settlers. Brae Fearann was one of the original settled farms in Harvey Station. Although the original log house no longer remains, our house dates back to 1910.