Ataraxy Farm

Ataraxy Farm

Ataraxy Farm is an animal therapy farm on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, tucked along a quiet rural road in Lawrencetown where the property opens into fields, forests, and the kind of stillness that its name — derived from the Greek word for tranquil calm — was chosen to evoke. Founded in 2013 as a therapy farm for individuals living with PTSD, Ataraxy has grown into a place where visitors can connect with animals, nature, and a slower pace of life without any agenda beyond being present.

The farm is home to horses, donkeys, a mule, goats, and chickens, all of whom have their own personalities and routines. Visitors arrive for free guided tours that accommodate a maximum of ten people at a time, keeping the experience personal and unhurried. The tours are not structured performances or demonstrations — they are walks through the farm where visitors meet the animals, learn their stories, and are invited to spend time with them at their own pace in a calm, unhurried setting.

What Makes It Different

Ataraxy is not a petting zoo. The farm's mission is rooted in mental health support, and everything about the experience reflects that. The tours are designed to be genuinely restorative rather than entertaining. There are no rides, no shows, no gift shop. The value is in the quiet — the sound of horses breathing, the warmth of a donkey leaning against a fence, the way the goats approach with curiosity rather than performance.

The farm also offers Equine Assisted Learning programs for individuals dealing with mental health challenges. These programs use the interaction between people and horses as a tool for building self-awareness, emotional regulation, and trust. The approach is backed by a growing body of evidence that time spent with animals in natural settings can reduce anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and improve mood — and Ataraxy has been putting that evidence into practice for over a decade.

In addition to the therapy programs, Ataraxy offers Ataraxy Yoga, a practice that blends traditional yoga with the farm's animal-assisted approach. Sessions take place in the farm's outdoor spaces, with the animals nearby. It is the kind of experience that sounds unusual but feels entirely natural once you are there.

The Setting

Lawrencetown is a small community on the Eastern Shore, about 40 minutes east of Halifax along Route 207. The drive out is scenic in itself, following the coast past stretches of rocky shoreline and quiet beaches like Lawrencetown Beach. Ataraxy sits at 33 Manetail Lane, a short turn off the main road into a stretch of fields and treelines that feels considerably further from the city than its actual distance.

The farm operates on a scale that feels personal rather than commercial. There is no admission gate, no parking lot to navigate, no queue. Visitors are received by appointment, and the small group sizes mean that the experience rarely feels crowded. It is the kind of place that rewards slow exploration — a walk through the barn, a few minutes sitting with the goats, a conversation about the farm's history and mission.

Practical Information

Name: Ataraxy Farm
Website: ataraxyfarm.com
Phone: (902) 449-8109
Email: sales@ataraxyfarm.com
Location: 33 Manetail Lane, Lawrencetown, NS B2Z 0A7
Tours: Free guided tours by appointment. Maximum 10 people per tour. Book through the website or by phone.
Equine Assisted Learning: Programs available for individuals dealing with mental health challenges. Contact the farm for scheduling and availability.
Ataraxy Yoga: Outdoor yoga sessions on the farm. Check the website or social media for current class times.
Getting There: From Halifax, take Route 207 east through Lawrencetown. Turn onto Manetail Lane and follow to the farm. The drive takes approximately 40 minutes from downtown Halifax.
Tip: Book your tour in advance — the small group sizes mean slots fill up, especially during summer weekends.