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Darkes Forest Ranch

@darkesforestranch

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Family owned and operated for over 40 years. We offer horse riding adventures for all ages and experience levels.
#bestfunonyabum

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Pilates and Ponies RECAP ☀️🤎🐎

The sun was shining, and we had the most beautiful morning together! ☀️✨

First of all, a HUGE THANK YOU to the team at @darkesforestranch for hosting our very FIRST Pilates and Ponies event! 🤎🐎 We’re already looking forward to getting our next one booked in!

While the mums enjoyed some well-deserved movement, the little ones had a blast playing Tenielle’s animal game (with chocolate as the reward 🍫😆) — definitely a highlight for the kids!

We wrapped up the morning with the most amazing grazing platters, thanks to Kim, our absolute legend! 🧀🍓 The kids, parents and staff were all very excited to dig into those beautiful boards.

And parents… should we add a little trail ride to the next one? 👀🐎😏

Thank you to everyone who came along and made our first Pilates and Ponies morning so special! 🤎✨

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Took advantage of being on location for Pilates and ponies today to take some portfolio shots. Horses are beautiful creatures!

Thank you to the amazingly helpful and friendly staff @darkesforestranch for hosting us today. I’ll definitely be back again! ❤️ 🐎

#nikond780 #nikonphotography #ranchphotoshoot #photographer #illawarraphotographer

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🐴 “I wanna go on a horsey”🦄 Thanks so much for the bday gift Tia @jusfontes & Tio @caiojrcesar ! ✨ Olivia’s first time riding a Pony 🥰Such a wholesome day out on the farm with the kiddos 🙏 #horse #riding #pony

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Last Friday, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing this amazing event!

I want to express my gratitude to my boss, @laurenpenhall for not only being an absolutely legendary boss but an incredible mentor as well.

Words cannot express how truly incredible a human Lauren is...

Last year, Lauren took me under her wing. She has taught me valuable skills and cheered me on by always believing in me and my skills as a photographer. Lauren taught me everything she had learned over the last 15 years as a family photographer, and I shared my knowledge too, like a perfect symbiotic relationship!

Lauren is not just my boss. She lets me be me, in all my weirdness. I often feel like an outsider because of my weirdly passionate nature and quirkiness, but Lauren always encourages me to stay true to myself.

This year has been an incredibly difficult one for me, but Lauren has been my rock through it... continuously supporting me and my dreams.

On my bad days, she would take me to Darkes Forest Riding Ranch to see her horses. We would pat them, feed them carrots, talk about life and go riding in the bush.

So, when Lauren asked me to photograph this event I said yes instantly. Now I can see why Lauren is the way she is she is backed by the most amazing community and family.

Angels do walk on this earth, and I have no doubt Lauren is one of them. 💜

#familyphotographer #horsephotography #outdoorphotography #wollongongphotographer

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A huge shoutout and heartfelt thank you to the incredible @winnjwendy for jumping the pond and coming all the way to Australia to share such an enormous wealth of knowledge with us.

What made this clinic so special wasn’t just the horsemanship, the learning or the little lightbulb moments along the way. It was the energy Wendy brought into the space😍

Her ability to meet every horse and rider exactly where they were, to hold space without judgement, to encourage without pressure and to create such a positive and supportive environment was something really special to witness.

There was so much knowledge shared, but also so much kindness, gratitude, patience and genuine connection.

Thank you, Wendy, for giving so much of yourself, for answering every question, for creating a space where people felt safe to learn, grow and be vulnerable and for reminding us that horsemanship is just as much about listening and feeling as it is about doing.

We are incredibly grateful you made the journey to Australia and trusted us to be part of it.

I know so many people walked away from this clinic not only with more knowledge, but with a different way of looking at their horses and themselves.

What a privilege it was to have you here. 💕🐴

Until next time, Wendy 😍 Australia will be waiting. 🇦🇺✨

#wendywinn #horsemanship #saddlefitting #darkesforest @darkesforestranch

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🐴✨ WE SOLD OUT! ✨🐴

We are BEYOND excited to announce that our very first session of Ponies & Pilates is officially SOLD OUT! 🥹🤍

But don’t worry if you missed out… SESSION 2 IS NOW OPEN! 🎉

Our next intake will run on the SAME DAY - Thursday 8th October, starting at the same time - 10am! 🙌

So if you missed the first intake, bookings are officially OPEN for Session 2! 🎟️

Only ONE WEEK TO GO and we are SO excited to bring our Saddle Club dream to life — ponies, Pilates & morning tea… what more could you want?! 🐴🧘‍♀️☕️✨

🎟️ Tickets: $123
This includes 1 parent + 1 child 🤍
Ages 5-12 year old CowGIRLS and CowBOYS welcome

We can’t wait to see you at the ranch! 🐴
@darkesforestranch

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“I’m bored” has a very short shelf life in Wollongong 😉

The Illawarra has family adventures for every kind of kid, and the spring school holidays don’t end until 9th October. That’s plenty of time to send them back to school tired, happy and full of stories!

Which adventure is your kid choosing?

#visitwollongong #feelnsw #seeaustralia

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🐎💕 PILATES & PONIES SCHOOL HOLIDAY !!! 💙🐎

Calling all little cowgirls and cowboys & Pilates mamas… this one’s for YOU! ✨🌸

Breeze Pilates x Darkes Forest Riding Ranch are teaming up for the CUTEST morning ever — bringing you Pilates & Ponies on October 8th! 🐴🍃💕

Come along for a fun-filled morning designed to keep you AND your mini entertained, moving and making memories! ✨

🎀 THE MORNING LINE-UP 🎀

Location: @darkesforestranch
🐴 10:00am — Pony Ride 🐎💕

🍃 10:30am — Mat Pilates✨

🫖 11:00am — Morning Tea 💕

🎟️ TICKETS ARE LIVE! 🎟️

Spots are LIMITED, so don’t wait! Grab your ticket, bring your mini and get ready for the sweetest morning out. 🐎💕✨

Pilates + ponies + morning tea = the perfect morning! 🥹💗
Link in our bio to purchase your tickets

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🐎💕 PILATES & PONIES!!🍃✨
School holidays just got A WHOLE LOT more magical! 🥹🙌

We’ve teamed up with @darkesforestranch to bring you and your mini the ultimate morning of ponies, Pilates & morning tea! 🐴🧘‍♀️🫖💕

Here’s how the morning looks… ✨
🐴 10:00am — Pony Ride for your mini
🍃 10:30am — Pilates together
🫖 11:00am — Morning Tea, sit back, relax and enjoy a beautiful morning tea together 🫖💕

📅 October 8th | From 10:00am

Spots are LIMITED, so don’t miss out! 🙌💕

Head to our website NOW to secure your ticket 🎟️

One ticket secures a spot for YOU + YOUR MINI! 🥰🐴

The perfect school holiday morning awaits… 💕✨
We can’t wait to see you there! 🐎🍃🫖

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Sleepy morning with the girls. 😴 💤

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Thank you so much for capturing this @lac154 🌹

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brb ‘gone gallivanting’ 🎠

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Did I do good? Absolutely not. 😂
Will I go again? 10000%YES. 🐎

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