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In This Issue...
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Limited Spots left on Dec/Jan Kids Camps – Saddle Club for Horse Mad Kids!!
 Still not too late to book your child in for our popular Kids Camps over Dec and Jan holidays!! Just imagine 5 days of fun – loads of horse riding and instruction, a gymkhana, a day ride to a picnic spot, activities like a bush dance or talent quest, and maybe even the chance to swim with a horse. And all this with like-minded, horse crazy kids – both girls and boys – aged from 10 to 16! The package is all-inclusive – all riding, instruction, meals, accommodation, activities, supervision by trained and happy adults, and the chance to hang with our mob of wonderful horses!! So if your child (or you if you are a child!) would like 5 days of the best fun, call us and we can send some more information. We can even send you a gift voucher for that special Christmas present!!
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Some recent successful activities and weekends….
 Have you ever had a chance to grab a quiet moment and reflect on what you have done recently? With idyllic surroundings, and a little peace and quiet every now and then, at Yarrabin we seem to be in a perfect environment to do this. November has been a wonderful month and we thought we would share some of our lives with you! MLC Burwood (Year 11) spent a week with us over the Melbourne Cup – what great timing! We all shared in some good riding and learning, some laughter and falls, and a few even managed to pick the winner on the race! Comments like “very enjoyable with real learning opportunities for all” and “well organised and cleverly structured” and “SO MUCH FUN!!” the best camp EVER!” were received. MLC are now regulars at Yarrabin – please let us know if your school may be interested! Our latest workshop, “Active Horsemanship” saw 7 new “graduands.” Not only did all participants improve their riding and horse sense, but we managed to join the local RDA Charity Ride for the day. Over 100 horses and all day in the saddle! Plus a spa, massage and champagne at the end! Just heaven. We will be running more workshops next year, and possibly be able to invite more guests to join us for the Charity Ride. Our “Riders Weekend” on 18 to 20 Nov was also a hit – some experienced riders joined us and all thought our moonlight ride was very special. Finally, Annie and Jessica managed to slip down to Equitana (a HUGE horse event) in Melbourne, and came back with loads of excitement and photos. Now Jessica wants her horse to lie down on command!!
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Dates for your diary for 2006
Here are some dates for your diary for 2006 – sometimes to be guaranteed of accommodation at Yarrabin, you will need to book early. So we thought we would let you know a few key dates. “Australia Day 4 for 3 day special” – join us for some ho-down thigh slapping, heel toe-ing fun on our regular Australia Day bush dance and pool party. Stay 4 days and only pay for 3! Dates are from lunch on Wed 25 Jan to dusk on Sat 28 Jan 06. Rockley Rodeo and Barrel Racing weekend – 17 to 19 Feb. Wanna try your hand at barrel racing with the Rockley Rodeo Runner Up 2004 (that’s Annie!!). Watch Harry ride a wild bull (well, a small steer anyway!). Loads of fun, and even some horse riding on Sunday! March 06 – dates still to be confirmed, but one weekend will be a “Singles Weekend” and another will be the “Riders Weekend.” And then there’s the Kids Camp scheduled for Sat 8th to Wed 12th April!! Call or email us for any information on these events, or add the link below to your favourites.
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Contact with horses can be good for you!!
 The advantages of ‘hanging out with horses’ (besides the obvious fitness component!) are many. Here’s an interesting fact- in the early 1900s (not that long ago!), most people would have been in contact, or in regular close proximity, with horses. Horses were the main form of transport back then, and were also the big “workers” on farming properties. Many people rode them as a way of life. Even if you didn’t own a horse, you would have come into close proximity as they went down the street. Horses are large, have a “presence,” and are unpredictable. Being around horses so much meant people developed an innate “awareness” and were in touch with their surroundings. Today, living in cities and with our cars, computers and the many inanimate objects, many people live with that awareness diminished. That’s potentially a problem and may explain some of the idiosyncrasies of life today! We need to raise our awareness somehow. Because heightened awareness leads to quicker reflexes, and the ability to control reactions – around horses it is so you don’t further frighten a very large creature! This greater awareness leads to a greater sense of the environment. So here’s the motto: “Hang out with horses and heighten your awareness!! And then be more in touch with yourself and those around you.”
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Win a weekend for four at Yarrabin
Lots of entries are coming in for our competition to win a weekend for 4 at Yarrabin! All you have to do is let us know, by email, your wish list or super ideas for Yarrabin. It can be anything – something you would like us to start at Yarrabin, some area that may need improvement, a particular type of ride you would like to see, some suggestions for Kids Camps or for our marketing, or even just a dream you may have about Yarrabin. Anyone can enter, and we won’t limit what area your wish or idea should be in. So let your minds wander!! Send us an email (to holidays@yarrabin.com) and make sure you include your contact details and age (if under 18). The competition will run until 31 January 2006, and we will let you know the winner by 28 February 2006. Anyone can enter – even if you have never been to Yarrabin!
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Is it too early to wish you a “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year?” We received our first Christmas card last week (thanks Leslie!!) and we know the flood is about to start! We are hoping to send out another ezine before Christmas so we will save our wishes til then. But are you stuck for ideas? Ever thought about a gift voucher from Yarrabin? A fun present and one which will last a lifetime! Why is it that we forget most of the material presents we receive, but we always seem to remember great experiences? At the beginning of November, we had an elderly couple drive into Yarrabin – we weren’t expecting any guests on that day. They were previous guests of Yarrabin 30 YEARS AGO and just wanted to see how we were going!! Of course, with Annie being the daughter of the original owners (Gavin and Sue Christie), we were able to say not much has changed, but then a lot has changed! (That’s a photo of Annie 30 years ago – in front of Katie her sister!) Hope you enjoy this latest newsletter! If it is your first – “Welcome!”
We are pushing ahead with our “Singles Weekend” this weekend coming and it’s not too late to join us! And if you were thinking “should I?” then just do it! Seems to be very popular with the girls (hint hint guys!). We will be having some good rides, champagne in the spa, a night trip (by vehicle) to the O’Connell Pub on Saturday night, more champagne in the spa(!!) and then a day ride to the pub on Sunday. Plus the chance to share and meet other fun people!!! If you can't make this one, then the next will be in March 2006….
Who do you think the oldest horse at Yarrabin is? Well it’s hard even for us to say!! We know exactly when Snuggles was born (at Yarrabin on 18 Oct 76 so she will be 30 next year!) but it may be Sherry. She arrived in August 87 but we aren’t sure how old she was when she arrived… Anyway, both are doing well and Snuggles can still gallop faster than most other ponies! (The photo is Jessica on Snuggles racing around the barrels) Some new arrivals for you - Cricket (a solid chestnut Standard Bred crossed with Draught horse) and Lady (a beautiful grey thoroughbred) now call Yarrabin and our GREEN pastures home. Both are fitting in well, and should prove to be wonderful assets. On the pet/farm animal front, we now have a 3 legged “super dog!” Teddy broke his leg, and unfortunately we had to amputate it. He doesn’t seem to miss it, and runs faster than ever! Maybe we could learn something from animals???
Did you know that if 23 gathered in one place the probability that at least two people shared the same birthday (day and month) is slightly better than 1 in 2. If there are just 40 people the probability rises to a 9 in 10 chance. If you have BIG parties and invite 100 people, it's virtually certain that at least two people will share a birthday. We can’t quite fit 100 people into Yarrabin, but we can fit 40. So if you would like to test this theory, and especially if you want to do it for a birthday party, give us a call and we will organise everything for you! In the meantime, stay well, stay safe and see you soon!