Equine Alternatives

Testamonials

As a therapist, Sarah's work and dedication to the needs of her clients (horses) is remarkable . Sarah sees to their problems and goes out of her way to treat every horse with the utmost care and attention as the individuals they are.

Vonnie Kordell

I would just like to thank Sarah for her help with my little Harness pony Joe. Joe had a bad bout of Laminitis which came right after a long period of time, but was left looking very sorry for himself not walking freely around his paddock - back and quarters very stiff and generally not a happy little pony. We had got to the stage where we thought that perhaps it would be kinder to let him go, when I remembered seeing Sarah give a demonstration on massage and preasure points with natural oils about 18 months prior to this Now I am fairly sceptical about this type of treatment but decided it was worth getting in touch with Sarah and giving her a chance. After the first session I noticed a slight change for the better and then after the 2nd time Little Joe finished the session and actually trotted around the paddock with me in fact even kicked up his hind legs. I have kept up the massage with oils myself with him and he is a completely different little pony. I can't thank Sarah enough for all the help and advice she have given us.
Thanks
Eileen Woolcock and Little Joe


My horse Persil Beaucoup was a very nervous boy in poor condition when he first arrived to live with us. Having been a polocrosse horse, he went like a camel on speed. He had very little back muscle so my first mission was to build this up through gentle hill work.

(The photo left is Persil when I first started riding him, he bounced everywhere with his head tossing all over the place - VERY difficult to ride!)

The gentle hill work helped to a point but he was difficult to relax and round up - I used to call him the paddock scrubber because his habit of zooming around with his head stuck straight up in the air and his back hollowed made him look so disgusting.

I got Sarah to work on him with her massage and oils. Since then his back is building up and he is reaching for the bit to round up. He is going beautifully (see photo right) and even won his last endurance race. He loves his rides and looks forward to his massages! He has gone from a very nervous horse, worried about strangers, to one who is the first to race up and greet them and who is unbelieveably casual and calm on his rides.

My other horse Nibbler B'stard was a different kettle of fish. Years of ill fitting saddles had left him cold backed and difficult to ride. Nibbler all but sank into Sarah's hands when she first massaged him. The look of sheer pleasure as he relaxed into his massage was hysterical. He too has become a different horse - for the better!

You can see both Persil and Nibbler enjoying their massages on the massage, aromatherapy and accupressure pages.

Cathy Dee
Web Designer

23 April 2004
Sarah has been massaging my team of show jumpers since August 2003.
During this time I have found massage to be a very important factor in their preperation for major shows and since using Sarah, I have experienced great results.
She is always cheerful and pleasant to have around, and has a great working relationship with all horses.
I would highly recommend Sarah to anyone looking for a massage or alternative therapist for their horses.

Anna Stephen
Equestrian

Sarah has been working with my horses since June 2003 and I have found her to be very professional in the way she handles and treats them. Sarah has worked on a range of different problems with the horses, as well as maintenance for competition all with good results.
Sarah is always punctual and gives you records of her visits and treatments on each particular horse which is good to keep and refer back to.
I feel Sarah has very good comunicational skills and a great knowledge and passion for her field of work, I have no hesitaitons in recommending her skills.

Jo Greaves
Instructor / Dressage trainer and rider

I have known Sarah Linton since she and her husband David moved to Marangi Station at Tinui. In the time That they have been here, I have needed to call on Sarah a number of times, not only to do some work on my horses but also on occasion I have needed her expertise on my own aches and pains due to a fall I had a while ago in which I hurt my back and neck.
It is always interesting to watch Sarah in action when she is working on a horse, but when it comes to working on your body it's something that she does with great consideration. Not only can she locate the problem, she knows how to fix it while making you feel at ease. I would certainly recommend her to anyone who has problems with either their horses or their own body.

Cherry Brown

Dante is a very untrusting horse, so I was very surprised at her reactions toward Sarah. Dante has had massages before, so I jumped at the chance for her to have another, which is why I was surprised at the reactions and the softness towards Sarah, and the quick gaining of trust on Dante's behalf.
I found the information very informative. Sarah explained everything as we went which most people would say either before or after, or for that matter give people notes and then just do what they think would be good for that person/animal. I felt very much a part of the whole process, as each step was taken, there would be more explanations as to why this or that was being down.

With Dante's timidity towards other people I was shocked and surprised at how quickly she responded to Sarah, she took about 10 minutes to settle down and at some stages couldn't help but want more. I have never seen Dante react this way before, her pupils enlarged, she became very relaxed and the stress on her face seemed to disappear.

The aromatherapy side of the massage was amazing, her reactions were fantastic. I wasn't sure what she would do or how she would react to the different smells but I needn't have worried. Dante couldn't get enough of Basil, Chamomile and Carrot seed, coming at Sarah like a shark, wanting more. She wanted to lick Sarah's hand and then keep going back for more, by this stage Dante was relaxed and Sarah was able to manipulate her muscles more.

Although Dante has been an abused horse, and at times her past does show, I feel she has gained something out of today. She is still a very troubled horse but the reactions I have seen from her are just wonderful. If Sarah had done this a few years ago Dante wouldn't have let Sarah near her.
Dante has very positive results from today, she relaxed quicker and gave Sarah the benefit and trust she finds so hard to give.
I would be more than happy to have Sarah return and try other oils on Dante - I would love to see more reactions from this beautiful horse.
Thank you for the opportunity to see my beautiful girl in a different light.

Richelle Roil

I know from experience how blissful a massage can be and if the expressions on Max's face are anything to go by it’s the same for him.  Sarah's knowledge of various therapies and use of oils are first rate and the passion she has for them ensure beneficial results.  I believe her ministrations have contributed to Max's overall well being and good health.  Max's enthusiasm for the oils saw him reach up and get the bottle off a very high shelf and then consume the contents.
 
Alternative ending:  Max adores any oils that comes his way and tries to eat them making it very difficult to actually get them massaged onto him.

Rebecca Upward

Sarah Linton has been coming out and attending to my horses issues for many
years now.  She has been amazing at picking up areas that are sore. Sarah
has managed to help my horses using different techniques from massage,
aromatherapy and the bioptron light.  Sarah is always informative and teaches
you along the way to help your horse as well.

Nicole Reesby

I was very pleased to be asked to write a testimonial for Sarah Linton who is a natural Therapist both for people and animals.
Sarah has attended and treated two of my Endurance horses over the past two years.
I have found her relaxed manner is transmitted to my horses, they respond to her techniques and she has the ability to communicate with them.
She is very thorough with what she does, in massage, applying and selecting her aromatherapy oils, her follow ups and written history of each horse.
The problem associated with my horses such as muscular body soreness, lameness and mud fever have responded well to her treatment and I would have no hesitation in recommending her for any animal problems.

Bryan Whitehead

I am a Dressage rider. My horse is Sonny, whom Sarah has regularly cared for since August 2004. As dressage training can be quite demanding on the horse, I have found that regular massaging is beneficial for the horse as it relieves any tender areas that may be developing. I also use the acupressure points that Sarah provides along with homeopathic remedies such as Arnica. I have been using massage therapy for my horses for several years now and know one thing for sure – My horses love it!

Lisa Reid

Thank you Sarah for your time coming to massage Bensen. He moves a lot freer and is heaps more active in his trot work. His jumping has improved almost instantly. He is not on his forehand anymore I believe that the reason is from him having the massages from you.
Thank you so much for improving his comfort and my happiness.

Michelle Pike 

I purchased my Arab X Quarter horse 5 years ago and for the first two years struggled to find a saddle to fit him, when I finally managed to get that right we had two years of back pain to get rid of.  Sarah had just started out with her massage and was requiring test cases Oscar seemed to fit the bill, I was amazed at the ease with which Oscar took to Sarah, it may sound strange but horses like her (which is not always the case with some "horse experts"). 
Oscar, myself and Sarah have developed a relationship which works well for all of us, in the sport of Endurance it is important that back, girth, hindquarter areas are all in tip top shape due to the fact that over 100km we see the vet 5 times and the slightest hint of soreness puts us out, at the recent N.Z Nationals held over Easter Oscar finished 12th out of 30 starters and I have no doubt that Sarah's help played a big part in that.

Sharon Linton

I have had Sarah treat various horses with very different problems and temperaments.
I have found her to be very thorough in her background work and also researching more into extras that may be of assistance.
Sarah is very patient with the horses and is always looking for the "why" into behavioural and temperamental issues.
She is very prompt and willing to come at short notice for emergencies.

Ginni Thurston

My horse has an old injury that can make his muscles tight and sore and he also has emotional problems that have also been caused by the injury. So the decision to get Sarah to have a look at him was very easy.  With all her experience in so many areas we could treat him on a physically and on an emotional level at the same time.  I loved the fact that he chose the aromatherapy oils that he liked and needed.  I also liked that Sarah showed my how to do it myself so that he could get the best benefit from ongoing regular treatment.
She also showed me how to do acupressure points to release muscles and stress for him.  If I was even a little bit unsure of this therapy as soon as I tried it you could tell that something was working as he would just freeze sort of like a trance and when he had had enough he would give his head a little flick. I was utterly amazed.  He would tell me when I got it right and when he had had enough!!
I have found all of the treatment to have amazing results and after every treatment I have received in the mail notes on what we had found and covered with that treatment so we can clearly follow his progress. The whole experience has been very professional and beneficial.

Melanie Hibbard

I have employed Sarah to massage my endurance horse after a long distance ride. I have found that Miss Millie loved being massaged and was very relaxed and happy throughout the whole procedure, she also enjoyed the essential oils that Sarah used and I am sure she was pleased to be able to choose her own oil.
I also found the follow up literature to be very informative
Sarah worked with the horses in a relaxed and yet professional manner and I would certainly recommend her to anybody who is considering giving their horse or pony the benefit of a professional massage.

Nita Edwards

I first contacted Sarah Linton when I noticed my horse Willie was feeling quite stiff in his front legs and wouldn’t stretch out. He responded very well to the massage, aromatherapy and pressure points and within a few days he was back to his normal self and feeling a lot happier. A year later I got Sarah again as Willie had been turned out for a while and as I was bringing him back into work he started to feel a bit stiff and sore. Once again the massage, aromatherapy and pressure points worked wonderfully and because Sarah showed me what to do and how to massage him properly his fitness has increased at a much faster rate. I also had a pony who had been in season for almost 2 months quite badly and she became naughty to brush, saddle and ride. Sarah gave her some aromatherapy treatment with pressure points and I was amazed at how quickly it worked. She calmed down and was good to handle again. I recommend Sarah’s natural therapies if you feel something out of tune with your horse or pony. Not only do the horses love it but they seem to respond to it quite quickly.

Lisa Green

My babies are doing well, I've been riding Lollie in my old saddle and he is much happier. Prinnie is also feeling a little better and Megan might start riding her again in the next week weather permitting of course.
They're all really funny, as soon as they smell the oils, they all hang around for their turn at a massage.
The most interesting one has been Tarka who has been a little minx with catching but since starting the regular massages, she's been an absolute sweetie and no problems with catching, in fact she'll now come towards me which is wonderful.
Thank you so much for opening up a new level of understanding from me towards my horses, it's been great.
Cheers,

Grada Dixon

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