HOT PROFILE THIS MONTH - JULY/AUGUST 2005

Introducing...
SARAH LINTON OF "EQUINE ALTERNATIVES"

Sarah Linton, originally from the UK, now runs her own business from the Masterton region offering alternative health therapies for horses, as well as professional equine photography - both of which she enjoys and finds very rewarding. We chat to Sarah and find out how a "horse mad" family background and serious accident became the directive into her now well established equine business.

SHNZ: How did you become involved with horses and what led you to the art and health side of things?
SARAH: I have been involved with horses all my life as my parents were horse mad - dad was a stud manager and mum was a riding instructor at the local riding school - this was in the UK. We came to NZ when I was 5 and I competed in pony club events and eventing and showjumping when I was a teenager. This lead on to working with horses on studs and overseas in hunting and eventing stables. I had a very serious accident in my early 20s and nearly ended up in a wheelchair, this is what changed my life to become interested in alternative therapies. I have done various courses in massage and aromatherapy and herbal medicine and have worked in a couple of health food shops overseas as well. I have always been interested in photography from a young age. There is more about my background and qualifications on my website - http://www.sarahlinton.co.nz/

What sort of equine health therapies do you currently offer and which is the most popular?
I offer a range of therapies - massage, aromatherapy, bioptron light therapy, acupressure and homeopathic remedies. I'm in the process of doing a flower essences course and later in the year im doing a myofascial release course in Australia with Equinology.

This is my Holsteiner x TB who is showing a positive response to the essential oil I have offered. When choosing oils for a horse I always let them sniff them before mixing them up in a diluted blend. A horse will show a positive or negative response. I don't believe in using oils on them that they do not like - it would be like us using a perfume we don't like. Some horses will try and grab the bottle out of your hand or want to lick it. Other times they will just turn their head away and not even look at it. Really interesting.

I use massage, aromatherapy and acupressure probably the most but there is no limit really as I find by combining the range of therapies I do I can help the horse more. I also like to give the owner 'homework' to do as well so we can work together on the horse. This also helps to owner to become more aware of things when they aren't quite right and teaches them to feel and take notice of the little signs they may get. Equine Alternatives does not replace qualified veterinary care though and if you have any doubt about what is wrong with your horse you should always contact your vet first.

Do you find people are accepting and seeking out natural therapies now more than they used to?

Definitely. It amazing though how alternative therapies are so common overseas and people are using them on a regular basis and some people over here are still a little bit sceptic. I reckon if all those people went and had a massage and found out first hand what it feels like they would soon be changing their opinions or at least giving it a try. I do still get the odd person that thinks I must be a miracle worker and expects me to fix their horse in one session. I wish I was able to do that but realistically it depends on the horse, how long it's had the problem for and what its exercise program etc is etc.

This is a classic photo of a horse enjoying their massage. This horse Nibbler receives them a fairly regular basis and always chills out completely unless you are working on some sore areas. He just loves them. Some horses are just like people when they have a massage and think its absolute heaven :-)

It's just like us - the longer we have had a problem - generally the longer it takes to come right. You have to look at the whole picture instead of just the symptoms. There is no point expecting bodywork to fix a horse on its own if the horse has terrible feet. The feet affect the whole body. The same goes with ill-fitting saddles, and poor exercise programs etc. I try and look at the whole picture.

What sort of issues can be helped by the Bioptron Light Therapy?
Bioptron Light Therapy is quite amazing really. I'm not a machine person but I have found it invaluable for some many different problems. Heat and swellings, sore backs, cuts and wounds… I had a horse that had a swollen wither and everything I tried wouldn't make it go away - even packing out the cover. It must have been a couple of weeks and I thought I would just try that bioptron light. One session it was gone and never came back!!! Couldn't believe it! If only I had thought of it sooner! My partners' hunter knocked her knee out hunting and was quite swollen. Our vet gave her some bute and it went down and she was out the following week hunting again. It was up again the day after so I thought I'd try zapping it with the light and it never came up again.

Horses are obviously very sensitive, emotional animals although sometimes this can be forgotten or ignored by their owners and therefore must have an effect on performance. Can natural therapies help a horse's mental and emotional well being, as well as physical problems?

Definitely. Massage, acupressure, aromatherapy and homeopathic remedies can help with all sorts of problems including mental and emotional. I find out of all the therapies I do aromatherapy is the most amazing with working on emotional and mental problems. A horse which wont stand still, tries to bite and kick while im working on it can quite often be standing quietly and relaxed within 5 minutes of me using essential oils with it. Amazing to watch.

Dolly was apparently hard to get a good photo of and her trainer wanted a nice photo to give to the owner as a Xmas present. We used a few different set ups and she was a perfect angel. I really like this natural pose when we let her go in her paddock. The owner was thrilled when she got this particular shot.

People that have problems with their horses with float loading, getting worked up when going out, nervous when the vet or blacksmith comes, any situation like that - using oils will help those horses. Horses that have been mistreated and abused come out of their shell when essential oils are used with them. I could ramble off all sorts of cases. Obviously you need to know what oils you can and can't use on horses and they are always diluted. Quite often physical problems are related to emotional problems anyway, which is another reason why I look at the whole horse.

You also offer professional equine photography, tell us a bit about what's involved.
I do all sorts of photography and I will take whatever kind of photos you would like from competing and showing - to more relaxed and natural photos. I can come to your home and take the photos or else when you are competing I can come along to the competition and be your personal photographer for half a day. I'm very flexible. There is a gallery on the website for some samples of my work.

This is a clients horse that is currently for sale. The owner wanted some photos taken in a competition environment to use in a collage or photos for helping to advertise the horse.

This was at the Arab in-hand class at an A&P show in Masterton. Melanie wanted a few nice photos of her and Kamal. As most of us find it is so difficult to get photos of yourself actually doing something with your own horse. I took a nearly a whole film on the morning and she was very pleased with what I got.

Are there any tips you can give us on achieving a good horse photo ourselves?
The main thing I think with portrait type photography is to watch your backgrounds. Cluttered and busy backgrounds distract you from what you really want to stand out in your photo. If you want a really showy photo of your horse - go to the trouble of washing it and cleaning your gear - it will make a difference. Sometimes just sitting and watching horses out in the paddock will give you the best shots though.

Do you have a favourite photography assignment so far that springs to mind?
I can't think of a favourite because I love every assignment that comes my way and you never know what you are going to get - and that's the exciting part!

I belong to the Wairarapa CTR and Endurance club and also do publicity for them and take photos of riders on rides when I can. This is a couple of riders on their arab horses down on the Clareville ride in the Wairarapa. It was a perfect day with a perfect background of the snow capped Tararuas. The Club welcomes new and non-competitive riders which is great if you just want to go for a ride somewhere different and enjoy some of the Wairarapa farmland. Great therapy for all horses to have a change of scenery:-)

How can people contact you if they wish to know more?
Phone: 06 3726859
Mobile: 021 703290
Email: sdlinton@xtra.co.nz?
Website: www.sarahlinton.co.nz

Thanks Sarah!

Note: These photos Copyright © Sarah Linton

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