Sarah‘s obsession with horses began aged 4 where she managed to go with her older sister to a Trail Riding school in her village in Nottinghamshire, UK. 

At the age of 12 her parents finally gave in and bought her first pony , Laddie. Despite participating in all the usual past times like Pony Club and gymkhanas, Sarah always cherished her rides into the forests, soaking in the nature and historical features of the area. There was always something more than just the mechanics of riding and the competitions.

Laddie was a best friend and support through all her challenging teenage years and beyond.

After coming to Australia in 1987 , Sarah missed having an equine partner for many years until in 2002, she ‘ accidentally’ found herself to be the owner of a spritely retired polocrosse horse, Pablo. Once more, Sarah was out and about in nature, on the beaches and through sugar cane fields around Cairns. Once more, she had the partnership and support of a horse.

After Pablo, aged into retirement at 34 years old, along came a rather wild and nervous little Arab who Sarah immediately fell in love with. She had to work very hard with him to help him be calm, brave and connected. That was over 10 years ago now and her bond with Swifty is as strong as ever.

Sarah had an interest for many years to learn a way that her horses could help humans, especially as she already found her work in schools to be so rewarding and often wished her pupils could visit her horses to share in the benefits of connecting with horses. In 2019, Sarah discovered the Equine Assisted Learning Program through the Equine Psychotherapy Institute and became a Certified Practitioner by the end of 2019. It’s been a long learning journey to get to this point but Sarah and her horses are now ready to share the huge benefits of connecting and being with her horses by creating her new business Heard by the Herd. She looks forward to sharing this learning with YOU !