White Willow Therapies

09/03/2022

Hello, hello!

I hope everyone is doing well.

White Willow Therapies is on a bit of a hiatus as I’m in grad school. I’ll be on this adventure for the next two years, so I won’t be seeing clients individually, at barns, or at shows for the foreseeable future. Once I’m done with the program, I aim to get back to some manual therapy again.

I will not be setting up or seeing clients at Region 2 Regional Championships in Sept 2022 at Waterloo Hunt Club in Grass Lake, MI. Robin Clinton will be onsite for human and equine, Shivering Cactus Riding Services.

I’ll miss seeing you all and I know it will be an excellent show at our home grounds.

Cheers and best wishes!
Erin 💜❤️💜

03/19/2020

Hey, All,

Here is the official post: White Willow Therapies, LLC is on hiatus until further notice. I’m sorry, I think people need bodywork more than ever during times of stress like this, but in the interest of safety, and the health and wellbeing of us all it’s the best choice.

I’ve been letting clients know individually that my human manual therapy was on hold, but it’s time for a public post. I was hoping to be able to do equine manual therapy as I can keep a good distance from people. However, my asthma is putting the lid on that. I just had my follow-up post-ED visit earlier this week and my primary care doesn’t want me to be out in the cold air as this is my trigger until the weather warms up and my respiratory system calms down. She is also advising that due to the asthma, the virus, and the very recent exacerbation that I self-isolate as much as possible.

Thank you, all of you, for being the wonderful and amazing people and clients that you are. I miss you all terribly and I know this will pass. Hopefully the warm weather will halt this and we can see each other soon.

All the love to you,
Erin

09/30/2019

THE FRONTAL LOBE OF THE HORSE’S BRAIN IS NEARLY NON-EXISTENT.

How does this apply to schooling/training? Frontal lobes are involved in higher mental functions such as reasoning. This means that horses cannot reason or plan to be naughty. They cannot be blamed for bad behaviour or poor performance. They cannot recognise future consequences. Horses simply react to the situation. They learn through conditioning and memory.

I see and hear so many riders anthropomorphize their horses instead of finding better training tools. Phrases such as, ‘he just likes to be difficult’ or ‘this pony is so naughty’ or ‘he understands or knows what I want, but won’t do it’, or ‘he moves his hindquarters at every halt just to irritate me’. Horses do not know what we want unless we explain it in a manner that they can understand immediately.

A few months ago a rider told me how her horse ‘just does not want to co-operate’. It started with overt flight behaviour and then became a subtle ‘snatchy’ movement of the nose. I asked her whether it could be due to discomfort. She answered, ‘no, she is just naughty’. It turned out that the horse was suffering from laminitis and was in severe discomfort! It made me want to cry.

At the moment I am training a young horse from scratch. I also used phrases such as, ‘she has a short fuse’ and ‘she challenges me every step of the way’. Then I realised that everything I was doing on this horse was completely new to her. I realised how frightening that must be for an animal with no reasoning ability. She was actually trying hard to understand me, but when new instructions were a tad confusing, she showed me in no uncertain terms that she did not understand it. The horse’s reactions to learning new skills all depends on personality. This particular horse is extremely sensitive and an introvert. Utopia, my older horse, is less sensitive and a complete extrovert. She can deal with much more pressure than the youngster. The message for me is that I must train each horse with the kind of pressure which they can deal with. Each horse has a different tolerance for pressure. Us riders have to be adaptable to each horse’s ability to deal with pressure. Personally I find that most behavioural problems stem from confusion, discomfort and too much pressure.

If you enjoyed this post, please like the page The Zen Racehorse for more!

Photo one: the equine brain. Photo two: the human brain.

Thanks to Karin Blignault for the info!!

09/29/2019

https://www.atlasbalans.com/fascia/ What is Fascia? New research changes the way we look at pain

09/19/2019

11/20/2013

"A horse’s tolerance for discomfort from a less-than-ideal saddle isn’t proof that they aren’t paying a long-term price for it."

A good and thought provoking article.

Saddle fit is an issue near and dear to my heart, and that is entirely due to my long-time friendship with Colleen Meyer of Advanced Saddle Fit. Upon reading Catherine Haddad's recent blog, Colleen wanted to write her own response, and I thought you all would like to read it. Take it away, Colleen!

11/19/2013

Going Blind Only the blind can see. Only the deaf can hear. Only the hungry are fed. Touch this world. Only the blind can see. Listen to yourself not thinking. Only the deaf can hear. Empty y...

11/19/2013

This is conscious, mindful and determined; this is a healing intention.

11/14/2013

Know anyone who might need help with pain and stress relief in themselves, their horse or their dog?

Gift Certificates for equine, human and canine Integrated Massage and Pressure Release Therapy from White Willow Therapies, LLC are available for purchase.

08/07/2013

I am headed down to Majestic Farm in Batavia, OH for the Hotter Than Blazes dressage show this weekend!

My massage table will be set up in the Barn C Competitors Lounge for human massage, and I am available for stall visits for equine massage. Get that tension and pain out of you both to perform at your very best!

Stop on by and see me to relax into a successful and fun show weekend!

05/05/2013

Good morning, everyone!

Are you gearing up for the summer sport, horse show and riding season? Maybe training for an event, marathon or just want to enjoy gardening and the warm weather with more comfort?

Got some winter aches and pains still pestering you or hindering your progress? Is your horse stiff, sore, recovering from an injury or just not quite coming along the way you would like?

White Willow Therapies, LLC is available alllll summer long to help you and your horse compete and trail ride pain-free! Please contact me for appointment availability and pricing.

Evening and weekend appointments are available!

03/22/2013

03/02/2013

Time to start thinking about tune-ups for you and your horse with the show season not far off!

Appointment times available for Sunday, March 3, Saturday March 9, and Sunday March 10.

Please contact me via email, text message, phone or on Facebook if you are interested in an appointment for you, your dog or your horse. Thank you!

11/09/2012

Paying attention to horses' psychological factors is key to ensuring success in work and mental well-being.

10/11/2012

We are headed down to the Region II Dressage Finals in the morning! I still have a few slots open for body work on horses and people. Please contact me if you are interested!

09/10/2012

White Willow Therapies is announcing new Fall/Winter Hours!

Appointment hours are Fridays from 4pm until 9pm; and Saturdays from 9am through 8pm. Limited Sunday morning appointments.

Manual Massage and Pressure Release Therapy is beneficial for pain relief, injury prevention, recovery and maintenance for all athletes and non-athletes, human, equine and canine. Please contact me at 734-417-6042 or [email protected] to set up your next appointment!

I will also be at the Region II Dressage Finals at Kentucky Horse Park, Thursday, October 11th through Sunday, October 14th, and am now accepting appointment reservations for those riders and horses that will be there!

Erin Bisco, CMMT, CEMT, CMT
www.whitewillowtherapies.com

09/03/2012

Just received a phone call from a woman in the Saline, MI area with hay for sale.

She has:
250-300 1st cutting grass/alfalfa mix hay, mostly timothy, very little alfalfa, 40-50 # bales: $10/bale.
100 3rd cutting grass/alfalfa mix hay, 60 # bales: $10/bale
No delivery

734-260-5574, ask for Jennifer.