Mane Attraction Equine Solutions

20/09/2024

Another fun improvement! Softer in the neck/shoulder, more open in the poll, a softer expression, and a healthier chosen posture. 🙌

19/09/2024

I had a great trip to Ellensburg yesterday, even if I didn't get home until 11pm...the moon was pretty to look at 🌕.

I worked on a couple horses for some good friends, and then had some time with my personal horse while she wraps up training. Here's to pursuing personal goals. 🥂

14/09/2024

Conformation vs posture...

Conformation and posture are two distinct concepts in equine anatomy. While conformation refers to the horse's skeletal structure largely determined by genetics, posture is determined by the development of muscles, balance, and the horse's ability to carry itself. Things such as their feet, training, enviorment, tack, and nutrition, can all contribute to posture for better or for worse.

It's crucial to train you're eye to spot the difference. Bodywork can be a great tool in improving posture and balance. The photo below was from a 1 hour session this week. Notice how her withers popped up, her back is straighter, and her low back is not as bunched up. 🙌

11/09/2024

I have room for one or two horses in the Orting/Buckley area on September 23rd! Message me to book!

07/09/2024

🎊DRAWING WINNERS🎊

I'm a week late on announcing this. 🤦‍♀️ Thank you all for your patience!

Professional Drawing (Human massage through Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC): Tia Erdmann

Open Drawing (Choice between an equine massage through Mane Attraction, or a human massage through Sixth Sense): Maureen Polcuch

Congratulations! Message me to schedule your appointments. 😊

Keep an eye out for future drawings and giveaways! 🙌 Thank you all for participating!

31/08/2024

✨️EAST SIDE CLIENTS✨️

I have chosen dates for my next trip over. I'll be in the area the 5th/6th/7th of October. 🎃

The 5th will be Cle Elum/Ellensburg, 6th will be Yakima/Tri Cities, and the 7th will be Ellensburg.

28/08/2024

🤯

CONNECTION VERSUS PROXIMITY

Something I hear from people a lot when they are asking about their horses is "We have a good connection, he's kind of a pocket horse, he follows me everywhere, but..." and they then go on to describe a problem that usually is a result from a lack of connection.

Proximity is not connection.

Clinginess is not connection.

Try not to get connection and physical closeness confused.

Connection is rooted in attunement, which is (as Sarah Schlote of Equusoma: Horse-Human Trauma Recovery puts it) 'the sense of being seen, being heard, feeling felt and getting gotten". It's about them trusting you, trusting you have their best interest at heart, and the feeling of safety you give them when you have proven that you are as aware as the rest of their heard members.

Clinginess is a juvenile behaviour that the mother (and other herd members) allows up until the age of weaning, then they start to work on collision avoidance (a term I picked up reading the works of British ethologist Lucy Rees). Installing collision avoidance is what allows a herd of horses to move safely together at speed like a school of fish or a flock of birds. It's also part of the mental maturation process, and if that process doesn't happen horses tend to retain a that and a lot of other juvenile behaviours.

So beware of the trap of thinking that you have connection because you have constant proximity. It may just be a juvenile behaviour in disguise.

28/08/2024

Thank you to all my east side clients for a busy 5 days of horse and human bodywork! I love seeing you all and appreciate your continued support. 💕

Hoping to have dates picked out soon for the following months. 🎃🍂

27/08/2024

Posting one more time since I think my last post didn't get enough reach.

✨️POSSIBLE NEW TOOL✨️

🙌Please comment if this is something you'd utilize!

I'm looking into adding a THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA to either be used as a stand alone appointment, or in conjunction with a bodywork session.

Thermal imaging is a great tool for finding areas of inflammation, a lack of circulation, or nerve damage to name a few. It can be super helpful in finding issues before they become a bigger problem such as a change in tack that may or may not be working, hoof changes, arthritic changes, tracking the healing process after an injury, or general overall wellness of your horse.

If I have enough interest, I'll order it!

*Enjoy this photo of a client a couple weeks ago taking a snooze during his PEMF session.*

22/08/2024

🎊 GIVEAWAY 🎊

It's been a long time since I've done one of these. But I'm excited to be back on the west side of the state. I want to thank everyone for your continued support. Most of you have stuck with me no matter what I do or where I am in my personal life. 💕

I have two gifts to give away through a drawing.

🎁 First one is for the EQUINE PROFESSIONAL (vet/farrier/trainer/bodyworker/barn owner etc). Tag your professionals that work on your horse!

For this particular drawing, you must be located within Snohomish/King/Skagit/Whatcom counties. I want to give away a free bodywork session for the equine professional through my sister business, Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC. Option for coming to my location in Marysville, or I can come to your house with my mobile set up. Those of us that work with horses tend to abuse our bodies, but we can't care for others without taking care of ourselves.

TO ENTER: make sure you like/follow Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC, share the page, and comment below "Equine Professional Drawing".

🎁 The second gift, is OPEN TO ANYONE (once again you must be located in Snohomish/King/Skagit/Whatcom counties)! You get the choice between having your horse (through Mane Attraction), or yourself (through Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC) worked on.

TO ENTER: make sure you like both Mane Attraction Equine Solutions and Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC, share this post, and comment below "Open Drawing."

The winner for each one will be drawn on the 31st! 🎊

19/08/2024

💧MLD working it's magic today! This mare had mild swelling at the base of her neck on her left side. By looking at the "before" photo, you'd initially think fasical tension, but after feeling the area, I quickly discovered it was fluid!

I went to work performing a spot treatment of MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage), and achieved the "after" results within 30 min on the area.

Lymph seems to be the theme this week! My first client of the day had some mild swelling in his hind end, and now onto my second horse, more swelling! To top it off, I have an MLD training for my human bodywork business this Saturday in Seattle. Can't wait to offer this service for my human clients too!

💆‍♀️ Follow Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC for updates on human services offered, if you haven't already!

🐎 I also will have room for 4 more horses to be on a regular rotation with me starting in September within Snohomish/Skagit/King counties.

04/08/2024

Only a few openings left for equines in September!

And if you haven't already heard, follow my sister account Sixth Sense Bodywork PLLC for human massage appointments! 💆‍♀️

🐎 9/4 - Room for 3 horses anywhere between Arlington and Snohomish (May be willing to go outside of this area for 2 or more horses at the same location)

🐎 9/26 - Room for 1 horse anywhere between Arlington and Redmond

🐎 9/30- Room for 4 horses anywhere between Arlington and Snohomish (May be willing to go outside of this area for 2 or more horses at the same location)

04/08/2024

A before/after from earlier this week in Ferndale!

Notice in the "After" on the first photo, the relaxation in his neck and lengthening of his body. He started out very stiff and contracted!

In the second photo, in his "Before", you can see again that his neck is contracted and we have some slight swelling around his lymph nodes. After, he is relaxed, less swollen, and his throat latch made an appearance!

27/07/2024

Some happy horses from this last week! 🐎💕

20/07/2024

A couple horses I worked with this week. 💕

The neck is often a big problem area! Here are some questions to ask, to find out if your horse is struggling here...

🐎 Can you ask them to drop their head willingly with little to no pressure?

🐎 Can you touch their poll, or bridle/halter them with no reaction?
(Keep in mind, a reaction can be as big as them running from you, or as small as widening their eye, both ends of the spectrum mean discomfort)

🐎 Do they have a prominent jugular groove?
(A healthy neck should have one! Refer to the first photo.)

🐎 Can they bend their neck both directions while keeping their poll level?
(Look at their ears to be able to tell, they should stay even!)

🐎 Do they have tension lines?
(The answer should be no! Refer to the second photo.)

I love being able to help horses find comfort in their bodies, and in turn, improve their posture/range of motion. 💪

05/07/2024

😎 These are my last spots left for July and August! 😎

If you're not already on my schedule but would like to be, message me!

☀️ July 18th- SPOTS FILLED

☀️ July 30th- 4 horses (Anywhere between Arlington and Ferndale)

☀️ August 5th- 1 horse (Anywhere between Arlington and Redmond)

☀️ August 21st- SPOTS FILLED

☀️ August 22nd- 6 horses (Can be almost anywhere!)

☀️ August 28th- SPOTS FILLED

☀️ August 29th- SPOTS FILLED

26/06/2024

I enjoyed working on horses for Sharkey Farm yesterday at the Washington State Horse Park. 🙌🏇 Always fun helping these guys feel their best before performing. 💪 Prevention and preparation is always the way to go!

I don't often go to shows. But I am happy to work on a group of horses when requested.

23/06/2024

I bought a couple new tools yesterday! These specific ones should be most helpful for bones, tendons, ligaments, and trigger points.

Can't wait to use these on both my equine and future human clients. 🙌

12/06/2024

*Spot Filled*

Last minute cancelation for tomorrow in Tri-Cities! I have room for 1-2 horses if someone would like to snag it. 🙌

09/06/2024

THIS. Bodywork can speed up the process and make it easier for you and your horse. But if you notice your horse is having issues in the same spots over and over, there is something in their day to day routine that needs to change.

Rehab: it conjures up thoughts of bodywork, supplements, red light, magnetic blankets, all the fixings.
It’s fun to get into the toys, and most of us go overboard on the little details.

Those things can be extremely helpful. There is an enormous amount of benefit in supportive treatments, nutrition and other details for helping the horse be healthy

But the horse cannot make true, lasting changes until the human commits to learning to handle and ride to STRAIGHTNESS.

All the therapies in the world won’t fix the problem if the horse is perpetually handled and ridden crooked, without engagement, and in the wrong movement patterns.

Rehab, to be successful, HAS to involve the human taking strides to be straighter, more aware, more fluid and knowing how to guide a horse well.

Don’t let yourself just get caught in the feel good trappings: it’s fun to watch bodywork make the horse feel nice. It’s fun to buy supplements. It’s fun to consult animal communicators and healers and it’s important to keep a broad perspective, BUT

Don’t forget horses body has to learn to have the postural tone to change the problem at the source. All the bodywork and supplements in the world won’t change a bad movement pattern if you keep riding the horse crooked - the only one who can fix that is you-

26/05/2024

Had a great time doing some online sessions this morning!

So fun coaching owners to do their own horses bodywork. 💕 This is a great option if you're outside of my area of travel, or in another state where you may not have access to a bodyworker. All sessions are by donation as I work on conveying my techniques through a video call! 🐎

DISCLAIMER- All techniques I coach you through are gentle and help with improving posture/relaxation. We don't do any stretching of the limbs or super deep techniques as this requires having a good amount of "feel" to not do damage.

25/05/2024

These are my last spots for July! 🎉☀️ Message me to book.

July 15th- 1 horse (Tri-Cities Area)

July 18th- 3 horses (Anywhere between Arlington and Fall City) (FULL)

July 30th- 4 horses (Anywhere between Arlington and Ferndale) (2 SPOTS LEFT)

20/05/2024

I just had several spots in my schedule open up! These don't happen often so let me know if you'd like to snag them!

May 29th - Room for 3 horses (SPOTS FILLED)

June 3rd - Room for 4 horses (SPOTS FILLED)

July 8th - Room for 4 horses (SPOTS FILLED)

17/05/2024

TGIF!

This was a client from earlier this week in Redmond. I love when the horse participates in their session. 🙌 It tells me they are checked into their body and have an awareness of what's going on with it. Such an important factor when it comes to creating change. 🐴

Thank you for the photos Mairin Gorman! Always fun having you tag along.

09/05/2024

Thank you so much Moira Turner for trusting me with your mare, she's so cool. I love you both!

"If your horse doesn’t love their body worker this much you need a new one. Piper and I are forever grateful to Mane Attraction Equine Solutions for always making her feel her best and putting her back together.

Piper knows how to ask, Anna knows where to push. Piper was actually “helping” by pulling Anna in with her head to get further behind her scapula. Get yourself an intuitive mare, you won’t regret it."