Harter Animal Massage Services, LLC

12/15/2024

Don't forget to order your gift certificates so I can make sure they get to you in time!

12/12/2024

And don't forget - pain.

12/04/2024

Just in time! I got new gift certificates in. 🥳
If you are looking for a special something for the dog-crazy person in your life or your best buddy at the barn, look no further! Gift them a Massage Session for their dog or horse! 🎁🎅

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all of you! I'm blessed to work with such amazing people, horses, and dogs! The kindness, enthusiasm, and love of you make me enjoy every single moment! Thank you!
I hope you enjoy a fun filled day with your loved ones!

11/24/2024

Yes, that's how good it can feel 🤭

Please consider donating. Great people taking good care of horses and other animals that have been through a lot and yet still have so much love to give!

11/21/2024

Why is saddlefit so important?

Have you ever walked in shoes that didn't fit well? The pair that rubs on your skin every step you take? The ones that leave nasty blisters?
Or shoes that are actually a size too small?

It's basically the same with an ill-fitting saddle. It pinches into the muscles of your horse, causing pain and, in the long run, muscle atrophy because of the damaging pressure on the tissue.

It will cause friction and sore spots and can also push into reflex points. These points can be the root of behaviors like rearing or reluctance to move forward. It might look like a training issue, but instead, it can be a sign of pain.

So before you blame your horse for being 'naughty' or 'lazy', check your saddle!
Are the sweat patterns uneaven? Are there spots with broken hairs? Do you feel any hollows in the muscles? Is your horse reactive in any area? Can you run your hand under the saddle (not girthed) without it getting stuck? Do you feel bridging?

If the answer is yes, you might want to consider calling a saddle fit expert out and have him evaluate the situation!

And by the way, ...putting a thick pair of socks (aka a saddlepad) on, won't make those too small shoes (or saddle) fit any better 🫣

11/13/2024

Let’s talk about who and what affects changes in your horse’s three-dimensional back shape or topline.

When we refer to the ‘Circle of Influence’, we are referring to the dynamic network of professionals and factors that directly affect your horse’s health and welfare. The ‘Circle of Influence’ encompasses you, as the owner or rider, your trainer, veterinarian, nutritionist, bodyworkers, the farrier, tack specialists, etc. Each of these professionals plays a critical role in ensuring the overall physical health of your horse.

In addition to these professionals, there are other factors that will have an effect on your horse’s topline. Your horse’s housing situation, turnout, quality of the feed, riding surfaces, herd dynamics.

Like an integrated welfare network, the ‘Circle of Influence’ demands unity and coordination among professionals and other factors affecting your horse’s life.

Any change in one aspect—whether it’s training methods, tack changes, a new housing situation, or nutritional adjustments — will ripple through the entire system and will affect the shape of your horse’s three-dimensional back, prompting the need for…

…you guessed it, a saddle assessment!

A saddle alone cannot create a healthy back, we need all aspects in the horse’s care to work together seamlessly to accomplish that. But, a saddle can certainly contribute to maintaining a healthy back or contribute to a painful one. Saddle fitting is not a one-time occurrence; it’s an ongoing, dynamic process. It falls upon you as the owner or rider to detect changes that signal the need for assessment, a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

By recognizing the synergy of the aspects within ‘The Circle of Influence’ and their effect on your horse physically, you can create a holistic approach to your horse’s care that prioritizes welfare at all times.

However, proactive care requires having the necessary knowledge to regularly assess your saddle’s fit—an indispensable skill for every rider and horse owner.

It empowers you to identify and address issues promptly, ensuring your horse remains comfortable and healthy through all stages of life.

11/03/2024

Upgrade! I got new magnetic signs for the truck 😊 the old ones took a beating from the sun and honestly were a little small to begin with!

10/31/2024

Don't eat too much candy! 🤪🍬🎃

10/23/2024

It's no fun when you're sore and are not feeling well. A red light session for this sweet old lady to aid her recovery.

Thankfully, by now, she's back up and running!

10/16/2024

Good muscle development and health are crucial if you want your horse to be able to carry a rider and perform the tasks you are asking without jeopardizing his musculoskeletal health. Here are some pointers on what a good posture and topline should look like.

10/16/2024

"The secret of getting ahead is getting
started. The secret of getting started is
breaking complex overwhelming
tasks into small manageable tasks, and
then starting on the first one." ~ Mark
Twain

It might not look like I am doing much but for Nova, human interaction is already a huge step. She did great today and I am honored to be part of her journey!

09/30/2024

As holistic approaches become more and more popular in the equine and canine world, owners sometimes get overwhelmed by figuring out what each of these modalities do and how they work.

But don't forget, you don't have to settle for one. By combining these treatments into a comprehensive wellnessplan, you can experience enhanced recovery, improved performance, and a greater sense of well-being as each of these therapies offer unique benefits for the body and mind.

Here is a short little guide for you:

09/28/2024

I had a great morning with amazing horses and very kind, sweet people of Homeward Horse Haven, ❤️Thank you for having me!

09/24/2024

I often get the question, “So,... you do horse massage?” It always comes with the slight undertone of “Why would a horse need a massage?!”

And the answer to that is: because the horse's body was never designed to live on a few square feet lot and carry a rider. All those changes we humans made to their living environment have an influence on their body and mind: nutrition, exercise, herd dynamics, training equipment, hoof and dental care...

If any of these components are out of whack, it will impact the entire horse. As prey animals, they avoid showing any weakness, but still their body does tell. Stress—physical as well as mental—causes tension, and since the entire system of the body is interconnected, it will have a ripple effect. The sooner you can catch it, the faster the recovery.

As massage is a hands-on approach, we feel for any spasms, dips, bumps, hot or cold spots, and areas your horse might indicate any sort of discomfort upon palpation. We also look at the horse as a whole. Are there any overly developed muscles? Is there atrophy in other areas? How does the horse stand, walk, and carry itself? Is there any compensation pattern visible?

The goal of Sports Massage is to restore those areas of tension to full functionality and suppleness by using a variety of strokes and kneading techniques. Sometimes that also means we will have to dig deeper into what might be the underlying cause.

Even though Massage is an excellent form of preventative care, it can also aid during recovery times, as it promotes blood flow and therefore the nourishment of the cells.

So yes! Yes, I do massage horses! If you are interested in trying it for your horse, contact me to schedule your appointment.

09/13/2024

The lyrics hit home. Often it's hard. We all are afraid. But there are planty of souls🐕🐎👩🧔‍♂️👶 out there, that need someone to step up for them!

"Stand for injustice, stand for the weak
Stand for the voiceless that need you to speak
Stand for what's right, stand for what's true"
-Anne Wilson

Official Performance Lyric Video for “Stand” by Anne WilsonStream & Download “Stand”: https://AnneWilson.lnk.to/StandVD Listen to Anne Wilson’s latest releas...

09/11/2024