Harter Animal Massage Services, LLC

03/12/2025

To all my runner friends: Dog Days registration just opened. 5M, 5K or 2M. I hope to see you and your pups there!

Let me know if your canine athlete needs a pre-race massage so that both of you are in your best shape for race day! 🐕🏆
https://runsignup.com/Race/MS/Hattiesburg/DogDays5K?raceRefCode=kzQnfjFf

03/11/2025

02/20/2025

m. trapezius

Made up of the cervical and the thoracic part

action: elevates the shoulder - it draws the shoulder upward and forward as well as upward and backward

***equine***
Origin: C2 -T10

Insertion: spine of the scapula

***canine***

Origin: C3-T9

Insertion: spine of the scapula

Problems if restricted: shortend strides, limited range of motion, stumbling, lameness

Carrying fatigue/thoracic sling dysfunction or an ill-fitting saddle can often cause problems here for the horse

02/05/2025

It's that time of the year again! I shared their page last year, but in case you have missed it:
Every year horses get bought for the single purpose of being ridden in the Mardi Gras Parade. After that day, there is no use for them anymore....and you know what that means 😔
The Adoption Program of the Humane Society of Louisiana is trying to find them a forever home.
Please go check it out! Maybe there's a match for you!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BBLqmLgM5/

01/29/2025

Here we go, the first anatomy post 🤓
I thought it would help if we first took a look at the skeleton before we dive into the world of muscles. After all, it is the foundation and the anchor points.
I am not going to write a book about it, as there's already plenty out there 😉 So for those of you who find this topic interesting, you are welcome to message me with questions or do some more research on your own. For everyone else: just have a quick look. Maybe a visual is all you need to refresh some stored away knowledge from a biology lesson years ago 📚

If you look at the skeleton of the horse and the dog, they are actually not as different from our human bodies. Apart from the fact that they are quadrupeds, of course. The horse has developed what we would call our middle finger into hooves, while the dog does have paws with digits similar to our fingers.

I did not label the vertebrae, but the spine gets divided into cervical (7), thoracic (horse 18: dog 13), lumbar (horse 6; dog 7), -fused- sacral (horse 5; dog 3) and coccygeal vetebrae (varying in numbers depending on breed) .

01/22/2025

I hope everyone had a fun-filled day in the snow yesterday! ❄️ 🐕🐎🥰 I know we did!

Stay safe! I hope it doesn't melt just to turn into ice later tonight 😬

01/15/2025

I hope everyone had a good start into 2025!

It took me some time to finally type up my first post for this year. I am planning on doing a series of anatomy posts. Just to help you with the understanding of what role these muscles play in the body and, therefore, what happens if they are restricted.

On my journey to learn how to ride a horse, I met a few different trainers. Each with their own focus on certain areas and ech with their own ways to teach. I gotta say, only one of them ever took the time to talk about the anatomy of the horse.

If I am totally honest, I didn't really care for it. Why did I have to know how many ribs a horse has or that they don't have a gall bladder (Guess what, for whatever random reason I have never forgotten that piece of information 🤭)?
It always felt like being quizzed at a test that I didn't study for, and after all I was here to learn how to ride, not how to become a veterinarian!

Looking back now, I wish I had understood how important it is to have at least a little knowledge of the makeup and biomechanics. There is a reason why the saddle shouldn't go past the 18th rib. There is a reason why your horse can develop a thoracic sling dysfunction.

Just sitting on a horse and having a good time is not gonna cut it. Eventually, your partner horse is gonna pay the price for it.

Also, if you own a dog, chances are, nobody ever asked you if you had any anatomical knowledge before they let you take your new best friend home.

Don't worry, I am not planning on bombarding you with long texts and terminology that no lay person can pronounce 😉
Bear with me, and maybe you will actually get to know your horse (or dog) a little better!

O and don't judge, as I am still learning to draw these up digitally 😅🎨 the struggle is real 🤣

12/31/2024

2024 went by incredibly fast. But then again, I feel like I say this every year 😅. Does anybody else feel this way?
I can say it was a good year. Nothing out of the ordinary, but not terribly bad, either. I hope 2025 continues down that road.
I hope everyone is safe tonight and has a smooth start into the new year!🎆🍾🥂
See you in 2025 😊

12/24/2024

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas 🎅🏻 🎄 ❤️ Be safe and enjoy the holidays!

12/19/2024

If anyone hasn't gotten a Christmas card from me in the mail but is a client, please let me know!

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!