Harter Animal Massage Services, LLC

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

09/09/2024

You don't need fancy equipment or spacious arenas! Use what you have. Sometimes it's even more valuable.

Hills do not need to be steep or long to be valuable. Balance shifts and adjustments on a gentle slope are a fun way to add fitness. Try 10 minutes of a "Hillside Freestyle" where you ride (or hand-walk) your horse in a variety of loops and figures on a mild slope. Be sure to tread ACROSS the slope as well and up/down. Travel diagonally, make circles, etc. Be creative with the stimulus.

If you are conditioning your horse for a summer of trail riding, check out my downloadable Trail Conditioning Schedule: https://www.jecballou.com/store/p/trailconditioningschedule

08/26/2024

How is it almost September already? Anybody else feel like time speeds up once we hit summer break? Just me? 😅 ....anyway in case you've been wondering if I am still alive... yes, yes, I am. Life got a little busy, but hopefully, the routine is back now.

This means my schedule will be more regular again. Message me for any questions or to schedule an appointment 🙂 🐕🐎

08/26/2024

Hugs and kisses to all my pups out there 😘 💕

08/24/2024

No matter the discipline, a good posture is always important. It's often overlooked but it will affect your horse in so many ways!

07/05/2024

A little late but happy 4th of July, everyone! 🇺🇲I hope you had a great day and nobody got stressed over the fireworks 🎆🐴🐶

05/16/2024

Seems very basic but it's so important! Can't stress it enough!

05/08/2024

Polework is such a powerful training aid – even simple exercise, when done correctly will improve a horse’s way of going. There are so benefits of using polework, but most of all they encourage the horse to think for himself and to make changes to his posture or way of going naturally – there....

04/28/2024

Today is the last day of the Cinco de Mayo Barrel Bash 5D Multi-Race 🛢🐎 and your final opportunity to enter the draw to win a free Sports Massage Therapy session for your horse! Just stop by my booth!

Good luck, everyone! 🍀

04/25/2024

I can't wait to see everyone this weekend! Stop by and see me for the chance to win a free Massage or to schedule a Sports Massage or Red Light Therapy session for your equine athlete ! 🐴

04/12/2024

I'll be setting up as a vendor at the Cinco de Mayo Barrel Bash, April 26-28. I'll have time available to do Red Light Therapy and/or Massage. First come, first serve! If you are interested in warm up or cool down sessions, please reach out ahead of time so they can be scheduled close to your run.

04/10/2024

Stay safe out there, everyone! 🌪 ⛈️