Harter Animal Massage Services, LLC

08/21/2026

Stay hydrated, y'all 🥤🧊

08/14/2026

It's hot out, and there's no end in sight. Keep your eyes out for the signs of heat stress in your horses 🥵

07/10/2026

Here's a guideline on what is considered safe conditions to ride in.

And before you come for me; it is a general GUIDELINE. It is not specific for Mississippi 😅. Age, breed, fitness level, and general acclimation do play a role here. A horse that lives in a warmer climate year around will be handling higher temperatures better than one that gets confronted with an unusual heatwave in summer.

Horses don't sweat as efficiently as humans do so they can overheat during exercise in hot weather. Always keep your eyes open for any signs.

Massage increases the blood flow and raises the body temperature. That's why there's limits for massage as well.
And believe me, your bodyworker has limits, too! 😜🥵

06/26/2026

06/19/2026

Hunter's Bump (aka Sacroiliac Subluxation)

What is that bump on your horse and where does it come from?
What you see is the tuber sacrale protruding upward and creating a hump. This can be on one or both sides. Usually these bony landmarks blend into the topline instead of sticking up. If the sacrum subluxates it gets pulled downward and forward, out of alignment.
This can happen due to a traumatic injury to the pelvis area or can be caused by repetitive stress. Because of the extreme forces that occur while jumping and the exessive stress to the joints, the condition is common in horses in hunting and jumping disciplins and therefore gained its name.

But not only sports horses can develop a hunter's bump. Horses that are not properly conditioned and struggle to carry themselves, let alone a rider, are prone to "dislocate" their SI joint as well. Forcing a horse into a false frame makes the situation even worse. The back gets tight and hollow and pulls the sacrum with it.

As always, saddle fit and rider balance also play a role into how well the back is able to work and therefore support the lumbar and sacral structures.

Signs that the bump causes a problem:
Lameness
Sensitivity to touch
Abnormal gait
Lack of impulsion
Reluctance to move
Overall performance issues

06/06/2026

I'm a little late to the party, but summer break is in full swing, and them kids keep me busy! If possible, let me know in advance so we can work out something.

05/20/2026

My newest discovery: cross tape

These peaked my interest when I stumbled across them a couple of weeks ago. I decided to try them out. The concept behind them is to place them on scar tissue or acupressure points. They hold a slight electromagnetic charge that is supposed to activate these areas.

As I have been struggling with a sinus congestion this week, I decided to give them a shot. I taped them on LI4 to help with the forehead pressure, boost the immune system, and aid the congestion.

It took about 10 min before my headache went away!!! I'm excited to see what else they can do and will definitely experiment with them to hopefully help some more of our four-legged friends!

05/06/2026

*Asking for reviews!*

I finally got a verified Google Business Profile! Help me get found by other people and leave a review if you have had a good experience! I appreciate your support 💚

https://share.google/L9ND3oZ9m33D9Evx9

5.0 ⭐ · Massage therapist

04/29/2026

Not every horse might be born with the perfect conformation, but with the right training and care there is much to be won. It might not ever win a Grand Prix but it could take you farther than you'd thought.
On the other hand, a horse with naturally great conformation will only get so far if it is not properly ridden. The body can only compensate so long until it breaks down.

You have been dealt the cards, now it's on you to play the game.

04/24/2026

Unfortunately, no one said it would be easy to figure it out. The list of possible reasons for a horse to not feel or move right can seem endless sometimes. Is it musculoskeletal? Is it the tack? Is it the organs? Is it psychological? And sometimes it is a little bit of all as there is no clear lines that separate them.

But one thing is for sure, you are your horse's best advocate, and it needs you to listen. Because if you don't, who will?