Heather Wallace- Animal Bodywork

Heather Wallace- Animal Bodywork Premiere holistic wellness provider offering soft tissue therapies, cold laser, & Craniosacral therapy, for performance animals and pets.

Saddle Fit Evaluations for Horse & Rider, all disciplines. A holistic wellness practitioner who focuses on connection and partnering WITH the animal for the best benefits. Offering massage therapy, cold laser, thermal imaging, craniosacral therapy, and aromatherapy for pets, performance animals, and livestock throughout Central New Jersey.Let me show you why I make a difference in the lives of your animals. Visit me at animalbodywork.com to learn more.

It's Friday! That means time to answer a Frequently Asked Question. Do you have questions? Ask them below. ...
02/20/2026

It's Friday! That means time to answer a Frequently Asked Question. Do you have questions? Ask them below.

True. Many people ask "how did my horse do that?" The answer is, it could be anything. Their bodies, like ours, recogniz...
02/19/2026

True. Many people ask "how did my horse do that?" The answer is, it could be anything. Their bodies, like ours, recognize emotional, mental, and physical stress the same, internalizing it and creating tension in the body. If left unchecked this tension can result in subluxations and/or inflammation resulting in injury over time.

Did you know that many sports veterinarians look to equipment when there is a mystery lameness? Tack is a HUGE factor in...
02/18/2026

Did you know that many sports veterinarians look to equipment when there is a mystery lameness? Tack is a HUGE factor in building muscle tone and helping, not impeding natural movement.

As an independent saddle fit evaluator, I am not associated with one brand. I will measure you, your saddle, and your horse then explain step-by-step WHY different parts of the saddle affect your horse.

It’s incredibly important for me to answer your questions and leave you with more information than when I arrived. More, that you and your horse are as happy and balanced as can be!

To learn more about saddle fit evaluations, visit me here: https://f.mtr.cool/djmuujullv

Photos by

Petting isn’t massage therapy. I’ll say it again, louder for those in back. So many owners tell me they pet or groom the...
02/17/2026

Petting isn’t massage therapy. I’ll say it again, louder for those in back. So many owners tell me they pet or groom their horses and dogs so they don’t need massage. That’s like saying you are a teacher because you read books, or even dare I say a horse trainer, because you know how to ride. Petting is a wonderful way of bonding with your animal and finding where they like to be touched but it is very basic. Massage therapy, on the other hand, is a hands-on technique that targets and removes tension, imbalances, and soreness and helps to remove inflammation naturally. One of these has more education, experience, and skill than the other. Now, that is not to say that owners shouldn’t pet or do basic massage on their animals they learned from YouTube. Of course, you are welcome to do so. Just know that it should not be a replacement for a professional when it comes to your animal’s wellness.

02/16/2026

Does your horse have a full range of motion in all their legs? The Leg Unwinding is a wonderful way to release tension, increase flexibility, and see where there are restrictions.

How to unwind the legs:

1. Hold the hoof as if you are going to pick them. This is a great stretch to do while grooming!
2. Gently support the hoof as you guide the leg toward the ground.
3. The horse may tense, brace, or jerk their leg- simply hold and ask for a gentle stretch. Be patient as this takes practice, especially if a horse has a restriction.
4. Guide the leg just outside of centerline (for the front legs) and just underneath them (for the hind).

Never over stretch! If your horse says no, ask yourself why. Are they uncomfortable? Is there a limitation of mobility? Are they unbalanced?

Disclaimer: these gentle techniques are homework for the horse owner and not intended to replace veterinary care or bodywork/massage therapy with a professional. This is simply small tool you can use at home!

Your dog's zoomies might actually be a celebration of pain-free movement. When was the last time they got adjusted? 🐕✨
02/16/2026

Your dog's zoomies might actually be a celebration of pain-free movement. When was the last time they got adjusted? 🐕✨

Rosie says Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Isn’t she sweet? She brought me a Rosie to our weekly appointment and to cel...
02/13/2026

Rosie says Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Isn’t she sweet? She brought me a Rosie to our weekly appointment and to celebrate another clean Chest x-ray!

It's Friday! That means time to answer a Frequently Asked Question. Do you have questions? Ask them below. ...
02/13/2026

It's Friday! That means time to answer a Frequently Asked Question. Do you have questions? Ask them below.

Red Flag: when the horse is shut down it takes you multiple sessions just to gain trust and remove the bracing but the c...
02/12/2026

Red Flag: when the horse is shut down it takes you multiple sessions just to gain trust and remove the bracing but the client wants faster results and hires a replacement- then gives that person credit for your work. Has this ever happened to you? Often, I get a lot of the harder cases because I’m referred to by veterinarians or when the owner’s usual massage therapist hasn’t been able to pinpoint the issue. It can take a long time to unravel months or years of imbalance and compensation. To be honest, I love these cases but the lack of patience I see in the owners can be incredibly frustrating. Trust the professional and don’t just focus on how much it costs, focus on their value and what changes they can make over the long term. Rehabilitation bodywork and maintenance is still cheaper than surgery but it will take longer. Quick results are not the ones that tend to last.

Time to think a little differently when it comes to your horses. Normalize cantering before you trot, especially with a ...
02/11/2026

Time to think a little differently when it comes to your horses. Normalize cantering before you trot, especially with a slow horse. Not only does it get them thinking "forward" but it also helps to open and stretch them before asking them to carry themselves tightly in the trot which can be more about suspension than extension.

I once had a client tell me I was too gentle. Apparently they’d seen videos of a practitioner man-handling an animal and...
02/10/2026

I once had a client tell me I was too gentle. Apparently they’d seen videos of a practitioner man-handling an animal and thought that was what my technique should look like. Umm, no thanks. At the end of the day, I’m skilled to know where to target and start the “domino effect” I call the unraveling of fascia and triggers. I don’t have to be harsh or use big movements. In fact, I find I get better results from my animals when I am gentle with them, tune into their bodies, and work WITH them to remove bracing. Not only does it make the animal my partner in wellness, but it also means the results build on themselves days after the session and last longer.

02/09/2026

What would your dog say if you had the choice to get a massage appointment with me? Wait, one second, my phone is ringing. Um...it's your dog.

Office hours: Keyport, NJ- Wednesdays and Fridays.
Mt. Laurel- one Tuesday monthly.

You can also check my "Events" calendar for upcoming agility and conformation shows.

Address

26 Main Street
Keyport, NJ
07735

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17327847195

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Heather Wallace- Animal Bodywork posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Heather Wallace- Animal Bodywork:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

About Our Services

Specializing in the entire musculoskeletal system of your performance athlete or pet through sports massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture as well as aromatherapy for large and small animals.