Heather Wallace- Animal Bodywork

01/28/2026

No seriously. Often I get asked, “How did my animal get a knot in their (insert muscle here) or why did my pet have so much out of balance?

The truth is, it could be anything. Our bodies, and our animal's bodies, recognize all stress in the muscles- whether it is emotional (separation anxiety), mental (claustrophobia, etc.) or physical (regular exercise or trauma).

It doesn't matter if your horse is ridden or not. Even pasture pets get tight and benefit from massage therapy. So, next time you are grooming your horse or dog, and they move away from your touch- you should wonder if perhaps there is tension they need removed. They'll thank you for booking an appointment. Trust me.

-wellness

01/27/2026

When I hear a prospective client tell me, “My animal doesn’t like to be touched” that is a huge red flag for me. Not that the animal is dangerous, but that they are defensive of something that hurts them and trying to hide it.

I tend to specialize in sensitive and reactive animals for this reason. In my opinion, they are the ones that need me the most. Pain or discomfort is the primary cause of aggression or overreaction. I won’t list all the case studies but I’ve worked with horses that can’t stand tied, won’t be mounted for riding, dogs that ask for scratches and then turn on the person petting them out of nowhere. In each case, inflammation, pain, or injury was the core cause. These take time to unravel, especially because these animals have been in a state of heightened stress for a long period of time.

It is absolutely possible to reduce these behaviors over time with the right practitioner who will go slowly and focus first on the areas of least discomfort to build trust. In fact, these are some of the most rewarding clients to work with.

01/26/2026

Hamstring Release

There are three hamstrings in the horse, but we'll be focusing on two: the semitendinosus and semimembranosus. These two muscles are located just above the hock and can be extremely tight, especially in horses that rein, cut, or jump.

1. Always use gentle pressure, as this is a very sensitive area.
2. Part One: Run your hands gently up the groove behind the stifle upward toward the tail.
3. Part Two: gently in a circular motion from the hock, use your palm to rotate inward toward the medial part of the body (towards the tail).

These gentle techniques will bring healthy blood flow, increase/restore mobility to the hocks, and feel amazing for your horse!

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!

01/25/2026

Say it again with feeling! I highly agree with this post and something I’ve noticed with my clients over the last ten years.

Most “mystery lameness” isn’t actually coming from the leg.

It’s coming from how the body is compensating.

When a horse loses movement in the shoulder, ribcage, or pelvis, they don’t just move less…
they move differently.

And that difference gets paid for somewhere else in the body.

Example:
Restricted right shoulder → shorter stride → more weight is put unto the left front and right hind → increased strain on suspensory and hock (among others).

By the time you notice:
• tripping
• unevenness
• resistance in transitions
• sudden “attitude”

That pattern has already been living in the body for a while.

This is why bodywork isn’t about pampering.
It’s about mechanics and prevention.

Good bodywork looks at:
✔️ muscle symmetry
✔️ ribcage motion
✔️ pelvic position
✔️ scapula movement
✔️ movement patterns, not just sore spots

When we restore motion where it’s missing, the joints stop absorbing what the muscles should be handling.

That’s injury prevention.

So if your horse “passes the flexions” but still feels off under saddle…
It’s probably not a diagnosis issue.

It’s a movement pattern issue.

And that’s exactly what bodywork addresses.

01/23/2026

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

01/22/2026

True. Tension is visible and there is one thing I look at first, before I even watch the horse move...and that is how they stand. Are their forelegs close together? Is one hoof rotated in or out? Can they stand square? Is the horse relaxed and straight, or fidgety and standing in a c-shape? Horses bodies reveal everything, if we only know where to look.

Want to learn more about recognizing tension in your horse? Click the Video Course link in my bio!

01/21/2026

Interested in Using Essential Oils on Your Animals? Look no further. Over the last few years, essential oils have been increasingly popular.

Visit the blog on my website to learn how essential oils work, what scents are best for your animals, and which to avoid.

Don't wan to do the heavy lifting yourself? I've got you! I make custom blends suited to your animal's needs and also have an array of signature blends, including: Natural Insect Repellent, Healing Spray, Topical Anti-inflammatory, Stress Relief calming spray and more.

01/20/2026

Quality over quantity

Why are customers so focused on the amount of time spent with the animal? I understand they want it to be worth the money and want to see long lasting results and time devoted to the session. However, time is not the most important factor.

Bodyworkers starting out will spend 1-2 hours on each horse. They’re going to take a long amount of time as they’re learning feel getting experience, adjusting their techniques and learning the horses with experience this moose more quickly, the body worker will learn where they need to focus, and what areas affect others to help them on their way More they end up having adjusted techniques to make the time we’re efficient to win the horses your partner, the time needed is lessened.

When you search for first work with a horse, they automatically brace but softer touches techniques and approaches with a less is more philosophy tend to actually be more effective. In the long run when the horse is your partner, you don’t have to work as hard the horse actually contributes and they tend to absorb the work and hold the work better.

The price you’re paying is for your body worker's experience level, their quality of work and care and yes, in some cases the time. Arguably if your body worker is taking less time to achieve the same results, their sessions should be worth more. Focus on quality of care over quantity of time.

01/19/2026

A Professional Should Not Give Advice Until They See Your Horse

I've come across potential clients over the decade I've been working in the equine wellness industry, asking: what saddle pads they should buy, what exercises their horses should be doing, etc.

This is a reminder that until you have an appointment, we- as professionals- cannot make recommendations. Clients will not get put on my schedule if they insist on trying to cross this boundary. This is a huge red flag!

I know you are worried, and you don't want to wait for the appointment. But it is in your animal's best interest to wait so we can get the full history and physical examination.

01/16/2026

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

01/16/2026

This will be my 4th year as the Official Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Massage Therapist and I couldn't be more excited! I have loved being part of your winning teams.

Preregistration for Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday is OPEN here:
https://coastalcanineswkc.as.me/

Make an appointment to help reduce travel stiffness, get your dog competition ready, or improve balance for their stack.

I'll be in the Javits Center, Hall 1C Benching area from 8-5 each day. Preregister now for a discount off your service using code EARLYBIRD26.

Scheduling sponsored by Acuity Scheduling here: https://coastalcanineswkc.as.me/

01/15/2026

I lost count of how often this happens to me. Many of my clients I’ve worked with for years because they know and see the benefits. However, it definitely occurs when I’ve helped a client and they are graduated to a maintenance schedule that the owner wants to push back appointments to save money…inevitably deciding that their animal is “fixed”. I wish it worked like that, but it doesn’t. Massage therapy and bodywork are part of regular maintenance and as such help prevent major injuries and inflammatory issues down the road. Every time the client disappears for months and then asks to come back, the practitioner has to start over and unwind the months of compensation and tension that has built up. Most practitioners will work with you and your budget to find a timeline that is most effective for your animal and your wallet. It’s better to spread out sessions within a reasonable time frame then to disappear and pop back up when there is an injury.