About Me

Welcome

Hi, I’m Steff—a Certified Equine and Canine Sports Massage Therapist (scroll down for more details).

I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, but my deeper journey into bodywork began with a mare I leased years ago. She started going lame, and despite months of searching for answers, nothing seemed to help—until a brilliant physiotherapist identified the real issue: a lack of muscle development in her back.

That moment sparked something in me. I dove into learning how to build muscle from the ground up—and as her strength returned, so did her soundness. The lameness disappeared, and I was left with a powerful drive to understand more. I wanted to see what that physiotherapist saw.

While I loved my work as a veterinary technician, I eventually enrolled in my first massage therapy class... and I’ve never looked back.

One course that deeply shaped my perspective was Beverly Brady’s The Amassage Method™, which opened my eyes to how truly interconnected the body is—and how pain in one area can be rooted in tension elsewhere.

That experience was just the beginning. Learning in this field never really ends—and that’s part of what I love about it. Today, I’m proud to support horses and dogs on their journey to recovery, top performance, or simply a better quality of life.

Education

2012-2015
BSc Biology
Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany
2015-2017
TFA (~Veterinary Technician)
Dres. Hoffmann & Thal, Nueremberg, Germany
June 2018
Equine Therapeutic Massage Therapist Lvl1 (ETMT)
Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage
June 2020
Certified Canine Sports Massage Therapist (CCSMT)
SW Michigan Natural Healing for Animals
July 2020
Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist Lvl 1 (CESMT)
The Amassage Method
Europe Natural Healing for Animals 

May 2022

Intro to Structure and Gait Analysis

Canine Fitness Innovations - Conditioning & Massage

July 2022
Red Light Therapy
PKS Education/ Rehab Center
July 2022
Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist (CESMT) Lvl2
The Amassage Method
Midwest Natural Healing for Animals, LLC
August 2022
​Trigger Point Therapy for Horses
Niel Asher Technique

www.harteranimalmassage.com
(941) 209- 2524
harter-animalmassage@outlook.com