Reiki for horses

Reiki is an ancient system of energy healing.

Pronounced “ray-key,” the name comes from the Japanese words “rei” meaning spirit and “ki” meaning energy. It is often translated as “universal life energy.”

This energy may also be known as Qi or chi.

Popularised in Japan and having spread widely around the world in the past few decades, it involves a trained practitioner connecting with healing energy and channelling it to help release the self-healing capabilities of the recipient. As the energy passes from the practitioners’ hands into the horse being treated, it balances the energy of the body, mind and spirit, supporting self-healing on all levels. In addition to the direct flow of energy, reiki is about creating a safe, calm and open-hearted healing space which enables amazing healing responses.

Horses, being particularly sensitive and intuitive, will often naturally seek treatment when they are near someone capable of providing reiki. This may be in the form of “nudging”, where they deliberately try to put an area of the body into the hands of the practitioner (or any trusted human they think can help) or sometimes they will simply seek to be near a practitioner. Often when I am treating a horse, it is common for other horses in the herd to gather nearby the horse being treated – they are able to feel the healing energy themselves and will gather nearby to enjoy it!

Whether a horse has a specific issue they want treated or they simply want to enjoy the calming and uplifting effects of the energy, they will seek to be near the energy field. It is beautiful to see them relaxing while I am treating their companion.

How equine reiki works

Horses, just like humans, have energy constantly flowing through their body. When this energy is flowing well, it keeps them (and us) feeling vital, calm and grounded. Energy can be blocked in the body by physical injuries, trauma or emotional problems, causing the horse to feel unsettled. Symptoms may show through as physical, psychological or behavioural problems.

Reiki delivers a steady stream of Universal healing energy to restore positive energy flow to your horse’s body. Energy blockages will be shifted, any imbalances in energy will be righted and a steady flow of positive energy will be restored throughout the body. 

Horses are particularly sensitive and you will usually notice them responding quite quickly to the treatment. As I noted before, you may also find that other animals gather around the treatment area to enjoy the radiating energy that surrounds the practitioner and the horse being treated – and not just horses either. Other domestic animals such as cats or dogs may also choose to sit nearby while the treatment is taking place. My own cat, Max, always wants to be nearby when I’m treating someone! And while my attention may be focused on a single horse during a treatment, there is always a healing energy field that spreads out from the treatment area that is beneficial to all living things in that space. You may notice that you feel calmer and happier, or that aches and pains ease, while I’m treating your horse too. I’ve seen some great outcomes from the rider or owner simply being nearby while I treat their horse as well – and they often remark to me how calm and uplifted they feel after watching their horse get treated!

That said, because owners and riders also benefit from receiving their own treatments, I do offer “horse and human” treatment plans with direct treatments provided, separately, to the horse and owner or rider. This is a great way to amplify the results not only in the wellbeing of the horse and owner but also in creating a calm and harmonious relationship between the two.

It is important to understand that, whether for horses or humans, reiki requires a willing recipient to accept the energy into their body. As such, we don’t force reiki on a horse – we check that the horse is willing. It is very rare that they are not willing and much more common that they are enthusiastic recipients! Horses will communicate their willingness to receive treatment in the way they approach and interact with the reiki practitioner. Sometimes a horse will choose to stay at a distance to the practitioner but still happily receive the treatment (this is common in traumatised horses) but this is different to a horse communicating they don’t wish to be treated or want the treatment to end. Never let someone undertake a reiki treatment on your horse if it is clearly communicating it doesn’t want to be treated – no professional reiki practitioner would ever insist on treating an animal that is rejecting the offer of treatment.

What are the benefits of equine reiki?

Equine reiki is a non-invasive treatment which works on all levels. As such it can provide physical, emotional and behavioural benefits to your horse. It can help to maintain a horse’s health, speed up healing of injuries or illness, as well as calming and soothing a horse suffering from trauma, emotional upsets or anxiety. It is completely safe – it cannot harm a horse in any way.

The healing energy provided moves to wherever it is needed in the horse. Some of the benefits seen are:

• Release of emotional wounds / traumas so horse is no longer triggered by past memories
  
• Relaxes and calms horses making them easier to handle and work with
  
• Supports physical healing – in particular when used in conjunction with traditional veterinary care
  
• Reduces or eliminates travel stress
  
• Settles new mothers
  
• Soothes digestive problems and colic
  
• Eases aches and pains of ageing

Beyond healing, reiki can provide optimal physical performance and emotional wellbeing. That is to say, your horse does not need to be unwell or unsettled to enjoy the benefits – it can also be used to further enhance good health!

How will I know if my horse is responding to reiki treatment?

Sometimes you may not notice any changes to your horse during treatment, however it is very common for horses to show signs of rest and relaxation – even if they have been very unsettled right up to the time of treatment.

You may notice your horse licking and chewing, yawning and deep sighing, or even falling asleep.

Most commonly you will notice the horse is calm and is seeking to be near the practitioner, perhaps even guiding its treatment by how it places its body near or against the person treating it.

I allow the horse to direct treatment as much as possible – each horse will let me know if they are ready to start, whether they’d prefer hands on or off, where they’d like me to place my hands, and they’ll usually let me know when they’ve had enough for the day too!

Because it is important for the horse to participate willingly, I won’t force a treatment – if a horse indicates they are not interested or if they only want a short treatment that day, I follow their instructions. It is rare for a horse to refuse treatment altogether though and most would happily have me continue treatment for longer than our planned session. This communication, and the trust involved in listening to the horse, is an important consideration that should not be underestimated.

Is reiki different to massage?

Although reiki is often applied using a hands on approach, it is not physical work like massage. I also practice horse massage and I will certainly combine reiki into my massage practice at times, as do many horse masseuses. However, massage is the physical stimulation and manipulation of soft tissue (such as fascia and muscles) while reiki is the flow of energy from the Universal Source, through me to the horse. Reiki does not require hands on to work, whereas massage does.

An entire reiki treatment may be given from a single touch point – that is, with the hands in a single position – although it may also involve the practitioner moving through a series of different touch points. Massage, on the other hand, requires direct contact with each area that is being treated.

How should I prepare my horse for reiki?

Ideally your horse should be in a quiet, calm environment where it feels safe. Feed and water the horse prior to the session – and remember, your horse may be particularly thirsty after the session as energy has been released and is shifting through the body.

A horse must give permission for receiving reiki

As I mentioned earlier, it is important that your horse is a willing recipient of reiki. I’m making this point again here because it is a very important principle of reiki but it is also sometimes a difficult one for an owner or a rider to accept! Watching a horse in distress or pain is very difficult and it is easy to assume we know what is best for them but reiki doesn’t work that way. 

The experience of reiki is a shared one and requires trust between the practitioner and the animal.

This also includes permission for hands off work – the horse must still give permission to me to send energy even if I’m not touching it.

Before I begin treatment, I will establish a connection with your horse and create a safe, energetically healing space around us. It is then up to your horse to indicate if or how it would like to receive reiki on the day.

Traumatised horses often prefer hands-off treatment, particularly in the beginning.

Some horses will move around during the session choosing to be closer or further from me at times. I honour your horses innate wisdom and work with them at all times.

Is reiki a safe option for healing my horse?

Reiki is completely safe and non-invasive. However, a reiki professional cannot diagnose illness or the effects of physical injury. This needs to be done by a vet.

It is also not an alternative for medical care when a horse is sick or injured. In these circumstances, reiki works alongside traditional medicine and treatment, helping the animal to heal more quickly, be more calm while receiving treatment, and be easier for the vet to handle.

Many vets will happily coordinate their work with that of a reiki practitioner as they are aware of the additional benefits to the horse. If possible, this coordination is the best option. However, for vets who “don’t believe” in reiki, I can still work with your horse without coordinating with your vet.

Remote healing with reiki

One of reiki’s most unique and interesting characteristics is that it is not bound by time or space. As such, reiki may be conducted remotely – and the energy can be established to reach the recipient at a different time to when the practitioner conducts the treatment. This aspect of energy healing can be difficult to get your head around! The most important point to remember is that it may be done remotely – and is still just as effective.

When I treat animals remotely, I keep an appointment time just as I would for a face-to-face treatment. I have a special corner set up in my home where I sit while I do treatments. I’ve set this area up to be a special place, separate from the rest of my work and home, so that when I am sitting here, my full attention is on the healing I am doing. I also ask that you provide your horse with a calm and safe environment while I am treating them. In these ways, effective remote healing can be achieved.

The key benefits of Reiki treatments are:

• Reduces stress
• Eases pain and inflammation
• Relaxes and eases pre- competition stress
• Assists flexibility and balance
• Boosts energy levels
• Speeds recovery from illness or injury
• Aids recovery from trauma
• Improves confidence
• Helps gain peak performance