By Elizabeth Fulton and Kathleen Prasad
Copyright 2006, Ulysses Press
Photo Courtesy of Kendra Luck (www.dogumentarian.com)

Horses are energetically sensitive creatures with a curious nature; they’ll immediately sense the energy you offer them, probably coming up to your hands directly to investigate. Try to let go of your expectations for the treatment, and let them determine how things will go; your treatment will be much more successful when you let them approach you, rather than the other way around.

Before you begin the treatment, make sure the horse is in a place where he’s comfortable, free to move around, and where you’ll not be disturbed. It’s possible to treat a horse while he’s in a pasture with other horses, but more often than not in this situation, the alpha horse will demand his share of Reiki first, often not allowing other horses to approach. You may end up treating all the horses at once and possibly from a considerable distance. Reiki works from a distance, and you can treat several horses at the same time, but it’s better, especially when you’re first learning, to treat your horse separately, as he and you will be better able to relax fully and you’ll be better able to focus on his responses and your own intuition about how he’s accepting the treatment.

A separate paddock or corral is a perfect place to give a treatment. Here, your horse will be able to relax and accept the Reiki from the distance that makes him most comfortable, without distractions from other horses or people. Reiki will work through stable blankets, fly sheets, bandages and wraps, so whatever covering makes him most comfortable is the best way to start. Enter his paddock, asking his permission and letting him know that he need only take the energy that he wants, and that you won’t be coercing his participation. Stand 10 to 15 feet away from your horse at first, with your hands lowered at your sides, and just ask Reiki to begin flowing. Watch for signs of acceptance such as your horse approaching you to lick your hands, lowering his head, cocking a back leg, licking and chewing, or settling in for a nap.

Every horse is different, as are subsequent treatments of the same horse, so it’s important always to begin each treatment this way from a distance, even if you know your horse very well and treat him regularly. It’s very common for horses to come and go from your hands, and you should allow them to do so, not following them when they walk away. Just as you may feel the ebb and flow of the energy in your hands, there’s an “ebb and flow” in the way they may take the treatment. They may move close to you or away from you, settling against your hands and then moving away, then coming back and so on, and this pattern may be repeated several times during the treatment.

This being said, horses often enjoy hands-on treatments. In this case, they’ll come to you, settle quietly and nap for the entire session. If the horse is open to hands-on treatment, a series of hand positions will work very well in healing and balancing his energy, as well as giving you feedback about issues your horse may be facing. Follow your intuition as well as the horse’s behavior to determine areas that may need healing. Your horse may turn his body or actually back or sidestep certain parts of his body directly into your hands for Reiki healing. He may stomp a foot that is uncomfortable, shift his weight away from a sore leg, or even lift and dramatically stretch his leg or even his entire spine, depending on where he needs healing. He may offer you his head or chest, standing very still and quiet, for emotional healing. And when he’s finished with the treatment, he’ll probably thank you with a kiss, a push of his nose, or a loud snort before moving away from you to return to more everyday equine behaviors.

Tess: Blue Ribbon Lady
One of my Reiki clients is Tess, a dainty and beautiful pony with a kind heart. She teaches little children how to ride. She is patient, kind and gentle with even the youngest riders. It would be impossible to count the dozens of blue ribbons she has won for little kids at their first shows. She has truly touched and enriched many children’s lives. Tess accepts her Reiki treatments as she accepts life—with grace and dignity, and a certain gentleness of spirit that’s hard to describe, but anyone who knows her knows what I mean. Tess’ chronic health challenge is her digestion. I always know when her stomach is bothering her because during the Reiki treatment, she’ll lay down right next to me and roll. Then she’ll lift her head from rolling and just lay there, looking at me. By the end of the treatment, she feels much better: she’ll get up, take a big sigh and shake herself off.