Equine Reiki– Guest blog by Nicola Roberts of Equine Zen Reiki.
What is Equine Reiki?
Reiki, pronounced Ray key, is a accent Japanese method of healing energy that reduces stress and promotes healing, both for animals and their humans.
We are all made of energy and this energy can sometimes become blocked or stagnant in certain areas, which can cause pain or dysfunction. Chakras interact with the body’s nervous system and endocrine system. If a horse is holding something physically or emotionally in their body, it can and will affect their health, attitude, performance, and wellbeing.
Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver energy to your horses body, improving the flow and balance of your energy to support healing.
Chakras are the concentrated energy centres of the body. Chakra is a Sanskrit term and it means “wheel” or “disk” and is derived from the root word “cakra”. Horses have seven major chakras that run along their spine and an eighth, the brachial chakra, runs along the horse’s scapula to the point of shoulder. Chakras are spinning wheels of energy points throughout the body.
Reiki can never do harm and is very gentle, yet powerfully effective. Reiki reduces stress, alleviates pain, speeds up the natural healing process, helps heal emotional wounds and relieves anxiety, all of which can be useful for the horse.
How does it work?
As a Reiki practitioner I have been trained and attuned to the energy of Reiki, which then flows naturally through the palms of my hands.
Before I approach the horse I’m going to be offering reiki to, I set my intention in my head and my heart. My intention is always to be “in service to the horse, and for the reiki healing to flow through my hands, to heal them”. As I approach the horse to introduce myself, I open my heart, so they know straight away I mean no harm and I offer them reiki healing.
I hold my hands out, palms open towards the horse, allowing the reiki to flow. The horse will feel this and as I ask if the horse excepts the reiki, I read the horses body language. If the horse turns away, I try again, sometimes the horse is nervous of the energy. But when the horse is open to the reiki they will sniff my hands, turn their head towards me. Once I’m happy that the horse is happy, I begin.
Firstly I begin by placing my hands over the body, generally starting at the whithers and one hand on the shoulder. Working with reiki I work intuitively, gently moving my hands over the body, working over the horses chakras. I feel for sensations in my hands, heat, coldness or tingling. It tells me of areas of discomfort, stress/anxiety or pain/inflammation. The horse will be feeling the same or similar sensations. They sometimes look round to see what it is they are feeling. Sometimes horses are unsure to begin with, about the feeling of the healing energy and they move around not knowing of how to react to it. But they generally allow me to continue. I’m always reading the horses body language and I know when the horse has had enough, that can be after 15 minutes or an hour.
How do I know If my horse likes it?
There are many signs that the horse gives that let me know that the horse is receiving, processing and accepting Reiki.
Ears half mast
Eyes: half closed, glazed, softening of the eyes
Nostrils slightly flared
Mouth relaxed; lower lip drooping down
Licking chewing, sighing, blowing through nose
Head dropping forward
Weight on left leg in front
Skin softening
More gut sounds than usual; deeper breathing
Breathing pattern changes
One hip dropped and toe rolled over
Soft tail; passing gas
Gelding or stallion may drop
A soft sway from the back end.
Some horses show all these signs, some show very little signs but this doesn’t mean the reiki isn’t working the same, just some horses display signs more openly.
Once the session comes to and end with me the reiki will continue to work, the horse will generally be calm/quiet for some time after.
Some horses require more than one reiki session, it all depends on the individual horse and issues that may be highlighted in the sessions and whether or not there is a particular issue/behaviour we are trying to treat for.
How can Reiki help my horse?
Reiki heals on many levels. Here are some issues it can heal:
PHYSICALLY
Tendon injuries
Arthritis pain
laminitis
ligament injuries
Gastric ulcers recovery
Colic
(Working along with veterinary care)
MENTALLY
Aggressive behaviour
Anxiety
stable vices, Weaving, Wind sucking
box walking
pre-show nerves
separation anxiety
spooking
EMOTIONALLY
Owner and horse relationship
restlessness
health and wellbeing
emotional issues
Healthy horses/ponies can benefit from reiki too, let your horse enjoy a deeply relaxing treatment that will enhance general wellbeing.
For more information about what reiki can do for you and your horse and to see Nicola in action, read reviews and watch before and after videos check out her facebook and Instagram.
