Horse and Rider Reiki

Reiki means 'universal life energy' and is a system of therapy developed in Japan by Mikao Usui in the early twentieth century, through his study of ancient Buddhist teachings. This Eastern therapy is believed to work with the energy centres of the body.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that involves the laying on of hands. It can be applied to both animals and humans. Most find it to be a very relaxing, stress- reducing experience. During a session both practitioner and recipient may feel sensations such as warmth, cold and tingling.

What happens during a treatment?

During a Reiki session the practitioner will place their hands on set positions on the body. (In the case of humans, it is not necessary to remove clothing).

In the case of humans, sessions should always last for one hour. Animals will let the practitioner know when they have received enough Reiki by moving away, so the length of sessions for animals will vary, depending on the individual.

What will happen in an equine Reiki session?

I always conduct a consultation and assess the horse's gait, prior to the session. I will then gently lay my hands on several different positions on the horse's body. Most horses find it very relaxing. As for massage, it is very common for horses to relax their head and neck down, close their eyes, yawn and lick and chew during a Reiki session. Many will lean into the practitioner's hands and move to show the practitioner where they would like them to apply their hands next. Equally they will move away if they do not want hands applied to a particular area or when they would like the session to end.

What do I need for a Reiki session on my horse?

Ideally, as for massage therapy, sessions should be conducted in a calm and quiet atmosphere free from interruptions. Feed time is not a good time as the horse is less likely to settle and relax. As for all complementary therapies, Reiki does not replace conventional veterinary or medical treatment. Veterinary permission is required prior to a practitioner treating a horse with Reiki. Properly qualified and insured Reiki practitioners will have completed both Reiki Level I and II and have a qualification in anatomy and physiology.

My Reiki Lineage

1. Mikao Usui
2. Chujiro Hayashi
3. Hawayo Takata
4. Wanja Twan
5. Martha Sylvester
6. Joan Greenwood
7. Sherrill Pledger
8. Me

Usui taught others how to give Reiki, they then taught others and so on, right down to each practitioner who gives Reiki today. A practitioner's Reiki lineage shows you the chain between them and Usui, the original developer of the system. The shorter the lineage, the fewer steps there have been in handing down the original information. Most Reiki lineages start, after Usui, with Chujiro Hayashi and Hawayo Takata (as Mrs Takata, a Hawaiian, brought Reiki to the West).

Prices

A one hour human Reiki session is £25.

Horses will choose for themselves how long the session will last. This will be up to a maximum of one hour. For sessions which last over 15 minutes the cost is £20. For those horses who decide that 15 minutes or less is long enough for them on that particular day then a nominal fee of £10 will be charged.

A nominal mileage fee will be applied for locations more than 10 miles from Walmer.