The Healing Power of Equine Reiki: Transforming Your Horse's Wellbeing
You watch your horse shift their weight, toss their head, show signs of discomfort that the vet can't quite pinpoint. Or maybe they're anxious—pacing, unable to settle, hypervigilant in situations that should feel safe.
You've tried supplements, adjusted feed, changed routines. The physical interventions help some, but something deeper feels unresolved.
Here's what I've learned working with horses: they carry energy the same way we do. And when that energy becomes blocked—through stress, trauma, environmental changes, or absorbing their human's anxiety—physical and behavioral symptoms emerge.
Equine Reiki addresses healing at the energetic level. It's not a replacement for veterinary care. It's complementary support that works with your horse's natural healing capacity to restore balance where conventional interventions can't quite reach.
Here Sheena is holding a calm energetic space for Tanner and as he comes closer, she offers energy to him.
Understanding Reiki for Horses
Reiki is a Japanese energy healing practice that channels universal life energy (rei = universal, ki = life energy) through the practitioner's hands to support the body's natural healing processes.
For horses, this means:
Non-invasive energy work that doesn't require physical restraint
Support for both physical symptoms and emotional patterns
A practice your horse actively participates in through consent and choice
Complementary care that works alongside veterinary treatment
Horses are incredibly energetically sensitive. They feel shifts in energy long before humans do, which is why they respond so clearly to Reiki. They know when healing energy is being offered, and they choose whether to accept it.
🐴 What is Equine Reiki? Non-invasive energy healing that works with your horse's natural healing capacity. Your horse participates through consent, choosing whether to receive the energy being offered.
How Equine Reiki Works: The Consent Principle
This is the foundation of all Animal Reiki work I do: consent is non-negotiable.
I never force energy onto an animal. Instead, I create an invitation. I arrive at the barn or pasture, ground my own energy, and offer Reiki from a distance. Then I watch your horse's response.
If they're interested, they'll show you:
Moving closer
Lowering their head
Softening their eye
Licking and chewing
Shifting into a relaxed stance
Moving into position to show me where they want the energy
If they're not interested—if they move away, turn their hindquarters, or remain vigilant—I respect that boundary. Sometimes horses need to observe a few sessions before they're ready to receive. Sometimes the timing isn't right. That's information, not failure.
The horses who need Reiki most are often the ones who take longest to trust the process. Respect for their autonomy is part of the healing.
We can see Tanner in a calm state of relaxation with a lowered head, half closed eyes and ears back. He started yawning shortly after this picture was taken. Yawning is a sign of more tension being released. More video of working with Tanner at the bottom of this page.
What Equine Reiki Supports
Digestive Health
Horses have notoriously sensitive digestive systems. Stress, changes in routine, trailering, or environmental shifts can all trigger digestive upset—from mild discomfort to colic risk.
Reiki supports digestive function by:
Calming the nervous system (which directly impacts gut function)
Reducing stress and anxiety that contribute to digestive issues
Supporting the body's natural healing after colic episodes or surgery
Addressing the energetic patterns that may underlie chronic digestive sensitivity
I worked with a gelding named Tanner last March who was experiencing recurring digestive discomfort. His vet had ruled out ulcers and managed his care protocol, but he remained uncomfortable. Three Reiki sessions—focused on solar plexus and sacral chakra balancing—helped him finally settle. His owner reported he was calmer at feeding time and showed fewer signs of belly discomfort.
Reiki didn't replace veterinary care. It addressed the stress component that medication couldn't fully resolve.
Stress and Anxiety Relief
Anxious horses show it clearly:
Hypervigilance and spooking
Inability to settle or relax
Weaving, pacing, or stall walking
Tension in the jaw, poll, or topline
Digestive issues related to nervous system dysregulation
Anxiety in horses often has roots in:
Previous trauma or inconsistent care
Environmental changes (new barn, new herd mates, routine disruption)
Competition or trailering stress
Absorbing their human's anxiety and fear
Reiki works with your horse's root chakra (at the base of the tail) and heart chakra to restore a sense of safety and calm. When their nervous system settles, behavioral symptoms often resolve naturally.
Comfort for Senior Horses
Older horses deserve gentle, dignified care that honors the wisdom they carry.
Reiki offers senior horses:
Relief from chronic pain (arthritis, stiffness, old injuries)
Emotional comfort during decline
Support for quality of life in their final years
A peaceful presence during end-of-life transitions
I've sat with several senior horses in their last months. Reiki doesn't extend life artificially, but it does offer comfort. These sessions often become sacred time for horses and their humans—a chance to honor the relationship and say goodbye with presence rather than fear.
✨ Signs Your Horse Is Receiving: Moving closer · Lowered head · Soft eye · Licking and chewing · Relaxed stance · Sighing or yawning · Releasing tension
What to Expect During an Equine Reiki Session
Before the Session
I arrive at your barn and ground my own energy before beginning. Horses read human energy instantly, so I need to be centered first.
I'll ask about your horse's current symptoms, recent changes, and what you're hoping Reiki might support. This context helps, but I also trust what your horse shows me directly.
During the Session
I begin by offering Reiki from several feet away—inviting your horse to participate rather than forcing contact. Most horses show interest within minutes by moving closer, lowering their head, or softening their stance. Some prefer hands-on work, others prefer distance. I follow their lead.
Sessions typically last 50-60 minutes. You might notice visible relaxation, licking and chewing, yawning, digestive sounds, or emotional release. All responses are appropriate.
After the Session
Most horses show immediate relaxation, though some need to move briefly before settling. In the following days, you might notice reduced anxiety, improved digestion, softening in tight areas, or behavioral shifts toward calm and connection.
The Connection Between Your Energy and Your Horse's
Horses are empathic animals. They absorb and mirror the emotional and energetic states of their humans.
If you're anxious when you approach your horse, they feel that anxiety. If you're grieving, frustrated, or afraid, they carry that energy too. They don't have the cognitive ability to separate "my human is stressed about work" from "there is danger here." They simply feel the energy and respond.
This means:
Your anxious horse may be reflecting YOUR anxiety back to you
Behavioral issues sometimes resolve when the human addresses their own energy
The most effective healing often happens when both human and horse receive energy work
I've worked with several horse-human pairs where the horse's anxiety diminished significantly after the human did their own chakra clearing work. The horse wasn't anxious because of trauma—they were anxious because they were absorbing unprocessed energy from their person.
If you notice your horse mirrors your emotional states, that's information. It doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. It means you have an opportunity to heal together.
Equine Reiki vs. Veterinary Care: Understanding the Difference
Let me be clear: Reiki does not replace veterinary medicine.
If your horse is colicking, call the vet. If they're lame, get a diagnosis. If they're showing signs of illness, pursue medical care.
Reiki is complementary support. It works best when integrated with veterinary care, not instead of it.
Use Reiki for:
Supporting recovery after medical treatment
Addressing the stress and anxiety component of physical symptoms
Chronic issues that don't fully resolve with medical intervention alone
Quality of life support for senior horses or those with terminal diagnoses
Behavioral patterns that have energetic roots
Work with your vet for:
Diagnosis of physical symptoms
Emergency care
Medication and treatment protocols
Dental, hoof, and routine health care
Anything requiring medical expertise
The best outcomes happen when energy work and veterinary care support each other.
⚠️ Important: Reiki does not replace veterinary medicine. Always call your vet for colic, lameness, or illness. Reiki works best as complementary support alongside medical care—not instead of it.
When to Consider Equine Reiki for Your Horse
Reiki may help if your horse is experiencing:
Physical symptoms:
Digestive sensitivity or recurring discomfort
Chronic pain that medication only partially addresses
Recovery from illness, injury, or surgery
Stiffness or tension in specific areas
Behavioral patterns:
Anxiety, hypervigilance, or spooking
Difficulty settling or relaxing
Aggression or defensive behavior
Resistance to work or handling that seems emotionally rooted
Life transitions:
Moving to a new barn or home
Changes in herd dynamics
Pregnancy and foaling
Aging and end-of-life support
Energetic absorption:
Mirroring your anxiety or emotional state
Sensitivity to environmental energy
Patterns that started after a specific event or change
If you've tried physical interventions and something still feels unresolved, energy work may be the missing piece.
Equine Reiki Sessions: Practical Information
Session Length: 50-60 minutes (determined by your horse's needs and responses)
Location: At your barn, farm, or property (I travel to your horse), Distance sessions are available as well!
Investment: Contact for pricing—sessions are customized based on location and your horse's needs
Serving: Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Indianola, and surrounding Iowa areas
What's Included:
Pre-session consultation about your horse's history and current concerns
Full Reiki session with your horse (hands-on or distance, based on their preference)
Post-session discussion of what I observed energetically
Recommendations for supporting your horse's continued healing
How to Prepare:
Your horse should be in a safe, familiar environment (stall, pasture, paddock)
No need to groom or prepare them—they can be exactly as they are
Minimal distractions if possible (though some horses prefer herd mates nearby)
You're welcome to observe or step away, whichever feels right
Book an Equine Reiki Session →
Not sure if Reiki is right for your horse? I offer complimentary 15-minute consultations to discuss what you're experiencing and whether this approach might help.
Schedule a Free Consultation →
Beyond Horses: Reiki for All Animals
While this post focuses on horses, Reiki works with all animals:
Dogs and cats
Livestock (cattle, goats, sheep)
Small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, birds)
Exotics (reptiles, chickens, ducks)
Every animal has an energy system. Every animal can benefit from energetic support.
If you have other animals experiencing anxiety, illness, or behavioral challenges, Animal Reiki may help them too.
Learn more about Animal Reiki for small animals →
Your Next Steps
Ready to Give Your Horse Deeper Support?
If your horse is experiencing chronic anxiety, digestive issues, or behavioral patterns that haven't fully resolved, single sessions provide relief—but multi-session packages create lasting transformation.
Multi-session Animal Reiki packages give your horse's nervous system the consistent support it needs to fully recalibrate. Not just symptom management. Actual healing at the root.
4-Session Package: Foundation for transformation (save 10%)
8-Session Package: Comprehensive nervous system recalibration (save 15%)
Available for large animals (horses, livestock) via house calls or distance sessions.
Book Equine Reiki for Your Horse:
Schedule a session to address anxiety, digestive issues, or energetic imbalance
Address Your Own Energy:
If your horse mirrors your anxiety, start with your own root chakra healing
Read: Root Chakra Grounding for Empaths & Anxious Pets →
Learn About Animal Energy Systems:
Understand how chakras function in horses and other animals
💚 Questions about Equine Reiki? Fill out the form below!
