When Healing Flows Both Ways: Lessons from Animal Reiki
/By Jennifer Stano — Last Updated: November 15, 2025
Anyone who has spent time around horses can easily sense their gentle, majestic and beautiful nature. However, what people may not realize is just how sensitive and responsive to energy, and especially Reiki energy, these large creatures can be.
Earlier this fall I spent two days getting my Animal Reiki certification, and though as a Reiki Master Teacher and Practitioner, I’ve done Reiki for animals in the past, as well as taught the basics in my Reiki training courses, I was excited for a deep dive into this practice.
As a lifelong competitive horseback rider, dog owner, and passionate animal rescue advocate, working with animals has always come naturally.
Yet despite this, I was still surprised by my experiences during the training.
Anyone who has spent time in the world of horse sports knows that building a deep bond with your equine partner is key to achieving any kind of success in the competition ring. Riding and working with horses requires having respect for their strength and autonomy, as well as deep listening skills, empathy and tact. Anyone who has tried to force a 1,000-lb animal to do something against their will has learned quickly the futility of that approach!
As a result, I’ve always developed close relationships with my horses, one based on mutual respect and compassion.
Yet the experience of giving Reiki to a herd of horses put a different light on my relationships with horses. When I was simply giving healing energy, I had no expectation of anything in return. I wasn’t asking that the horses move a certain way, carry my weight or even remain next to me. They were free to come and go as they pleased, and they determined how they would interact with the energy - how much they wanted, when and where.
In Animal Reiki, the animals guide the session, not the humans. We are just the facilitators.
Throughout history, horses have given humans so much and asked for so little in return. The act of giving Reiki to a herd of horses was humbling, because it made me realize how much I’ve asked of my horses in the past and how good it felt to finally JUST GIVE BACK, without any expectations.
And boy, do animals like receiving the gentle, healing energy! At one point, several horses chose to come into the circle of energy I had created, all indicating they’d like me to place my hands on their brows. Five horses clustered around me in a quiet, peaceful circle, and for quite some time, I moved softly from horse to horse, giving each one a dose of Reiki.
Not surprisingly, horses find Reiki to be just as relaxing as their human counterparts! Several were dozing by the time I was finished.
I felt such deep peace and gratitude after that experience, and as I walked back through the pastures, leaving the horses snoozing under the trees, I felt the warm glow of the Reiki that I shared with the horses enveloping me, magnified by powerful grace of these incredible animals.
This was a clear lesson for me about the power of giving without expectations. I came away deeply moved, inspired and grateful, and determined to continue to share my healing gifts with as many members of the animal kingdom as I can.
Though we focused mostly on horses during the practice sessions in our training, other companion animals like dogs and cats benefit equally from receiving Reiki. They are all energetic sponges, ready and willing to soak in the healing vibes! In the Reiki trainings that I lead at Green Lotus, we talk about how to give Reiki to your pets, and as a result, many students discover a whole new way of connecting with their beloved fur family.
It is a blessing to be able to share healing energy with animals of all kinds. Animals can be our greatest teachers, and the ability to share Reiki with pets, both large and small, has certainly added a wonderful dimension to my practice as a Reiki healer. I look forward to continuing to share this skill my Reiki students, so more people can experience the beauty that occurs when healing flows both ways.
