Journal

What Is Equine Assisted Reiki? A Gentle Session With Horses in Norfolk

Many people tell me they feel calmer around horses before they can explain why. Equine assisted Reiki gently makes space for that feeling.

By Catherine Moore · 18 October 2026

What is equine assisted Reiki?

Reiki is a gentle, Japanese energy practice. You stay fully clothed and rest while I use light or no-touch hand positions. Equine assisted Reiki takes place in a calm setting with horses nearby. Their slow breathing, their stillness and the sounds of the stable become part of the space.

You don’t ride, groom or handle the horses. They are simply present, and often that quiet presence is enough.

Why horses?

Horses are prey animals, finely tuned to their surroundings and to the people around them. Being near a relaxed horse invites many of us to slow down too — to breathe more deeply and to arrive in the moment instead of rushing through it. People often describe feeling “grounded” or “held”, a feeling that can be hard to find in everyday life.

In my experience this is more than a pleasant way to spend an hour. Horses seem to help us co-regulate: a horse that is settled and at ease gives our own body something to match, so the breathing deepens, the shoulders soften, and the system moves out of alert and into rest. It happens without any effort on your part — you don’t have to do anything except stand or sit there in their company.

I like to work with specific members of the yard family for their majestic and loving presence. Every horse has their own character, and I choose who stands with you according to what the hour asks for — sometimes the gentlest, most steady soul, sometimes one with a little more spark in them. Their company is part of the session, not a backdrop to it.

What happens during a session?

Each session lasts 60 minutes at North Norfolk Riding Centre, Little Walsingham. We begin with a short, unhurried conversation about how you are and what you would like from the time. You then choose a few oracle cards to help set an intention, and I guide a self-compassion meditation shaped around what you have brought with you, so you settle into the hour with something to hold.

The Reiki follows while you sit or lie comfortably and the horses rest nearby. We close gently, with time to notice how you feel and to reflect on what came up. As part of that ending, you pull another oracle card — a small, practical pointer for carrying the experience forward into the days ahead.

Everyone’s experience is different. Some people feel warmth or tingling, some feel deeply relaxed, some feel emotional, and some simply enjoy an hour of peace. There is no right way for it to feel.

Attending to the chakras

Part of the hour is given to the chakras: seven centres of energy running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. In Reiki we think of them as the places where energy gathers and moves — safety and grounding at the base, then creativity, warmth and connection through the middle, and a quieter, more spacious feeling towards the top. When we are run down, grieving, or simply running flat out, these centres can feel overbusy, sluggish, or out of step with one another. It is Reiki’s way of describing how we feel, rather than a medical diagnosis, and I use it as a map for where to give attention.

As the Reiki flows, I use light or no-touch hand positions over and around each centre in turn, moving slowly from the base upwards so that no part of you is hurried. Nothing is forced and nothing needs to be “fixed”. The intention is gentler than that: to encourage energy that has become stuck or depleted to move again, and so to support the body’s own way of returning to its natural rhythm. People often notice it as warmth, a long involuntary breath, a soft release in the shoulders, or a quiet sense of things settling back into place.

None of this sits apart from the rest of the hour. The oracle cards and the meditation help you notice what most needs attention, and the chakra work tends to it gently while the horses rest nearby, so the session moves as one unhurried piece rather than a series of steps.

In a client’s own words

This is one client’s own account of their session. It tells you what the hour was like for them, rather than what it would be like for you.

“My Reiki session was a truly calming and transformative experience. Being able to relax with the gentle presence of a horse in the background created a unique sense of peace and connection. The combination of Reiki’s healing energy and the horse’s quiet, grounding presence helped me release stress and feel completely at ease. I left feeling lighter, more balanced, and deeply refreshed. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking relaxation, healing, and a deeper connection with themselves and nature. Catherine’s warm, compassionate counselling style helped me feel comfortable from the moment I arrived. Her calming presence, genuine empathy, and ability to create a safe, supportive space made the experience even more meaningful and beneficial.”

A note on the evidence

The quiet presence of the horses may help you feel calmer and more grounded, and early research is beginning to explore the physiological connection between horses and people. The equine assisted Reiki I offer is a unique experience that has not yet been established through clinical research. The chakra work and the oracle cards belong to the session’s spiritual and reflective approach.

Who might it suit?

People who love horses or nature, people who find it hard to switch off indoors, and anyone wanting a slower, gentler hour of self-care. It is a wellbeing practice, not a medical or psychological treatment, and it doesn’t replace care from your GP or therapist.

If you’re looking for psychological therapy, I offer CBT separately — in person in Holt or online across the UK. The two are kept as distinct sessions.

Common questions

Do I need to know about horses?

No. You don’t need any riding or horse experience. There is no riding, grooming or handling involved — the horses are simply nearby.

Is equine assisted Reiki the same as therapy?

No. It is a relaxation and energy-based wellbeing session, not psychological therapy or CBT. If you’re looking for therapy, that is offered separately.

Where are sessions held?

At North Norfolk Riding Centre, Little Walsingham, in North Norfolk.

Do I have to use oracle cards?

Only if you’d like to. They’re part of how we set an intention at the start and reflect at the end, but you’re welcome to skip them and simply enjoy the hour.

Why do I feel calmer just being near a horse?

Horses seem to help co-regulate our nervous system. A settled, at-ease horse gives our own body something to match, so the breathing slows and the system moves out of alert and into rest — with no effort on your part. It is something I have come to notice and plan around rather than a settled scientific finding, but clients describe it often enough that I take it seriously.

Do you work with chakras?

Yes. Part of the session attends to the chakras — the energy centres running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head — using light or no-touch hand positions to encourage energy that has become stuck or depleted to move freely again. Chakras belong to Reiki’s traditional understanding of energy rather than to measured science; many people still find the framework a helpful way to describe what they notice.

How long is a session and what does it cost?

Sessions last 60 minutes and cost £80.

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