Equine Reiki Experiment: How am I preparing myself?
If you saw my last blog post, you may have noticed that I’m preparing to conduct an eight-week observational study on Reiki for horses. Each horse will receive Reiki at an assigned frequency—monthly, every two weeks or weekly—while I track changes over time.
So, what am I doing to prepare?
Creating a Consistent Data-Collection Process
For each horse, I’ll begin by documenting one specific issue we want to observe throughout the study. I’ll also collect information about the horse’s history, routine, workload, medications, supplements and other treatments that could influence the results.
Throughout the eight weeks, I plan to collect:
Baseline information and owner observations
Before-and-after photographs
Respiratory rate and potentially heart rate before and after each session
Session length
The horse’s observable responses during Reiki
Any Reiki symbols or techniques used
Changes in the horse’s routine, care or health
Owner check-in forms every two weeks—even if the horse did not receive Reiki during that period
I will not perform manual bodywork on these horses during the study. I may place my hands on the horse for Reiki and complete a gentle evaluation, but I will not manipulate the muscles or tissues. This will help me keep the observations as focused on Reiki as possible.
Preparing Myself as a Practitioner
Preparing for this study isn’t only about creating forms and collecting numbers. I also want to make sure I’m entering each session grounded, clear and open to what the horse communicates.
My personal preparation includes daily meditation and self-Reiki, which may be practiced together. This helps me quiet my mind, remain present and avoid entering a session with expectations about what I think should happen.
I’m also revisiting my previous Reiki coursework, books and notes. I want to refresh my education, take additional notes and make sure the way I conduct each session remains consistent throughout the experiment.
Most importantly, I’m reminding myself to stay curious. I have a hypothesis, but I don’t want to chase a certain result. The purpose of an observational study is to carefully document what happens—including when nothing noticeably changes.
If you’d like to follow the process and receive the full case study when it is complete, join my email list below!
