Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Hawes.
Hi Kimberly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Texas and have spent most of my life caring for animals in the realm of veterinary medicine and conservation. I’ve worked as a registered veterinary technician in small animal medicine, emergency and zoo animal medicine. I earned my master’s degree in wildlife conservation from the University of Georgia and while I was a graduate student, I spent time in Botswana studying African lions to help conserve and protect wild lion populations.
I spent twelve years working in zoo animal medicine and had the honor of caring for some of the world’s most endangered animals, from rhinos and tigers to California condors. I even had the privilege of caring for non-domesticated herds of Przewalski’s horses.
As much as I cherished my time helping animals in a traditional medical setting, I felt called to expand my knowledge and skills into more holistic forms of healing for animals, which naturally led me to equine massage therapy and advanced reiki training specifically for animals. I combine my former veterinary experience and insight as a healer to provide a mind, body and soul healing for horses.
I feel strongly that all animals are sentient beings, worthy of the highest respect. Our companion animal partners, like cats, dogs and horses absorb energy from the people around them and their environment, just as humans do. Horses, especially because of their highly intuitive nature, can benefit greatly from restorative therapies like massage and the energetic healing that reiki provides.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a small business owner is not for the faint of heart, and I believe most entrepreneurs would agree. The costs to start a small business in time and dollars is staggering but, having a strategic mindset and not giving up is the key to success. I feel the hardest part for me was building clientele (especially during the first year). I’ve learned word of mouth for my business is everything!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Equine Energy, LLC?
Equine Energy, LLC helps horses through energetic and physical healing. As a certified equine massage therapist, animal and human reiki master and certified veterinary technician, I provide a unique healing experience for our equine companions.
Often, equine healers will specialize in either massage therapy OR reiki energy healing and I’m happy to offer both healing modalities as they complement each other very well. I also pull in my veterinary knowledge in anatomy, and this helps me to be a more effective healer, especially where massage and bodywork are concerned.
I find that often it is the humans that need healing even more than their equine companions. Due to demand, I recently started offering reiki sessions for humans with their horses. This healing experience offers a powerful way for people to connect deeply with themselves, their horses and nature.
I hope to raise awareness around how energetically in-tune and sensitive horses are to people, situations and physical spaces. My hope is to help as many horses (and thus, their humans) as possible.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For those just starting their own small business, I would say allow yourself more time, grace and patience than you think you will need to launch your business. It took me two years to launch Equine Energy whilst juggling a full-time job and all of the responsibilities and surprises life throws at us.
There are hundreds of details to wade through, and it can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning. Tackle tasks in increments, even if it’s accomplishing one task each week. If you are organized and your heart is in the right place, you WILL be successful!
Pricing:
- Equine Massage $120/1.5 hours
- Equine Reiki Healing Session $80/1 hour
- Human + Horse Healing Session $150/1.5 hours
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.equine.energy/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equine.energy.kim/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572930894702
