Kinetic Communication

Alexa Linton, Equine Sport Therapist

Published in Island Horse Magazine, February 2008

In equine nutrition, it is very easy to blanket your feeding program. In other words, every horse in your barn receives the same feed, in the form of grain, hay and supplements, and perhaps even the same amount of feed. It goes without saying that each of these horses is a unique animal, with an individual makeup potentially quite different from the other horses in the herd or barn. A draft horse for example, does not have the same physiological make-up as a thoroughbred.

Does is make sense then, that we may not feed them the same nutrients? And if we do, it is very possible that the results we see in one horse will not be replicated in the other, but could in fact be detrimental?

The question is, how is it possible to know what each unique horse needs to be eating, and perhaps even how much and how often? The answer is two words, Applied Kinesiology…

How wonderful would it be if we could communicate easily with our horses and other animals, in a language which anyone can understand? Incredibly, this language is available to us right now. We just have to learn it. Applied Kinesiology (AK) is the key. An easily learned tool, AK can be used with your pet to choose the right foods, understand and modify behaviour, facilitate trust and understanding, and develop your own intuition in the process.

Applied Kinesiology (AK) as a scientific concept was developed in 1942 by Dr. George Goodhart. His original experiments utilized a cybex dynamometer to determine changes in the amount of force developed with and without the addition of white sugar. The decrease in force developed was so noticeable in his sugar-high subjects that he continued his work. Today, AK is used by health practitioners all over the world. It has practical applications in chiropractics, aromatherapy, acupressure, flower essences, nutrition, herbology, and many other therapeutic modalities.

It is possible, effective, and very simple to use AK with horses and other animals. Basically, every body is made up of atoms and molecules, each with an electrical charge. The molecular structure of each carbon life form is unique, whether it be a human, animal, food, or tree. This electrical, energetic component is often referred to as the electromagnetic field or the “aura”. Just as magnets can be attracted or repelled from each other, the electromagnetic fields of any electrically charged objects can be compatible or incompatible. It is my belief that in humans, animals, and many other life forms, the cellular memory or DNA imprint is found in our electromagnetic field. Essentially, AK accesses this memory to locate balancing priorities in the energetic body, generally through a technique called muscle testing.

Muscle testing is an incredibly simple technique which uses the strength of any muscle (generally the deltoid), to determine a strong or weak response. In this way it is possible to “calibrate” the body we are working with to receive a “yes” and a “no,” essentially establishing a clear line of communication. By opening up these lines of communication, we can tap into the root cause of the “health problems” of our horses and ourselves, finding imbalances before they manifest physically, accessing and working with the health priorities of our body, and bringing further balance and harmony in the process. As discussed in the beginning of this article, AK can also be used in determining unnecessary or harmful feeds, supplements and even hay, and developing a unique and health-giving feeding program for each of your horses.

By using a surrogate (person) to connect with the energy of the horse, it is possible to locate imbalances in their physical, mental, emotional, or energetic body, and discern what action is needed to bring about balance in this area. The animal tends to feel very comfortable with this type of work perhaps because they realize that they are being asked what is necessary for their body. Most animals I work with begin to trust and release pain, trauma, and tension during the first session, unraveling more layers as trust builds. As mentioned above, AK is also used to determine the best course of action for each imbalance. For example, if a muscle is found to be weak, there are several methods of strengthening, including energy work, massage, or trigger point therapy. When an internal system, such as the digestive tract, is experiencing a weakness, food changes or supplementation with digestive balancers, in partnership with energy work, acupressure, or massage can be very effective. In every case, the communication with the animal are open, and any treatment, no matter how perfect it may seem, is assessed using Applied Kinesiology. It is very possible, when this treatment is not testing as useful, that your horse is not yet ready to experience this treatment and that it may be detrimental if used at this time.

One of the most important aspects of AK is the fact that anyone can easily learn and use this tool to help their animals or themselves. It is completely universal and can be used as an affirmation of your intuition about an issue with yourself or your pet. Start by working with the following fun exercise; the body pendulum.

The Body Pendulum

Stand with your feet in a “ballet position”, heels together and toes pointed out. The purpose of this position is to put you slightly out of balance. Now close your eyes and ask your body to show you a ‘yes’. Allow your body to sway forward or backward. Once you have a ‘yes’, ask your body to show you a ‘no’. This should sway your body in the opposite direction. Once you feel comfortable with these directions, test your reaction to foods or supplements. If it is compatible with you, your body will sway to the ‘yes’ position. If it is not compatible with you, your body will sway to the ‘no’ position. To test your animal, picture your animal in your mind. Now ask your body if you are testing your animal by using a simple statement. “I am testing (their name)” Your body should sway to your ‘yes’ position. Once you have found a positive answer, test several supplements for your animal. Compare your own test results for each supplement with the results of your animal. Have fun communicating!

If you want to learn more about the using Applied Kinesiology with your horse, check out www.balanceworksequine.com, for a workshop near you. Happy Trails!