In Chinese traditional culture, horses were domesticated for transport and fighting battles. The strengths and features they symbolize are freedom, speed, boldness, and loyalty. The term "swift horses" means 'talented people' and 'geniuses' in traditional Chinese culture.
Years of the Horse include 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942... and the next year of the Horse is 2026. People born in a year of the Horse usually have unerring instincts and keen powers of observation. They are enthusiastic and gregarious, though they certainly do not lack independent thinking.
Content Preview
Zodiac Horse Years
People born in a year of the Horse are called "Horses" in China. If you were born in 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, then you're a Horse.
However, Horse years are generally dated by the Chinese lunar calendar (starting on Chinese New Year).
You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator tool to find your zodiac animal sign or see the table below.
| Horse Year | Date | Element of Horse |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | January 30, 1930 – February 16, 1931 | Gold Horse |
| 1942 | February 15, 1942 – February 4, 1943 | Water Horse |
| 1954 | February 4, 1954 – January 23, 1955 | Wood Horse |
| 1966 | January 21, 1966 – February 8, 1967 | Fire Horse |
| 1978 | February 7, 1978 – January 27, 1979 | Earth Horse |
| 1990 | January 27, 1990 – February 14, 1991 | Gold Horse |
| 2002 | February 12, 2002 – February 18, 2003 | Water Horse |
| 2014 | January 31, 2014 – February 18, 2015 | Wood Horse |
| 2026 | February 17, 2026 – February 5, 2027 | Fire Horse |
The Horse's Personality: Active, Energetic...
People born in a year of the Horse are extremely animated, active and energetic. Horses love to be in a crowd, and they can usually be seen on such occasions as concerts, theater performances, meetings, sporting events, and parties.
With a deft sense of humor, Horses are masters of repartee. They love to take center stage and delight audiences everywhere.
Sometimes, the Horse is a little self-centered, but it doesn't mean that she/he ins't interested in others' problems. Horses are really more cunning than intelligent, and that is probably why most Horse people lack real confidence.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold, and Water Horses
In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. A Wood Horse, for example, comes once in a 60-year cycle.
It is theorized that a person's characteristics are decided by his/her birth year's zodiac sign and element. This means there are five types of Horses, each with different characteristics:
| Element | Year of Birth | Personality of Horses |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Horse | 1954, 2014 | Irritable and sentimental, with abundant imagination and insightful analyses of issues |
| Fire Horse | 1906, 1966 | Smart, charismatic, lively, overflowing with enthusiasm, but stubborn |
| Earth Horse | 1918, 1978 | Optimistic, kind-hearted, righteous, but irritable; with a strong sense of responsibility, and always ready to help others |
| Gold Horse | 1930, 1990 | kind, straightforward, calm, rational, always ready to help others, and popular among friends |
| Water Horse | 1942, 2002 | Sentimental, irritable, reliable, amicable, always ready to help others, and very charming for friends of the opposite sex. |
Famous Horse Year People
See Chinese Zodiac Horse of 5 Elements: Characters and Destinies.
Love Compatibility of the Horse with Other Animals
Each animal sign has its unique characteristics. Love compatibility within the Chinese zodiac animals takes the characteristics of each animal into account. Only those whose characteristics match each others can be good partners.
See below for the compatibility of the Horse with other animals, and find out if the Horse is compatible with your sign or not.
- Best Matched Zodiac Signs with a Tiger, Goat, or Dog
- Least Matched Zodiac Signs with a Rat, Ox, or Snake
Want to know if she/he is compatible with you? Use our zodiac love compatibility calculator below. Or you can check the 12 Chinese zodiac signs' love compatibility in detail.
Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Calculator
Horses' Horoscope for 2023
2023 is a year of the Rabbit. Horses, in 2023 you will enter a year in conflict with Tai Sui (the age star), which will have a great impact on your fortunes. This year will be full of ups and downs, and you'll need to be more careful in your work. With your continuous efforts, though, Horses, you can get through this restless year smoothly.
Horses who are newcomers to the workplace this year, you need to be more careful and do not give opportunities to those who would sabotage your career. Due to the influence of career turmoil, your income will be extremely unstable.
Horse people, in 2023, your romantic fortune will be very smooth. Single Horses, you will have a lot of luck in romantic encounters, and can reap a good relationship. Married Horses, this year will be very smooth for your marital development, and you can plan everything about your future in an orderly manner.
Read more on Monthly Horoscope for Horses.
Lucky Things for People Born in a Year of the Horse
Things that will bring Horses luck:
- Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 7, and numbers containing them (like 23 and 37)
- Lucky days: the 5th and 20th of Chinese lunar months
- Lucky colors: yellow and green
- Lucky flowers: calla lily and jasmine
- Lucky directions: east, west, and south
- Lucky months: the 4th, 9th, and 12th Chinese lunar months
Things that Horses should avoid:
- Unlucky color: blue, white
- Unlucky numbers: 1, 5, and 6
- Unlucky direction: north and northwest
- Unlucky months: the 5th, 7th, and 11th Chinese lunar months
Is a Horse Year a Lucky Year?
According to Chinese tradition, when the year of your birth sign comes around it is believed to be bad luck. It is called one's Ben Ming Nian (本命年 běnmìngnián /bnn-ming-nyen/ 'origin (of) life year').
The Ben Ming Nian is a whole year of bad luck. Generally, all aspects of your life, including love, health, your career, and finances, will not go well. Therefore, "Horses" should be more careful in years of the Horse. Read more on How to Be Lucky in Your Ben Ming Nian.
The next Horse year is 2026. It starts on Chinese New Year (February 17, 2026). Those born in January or February should take particular note of when Chinese New year falls to confirm their birth sign.
Best-Suited Careers for Horses
Jobs involving communicating with others attract Horses most. The Horse sign stands for leadership, management, and decision-making. Horses dislike taking orders.
Horses can make it in any career that demands neither solitude nor meditation, for they are extroverts and need to be surrounded by people who approve of them and flatter them.
Good career choices for Horses include: publicist, sales representative, journalist, language instructor, translator, bartender, performer, tour operator, librarian, or pilot.
Good Health for Horses
Basically Horses are very healthy, most likely because they hold a positive attitude towards life. However, heavy responsibility or pressure from their jobs may make them weak. Therefore, Horses shouldn't do overtime very often and go home too late. Also, Horses should refuse some invitations to parties at night.
