Year of the Horse – 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

In artwork as ancient as the cave paintings of the Paleolithic era, horses have embodied a type of archetypal speed and power that is often depicted as quite beautiful. For many cultures, they became incarnations of the very force of life.

In ancient China, the horse was sometimes combined with the snake or dragon (both very powerful symbols in their own right) to create a type of hybrid, such as the heroic Long Ma, or “horse-dragon.” They took part in noble quests for knowledge and also the quest for immortality. Vayu, the Chinese wind god, like so many other gods across the globe, rides a horse.

In the Chinese zodiac, people who are born in the Year of the Horse are considered extrememly independent and determined. They are witty and quick, bright and inquisitive, but their intelligence is mostly likened to cunning. Although Horse people are warm and truthful, they are sometimes less than successful when it comes to keeping secrets, due to their natural exuberance and interest.

People born in the Year of the Horse are considered most compatible with people born in the Year of the Tiger or Dog while they are least compatible with those born in the Year of the Rat.