Chinese believe that because horses are born to race or travel, all Horse people invariably leave home young. The Horse despises being pressured to act for the good of the group or made to feel guilty. No matter how integrated he seems to be, a Horse's inner self remains powerfully rebellious. Although they have boundless energy and ambition, Horses have a hard time belonging.

The Horse is hot-blooded, hot-headed and impatient. He is a bit of an egoist, well, selfish sometimes, that it is rare for him to interest himself in any problems except his own. And though this egoist works only for himself and for his own success, his work nevertheless benefits everybody.

The Horse is a worker, adepts at handling money and a good financier. But unfortunately, he is also famous for suddenly losing interest on something. In his relationship with opposite sex, the Horse is weak. He will give up everything for love.

Being born a Horse, there are many contradictions in his character. Horses are proud yet sweet-natured, arrogant yet oddly modest in their approach to love, envious but tolerant, conceited yet humble. They want to belong, yet they are burdened by their need for independence. They need love and crave intimacy yet often feel cornered, pressured. But the truth is, the Horse is an individual, who depends only on his wits and his labor to get what he wants.

Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, the Horse is the life of any party he attends. He is bursting with energy, always looking for the next place to kick up his heels and hang loose. He entertains friends and strangers alike with his humor and appeal.

Years of the Horse

Horse Years are seventh in the cycle, following the Snake Years, and recur every twelfth year. The Chinese New Year does not fall on a specific date, so it is essential to check the calendar to find the exact date on which each Horse Year actually begins.

1906*1918*1930*1942*1954*1966*1978*1990*2002

THE SIGN OF THE HORSE

Horse people are extemporaneous and quick-witted. They are quite intelligent and use their practicality to their advantage in their business and personal lives. Their sharpness makes them quick to pick up new skills and are able to handle many tasks at one time. However, this ambition can be harmful because Horse people often don’t finish what they start for fear of missing out on the next big challenge.

Horses are trustworthy, friendly and open-minded. They are good friends to have and will always be honest with you. Although they are good confidants, Horse people do enjoy their alone time and are usually independent people. They can struggle with obstinance and self-centeredness, which can lead to a flare of the temper if they don’t get their way. Usually, after an episode or temper-tantrum a Horse can feel remorse, yet not all people will be able to forgive their reaction.

HORSE FACTS:

People born in the Year of the Horse share certain characteristics. The Horse Sign is an abbreviated way of characterizing that individual’s personality. Following are features associated with the Sign of the Horse.

Seventh in order, Chinese name—MA, sign of enthusiasm and elegance

Hour—11am-12:59pm Month—June

Western Counterpart—Gemini

CHARACTERISTICS

Self-reliant, Joyful, Outgoing, Sophisticated, Greedy, Resilient, Arrogant

IN YOUR ELEMENT

THE METAL HORSE 1930 AND 1990

The Metal Horse loves to roam. He is self-sufficient and treasures his freedom and liberation. Any type of committed situation is sure to send this Horse running for the hills, so a stable relationship is certainly not his idea of a priority. Horses change jobs and partners frequently because of their need for adventure and their desire to tap into the unknown. This vigor and untamed spirit draws people to the Horse. The Metal Horse will make a better friend than partner because a friendship doesn’t tie him down the way a relationship does.

THE WATER HORSE 1942 AND 2002

Water Horses are quite adaptable. They make the best out of their situations, yet are the most indecisive of the elemental horses. Like the element that characterizes it, the Water Horse moves in many different directions, depending on the flow of the situation and can therefore change his mind several times a day. This can cause confusion with colleagues and partners alike, but most people chalk it up to the Horse’s adaptable nature and his ability to go with the flow of things. However frustrating it can be, the Water Horse will always cheer you up and be able to get a smile back on your face before you even knew he had upset you.

THE WOOD HORSE 1954 AND 2014

Like other Animal Signs, wood gives this Horse stability and strength. These Horses don’t have such a hard time making decisions that other Horses do. Their ability to stick to their guns makes them a bit more predictable than other Horses. They are better equipped to maintain a disciplined approach to their lives and the lives of those they are associated with. They have no problem working with other people and to a point, Wood Horses will stick to their scheduled tasks more readily than other Animal Signs, or even other elemental Horse signs. Because of their ability to easily adapt and work with other people they are successful in their professional and personal lives. Still, don’t try to tell a Wood Horse what to do unless you are his superior. Otherwise, he will simply gawk at your attempt to boss him around.

THE FIRE HORSE 1906 AND 1966

The Fire Horse is animated and sociable. He has a wild side that leads him to a life on the edge. Fire Horses are generally either incredibly lucky or ridiculously unlucky. They love the excitement of action and the change it brings. The Fire element makes them passionate about their feelings and they always take a stand in a situation. Fire Horses are never on the fence about anything and have definitive opinions about the world. Their tempers can be overbearing

THE EARTH HORSE 1918 AND 1978

Earth Horses are able to see situations from all angles and corners. They are relatively easygoing, preferring to determine each pro and con before making a final decision. Earth Horses work hard to accomplish goals they have set and would rather take longer to do an outstanding job than to work shorter and shave a little quality. They have great senses of humor and are extremely adaptable in most instances.

HEALTH AND HABITAT

HEALTH

When concerning health issues, Horses exuberate a strength known only by the animal they are shaped after. Horse people are usually quite healthy people, perhaps due to their positivity, perhaps due to their athleticism. They get a lot of exercise and love to be out in the air and open spaces. If they can’t be outside hey begin to feel run down and out of their element. Horses must be careful to resist the pressures of alcohol and nicotine that often suck them in in times of despair or stress.

AT HOME WITH THE HORSE

Horses love company and therefore will always welcome visitors in for a hearty chat or a wholesome meal. As aforementioned, Horses don’t always finish what they start, especially if something more exciting came along, so there are likely to be various unfinished projects in their homes. In addition, there may be a few dirty dishes in the sink or a couple of unwashed loads of laundry, as housework and chores aren’t the Horse’s forte. They fill their homes with autumn colors such as gold and orange and create an atmosphere that is both comfortable and beautiful.

CAREER AND FINANCE

THE HORSE AT WORK

Their willingness to try anything and their ability to pick up new skills with ease makes Horses suitable for most any careers they choose to tackle. However, they may reconsider if taking orders or following strict routines are involved. They are people persons and enjoy occupations that allow them to interact with other people. Their need to be independent and self-reliant makes them crave positions of power and they are well-suited for careers in the field of communications. Horses are smart, fabulous speakers who have a gift for getting through to other people.

MONEY AND THE HORSE

Horses don’t think much about money. When they have it, they spend it. When they run out, they make more. Money does not constitute a Horse’s happiness or well-being. He feels it is only icing on the cake to have some and would rather buy fun things than hoard it or save it. His philosophy? You can’t take it with you.

HORSE CAREERS

Those born in the Year of the Horse share the same kinds of goals and objectives in life. The occupations best sited for the Horse are listed below:

HORSES MAKE EXCELLENT:

Language teachers

Translators

Journalists

Publicists

Bartenders

Pilots

Performers

Librarians

Tour operators

Sales representatives

Information technologists

CONGENIAL BUSINESS PARTNERS

Whether Horses are compatible with their business partners depends on whether their signs are harmonious or antagonistic to those of their business partner. Considering the congruity of their own characters and the characters of their business partners can also be very useful.

Horses ruled by Benefit From Are Antagonistic to

Metal Earth Sheep Fire Snakes

Water Metal Dogs Earth Pigs

Wood Water Roosters Metal Rats

Fire Wood Horses Water Rabbits

Earth Fire Tigers Wood Monkeys

LIKES AND DISLIKES

Since Horses are born under the same Animal Sign, they often share likes and dislikes. Following are similar likes and dislikes of the Horse personality.

Color Preference: Orange

Gems and Stones: Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz

Suitable Gifts: Kite, compass, cellular phone, pedicure set, camera

Hobbies and Pastimes: Horse back riding, theater, playing instruments, flying model airplanes

Horses dislike: People who ignore them, being stuck in a situation, envious people, feeling dependent

THE HORSE ON VACATION

People born in the Year of the Horse enjoy traveling. They like to take off spontaneously. Horses like to take active vacations, preferring to camp, ski and hike rather than to sit on the beach in the sun all day. Their getaways usually include a cultural event such as a musical or a festival, as Horses like to be entertained.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

Horses generally seek the company of others and do not like being alone for any particular amount of time. Horses enjoy group activities and despite their competitive nature, like to be a part of the team rather than the captain of it. Horse people don’t have trouble making friends and often meet many in the various clubs and organizations they belong to.

Compatible Friends

Best Friends: Tigers and Dogs

Mortal Enemy: Rats

HORSE PARENTS AND BABIES

Horses are notorious for their ability to do several things at one time. They can carry on a conversation, watch the news, fold the laundry and watch the kids, all at once. These abilities certainly come in handy when raising a child. Horse parents work very hard to make sure their children are intellectually and creatively stimulated and to make sure they depend only on themselves when problem-solving or figuring something out. They feel strongly that children should be independent and should be taught basic principles that will enable them to depend more on themselves than on anyone else. If Horse parents are not careful, this very tenet may case them to appear cool, unsentimental parents concerned more with helping themselves than with helping their children.

HORSE INFANT AND CHILD

Horse children are chatty! At an early age these kids begin gurgling and "talking" to themselves. They love to hear their own voice and so will babble for hours without saying anything at all. Eventually, these children will make great language scholars who will excel at communications. Horse children are as independent as possible and will fight for their rights if they feel they’ve been wronged. They will also rebel if they feel justice has not been served.

HORSE PARENT/CHILD KINSHIPS

Some parents immediately click with their children and others find they will never have a close relationship no matter how hard they try to make it happen. Following are compatibility ratings between Horse parents and their children.

Horses with Under the same roof Compatibility Rating

Rat different aspirations *

Ox so-so **

Tiger great! ****

Rabbit differing opinions **

Dragon A lot of energy ***

Snake Gets better with age ***

Horse too independent **

Sheep mutual respect and understanding ****

Monkey shared responsibility ***

Rooster divergent paths *

Dog friendly **

Pig content ***

*uphill struggle **some complications ***easy bonding ****on the same wavelength

LOVERS AND SPOUSES

THE HORSE LOVER

Horse lovers are eternally young at heart. They sail through life on a whim, spontaneous and open-minded waiting for the next big adventure. Horse lovers are charming and affectionate. They are inspiring with their imagination and vigor, their intellect and wit. They make you want to be around them and thus hardly have problems securing Saturday night dates.

MARRIAGE

Horses are energetic spouses who fall in love quite rapidly. Along with their spontaneity comes a bit of impatience and they demonstrate that when they meet someone they want to be involved with. They throw all of themselves into a relationship, sometimes losing tiny bits and pieces of themselves along the way. However, a light at the end of the tunnel: in adulthood Horses are more stable and thus their adult relationships are more successful.

THE HORSE LOVE PARTNER

Horses live their lives in full swing. They have boundless energy and spend more time on the go than they do at home. Chinese horoscopes are very specific about which partnerships have the potential to be successful in love and in business. Yet, though destiny can point us in the right direction, we must still make all efforts to maintain loving relationships. Following is a brief description of how a Horse will affect a relationship with other Animal Signs.

PARTNERS IN LOVE

Horse*Rat

Not much going for you.

Horse*Ox

Decent business partners, but lousy lovers.

Horse*Tiger

Both of you love adventure so it should be a happy partnership.

Horse*Rabbit

You might argue, but you enjoy each other’s company.

Horse*Dragon

Sexually charged!

Horse*Snake

You have different opinions that will be hard to swallow.

Horse*Horse

Both of you are very opinionated and independent so it may be hard to find common ground.

Horse*Sheep

Love at first sight becomes life long love.

Horse*Monkey

Better suited to be friends than to be lovers.

Horse*Rooster

You have a few conflicting points of vies but enough staying power to make a great relationship.

Horse*Dog

You have a successful relationship on the horizon.

Horse*Pig

Both of you are laid back and full of energy, but there’s no one to make sure things keep running smoothly.

Love Partners at a Glance

Horses with Tips on Togetherness Compatibility

Rat unstable *

Ox argumentative *

Tiger lusty and sexy! ****

Rabbit hard, but you can do it **

Dragon sexual attraction ***

Snake you can work it out **

Horse short-term passion **

Sheep very compatible ****

Monkey Friends, yes Lovers, no **

Rooster your arguments make it hard ***

Dog go for it! ****

Pig fairly unrealistic **

*dispute **keep working at it ***intense sexual attraction ****angelic

EAST MEETS WEST

ARIES HORSE

These Horses are energetic and love taking on new projects. They can leave behind them a trail of unfinished business. They enjoy grabbing life by the horns and are motivated, adventurous individuals.

TAUREAN HORSE

These Horses have common sense and practicality. They are driven by a creative desire to have material comforts and are more likely than most to establish their roots somewhere.

GEMINI HORSE

These Horses are clever, witty individuals. They learn the basics about a lot of things and thus have a great breadth of general knowledge. They are young at heart and attractive and enjoy being the center of attention.

CANCERIAN HORSE

Cancerian Horses have huge hearts and will spend a lifetime searching for their soul mates. They’d rather find the perfect mate at an old age rather than a mediocre one at a young age.

LEONINE HORSE

These people are creative, strong willed and vivacious. They are self-confident and motivated to accomplish their goals. When they fall in love, they are truly blind with it, allowing it to consume them.

VIRGO HORSE

Hard-working and stable, these Horses are more reasonable than other Horses. They are mature and responsible in all of their relationships.

LIBRAN HORSE

Libran Horses depend greatly on their friends. Their charm and wit make them A-list party guests. They are sociable and fun loving and generate high demand when invitations go out.

SCORPIO HORSE

Scorpio gives a finishing element to the Horse allowing him to take the time to see his projects through to the end. He gives the Horse concentration and motivation to stay on task.

SAGITTARIAN HORSE

This Horse is free spirited and extroverted. He likes to be spontaneous and doesn’t plan anything. He is enthusiastic and impulsive and can sometimes stretch himself too thin.

CAPRICORN HORSE

Ambition fuels this Horse’s need to succeed. He likes to acquire materials things and enjoys making money for security. He is hardworking and will be a loyal employee if treated respectfully and justly.

AQUARIAN HORSE

Eccentric and charismatic, these Horses look ahead and unlike others Horses seem to make random plans. They are fun and unconventional, spontaneous and charming.

PISCEAN HORSE

Piscean Horses get swept up in the opinions of others. They like to know what other people think of them and can be quick to make changes others see fit.