The Horse is the seventh of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Recent and coming Horse years include 2002 (from 12 February 2002), 2014 (from 31 January 2014) and 2026 (from 17 February 2026). A Horse year begins on the lunar new year and not on 1 January, so a Horse birthday in January or February may belong to the animal before.
Folklore, not science, is the right frame: a Horse year says nothing certain about the people born in it. This page sets out the Horse as the tradition describes it, with every Horse year and its exact start date, and you can check a birth date with the Chinese zodiac calculator.
Years of the Horse
These Horse years run from 1948 to 2047, with dates from the Hong Kong Observatory’s table, as in the calculator. Each Horse year begins on the lunar new year in China and Hong Kong and ends the day before the next. The element column is the element of that particular year, and the last column names it in the sixty-year cycle, where the Horse is always paired with the branch wu.
| Chinese year | Begins | Ends | Element | Stem and branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 3 February 1954 | 23 January 1955 | Yang Wood | Jia-wu |
| 1966 | 21 January 1966 | 8 February 1967 | Yang Fire | Bing-wu |
| 1978 | 7 February 1978 | 27 January 1979 | Yang Earth | Wu-wu |
| 1990 | 27 January 1990 | 14 February 1991 | Yang Metal | Geng-wu |
| 2002 | 12 February 2002 | 31 January 2003 | Yang Water | Ren-wu |
| 2014 | 31 January 2014 | 18 February 2015 | Yang Wood | Jia-wu |
| 2026 | 17 February 2026 | 5 February 2027 | Yang Fire | Bing-wu |
| 2038 | 4 February 2038 | 23 January 2039 | Yang Earth | Wu-wu |
For example, someone born on 2 February 2002 was born before the lunar new year of 2002, which began on 12 February 2002, so that person is a Snake and not a Horse. If a Horse birthday falls within a day of the new year, check the family date, since the time zone can move it.
Its place in the zodiac
In the Great Race the Horse galloped toward the bank and was about to finish when the hidden Snake slid out of its hoof and startled it. The Horse stepped back, and so came seventh. The tale is a reminder that surprises can undo even the strongest.
In the older calendar of earthly branches the Horse is wu (午), branch number 7. It is Yang, its fixed element is Fire, its double-hour is 11 am to 1 pm and its compass direction is south. That fixed element stays the same in every Horse year, whereas the year element changes.
What the tradition says
The Horse is described as free-spirited, energetic, sociable and independent, a person who loves movement, company and open space. It is a symbol of speed, perseverance and an untamed spirit. The shadow side described is impatience.
- Energy. A lot of enthusiasm and stamina for what interests them.
- Independence. Comfort making their own way.
- Sociability. Easy conversation and a wide circle.
- Optimism. A readiness to start again after a setback.
Growth edges
Descriptions of the Horse mention restlessness: moving on before a task is finished or a bond has deepened. Independence can look like not needing anyone. The suggested practice is to finish a project before beginning a new one, and to ask a friend for help now and again.
In relationships
In close relationships the Horse is pictured as warm and lively, and as needing freedom within closeness. The growth point is patience when a partner wants a slower pace. It is a thought to reflect on, not a verdict about any pairing.
In work
Traditional descriptions link the Horse with travel, sales, sport, performance, journalism and any role with variety and movement. This is a style found in any field, and it promises no outcome.
The Horse with each element
The Horse returns every twelve years while the elements turn in a cycle of ten, so Horse years carry five different year elements, and the tradition reads each as a variation on the Horse. Across 1948 to 2047 they fall as follows.
- Wood Horse, in 1954 and 2014: the Horse’s free-spirited energy with a year that the tradition calls cooperative, idealistic and growth-minded. Read about Wood.
- Fire Horse, in 1966 and 2026: the Horse’s free-spirited energy with a year that the tradition calls energetic, enthusiastic and expressive. Read about Fire.
- Earth Horse, in 1978 and 2038: the Horse’s free-spirited energy with a year that the tradition calls patient, practical and loyal. Read about Earth.
- Metal Horse, in 1990: the Horse’s free-spirited energy with a year that the tradition calls determined, precise and self-disciplined. Read about Metal.
- Water Horse, in 2002: the Horse’s free-spirited energy with a year that the tradition calls intuitive, adaptable and thoughtful. Read about Water.
Compatibility in the tradition
The tradition compares animals by a handful of old pairings. For the Horse the list is:
- Trine allies: Tiger and Dog, with the Horse in the spirited and independent trine.
- Secret friend (six harmonies): Goat.
- Opposite (a clash): Rat.
- Harm: Ox.
- Penalty: no other animal. The Horse is also on the list of self-penalty animals.
None of these is a verdict on a Horse’s relationships. The compatibility overview explains each pairing, and the Chinese zodiac compatibility tool compares a Horse with anyone, from two birth dates.
Names and variations
In Chinese the Horse is ma. It is the seventh animal, and the old double-hour that carries its name, 11 am to 1 pm, is the one around midday. The old tables also list it as one of the four self-penalty animals.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Which years are Years of the Horse?
Recent and upcoming Horse years are 2002, 2014, 2026. The next one begins on 17 February 2026 and is a Yang Fire year (Bing-wu). Every Horse year to 2047 is in the table above, with its end date.
↳ I was born in January or February: am I A Horse?
Only if your birth date falls on or after the lunar new year that opens a Horse year. For the Horse year 2002 the new year was 12 February 2002, so a birth before that date counts as the Snake. The calculator checks a Horse birthday, or any date from 1901 to 2100.
↳ Is the Year of the Horse lucky?
The Horse is traditionally a symbol of progress and perseverance, so people often read its year as lively. That is a cultural association, not a measured effect, and no animal year has been shown to bring good or bad fortune.
↳ Who is the Horse most compatible with?
By the traditional pairings, the Horse's trine allies are Tiger and Dog, and its secret friend is Goat. The tradition gives no score, and a Horse can do well or badly with any animal.
Return to the Chinese zodiac hub, or read about the Snake and the Goat.