馬Chinese zodiac · 7th sign
Year of the Horse 馬 (mǎ) · Free-spirited, energetic and always moving
The Horse is the seventh sign and a symbol of speed, freedom and success. People born in a Horse year are lively, independent and happiest in motion.
- Yang sign
- Fixed element: Fire
- Hours: 11am–1pm
- Branch: 午 wǔ
Recent years
2002 · 2014 · 2026
Lucky numbers
2, 3, 7
Lucky colors
Yellow, green, purple
Lucky flowers
Calla lily, jasmine
Best matches
Tiger, Dog, Goat
Challenging matches
Rat, Ox
Year of the Horse dates
The Year of the Horse comes round every 12 years. Each one also carries one of the five elements, which is why a Metal Horse is not quite the same as a Water Horse.
| Year | Dates | Element sign | Stem-branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 30 Jan 1930 – 16 Feb 1931 | Metal Horse | 庚午 (gēng wǔ) |
| 1942 | 15 Feb 1942 – 4 Feb 1943 | Water Horse | 壬午 (rén wǔ) |
| 1954 | 3 Feb 1954 – 23 Jan 1955 | Wood Horse | 甲午 (jiǎ wǔ) |
| 1966 | 21 Jan 1966 – 8 Feb 1967 | Fire Horse | 丙午 (bǐng wǔ) |
| 1978 | 7 Feb 1978 – 27 Jan 1979 | Earth Horse | 戊午 (wù wǔ) |
| 1990 | 27 Jan 1990 – 14 Feb 1991 | Metal Horse | 庚午 (gēng wǔ) |
| 2002 | 12 Feb 2002 – 31 Jan 2003 | Water Horse | 壬午 (rén wǔ) |
| 2014 | 31 Jan 2014 – 18 Feb 2015 | Wood Horse | 甲午 (jiǎ wǔ) |
| 2026 | 17 Feb 2026 – 5 Feb 2027 | Fire Horse | 丙午 (bǐng wǔ) |
| 2038 | 4 Feb 2038 – 23 Jan 2039 | Earth Horse | 戊午 (wù wǔ) |
Born in January or February? The Chinese zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January, so check the exact dates above. If your birthday falls before Lunar New Year you belong to the previous year’s sign. The Birth Destiny calculator works it out for you.
Horse personality
Horses are quick, cheerful and sociable. They love travel, conversation and new projects, and hate feeling fenced in. Enthusiasm arrives fast and can fade just as quickly once the novelty goes.
Strengths
- Energetic and upbeat
- Independent and self-reliant
- Quick learner
- Sociable and witty
Weaknesses
- Impatient
- Can leave things unfinished
- Restless and easily bored
- Blunt when rushed
The five types of Horse
Your birth year gives you an element as well as an animal. The Horse’s own fixed element is Fire, and each Horse year adds Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water on top, changing how the sign expresses itself. Choose your birth year to read about your type.
Horse love and compatibility
Horses fall in love quickly and wholeheartedly. They need freedom inside a relationship, and a partner who gives it earns their loyalty.
In Chinese astrology the Horse gets on best with the Tiger, Dog and Goat. The Rat is the Horse’s opposite sign, and the Ox can also be a testing match.
Horse career and wellbeing
Career and money
Horses thrive on variety, movement and contact with people. They are persuasive communicators who work best with autonomy.
- Sales and marketing
- Travel and tourism
- Journalism and media
- Sport and performance
Health and wellbeing
Horses need physical outlets. Time outdoors and regular exercise steady their moods; overcommitting wears them down.
Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 7. Lucky colors: yellow, green, purple. Lucky flowers: Calla lily, jasmine.
The Horse in 2026 and 2027
How a year feels depends partly on how your sign relates to the animal that rules it.
2026: Year of the Fire Horse
17 Feb 2026 – 5 Feb 2027
This is the Horse’s own zodiac year, known as běn mìng nián (本命年). Tradition treats it as a year of change that calls for extra care, and many people wear something red for protection.
2027: Year of the Fire Goat
6 Feb 2027 – 25 Jan 2028
The Goat is the Horse’s secret friend, so help tends to arrive when it is needed. 2027 is a good year for partnerships.
The Horse in the Great Race
According to legend, the Jade Emperor invited the animals to race across a river, and the order in which they finished set the order of the zodiac. The Horse was about to finish sixth when the hidden Snake startled it, pushing the Horse back to seventh.
The Horse is the 7th sign. It is linked with the earthly branch 午 (wǔ), the hours 11am–1pm and Yang energy.
Horse questions, answered
What years are the Year of the Horse?
Recent Years of the Horse are 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026. The Chinese zodiac year begins at Lunar New Year in late January or February, so people born early in the year should check the exact dates.
What is the Horse’s personality?
People born in the Year of the Horse are traditionally energetic, independent and sociable. Horses are quick, cheerful and sociable.
Who is the Horse most compatible with?
The Horse is most compatible with the Tiger, Dog and Goat. The most challenging matches are the Rat and Ox.
What are the Horse’s lucky numbers and colors?
The Horse’s lucky numbers are 2, 3, 7 and its lucky colors are yellow, green, purple. Numbers traditionally avoided are 1, 5, 6, and colors to avoid are blue, white.
What element is the Horse?
The Horse’s fixed element is Fire. In addition, every Horse year carries one of the five elements, giving five types: Wood Horse, Fire Horse, Earth Horse, Metal Horse and Water Horse.
Explore the other signs
Not sure of your sign?
Enter your date of birth to find your Chinese zodiac animal and element, your star sign and your life path number.