In Asia, some believe that those born in the years of the Horse may be tyrants, revolutionaries, or thieves. On the other hand, they have great capacity to excel. Others are often in awe of them, worship them, but seldom understand them.

Horse personalities are good at handling money, but often lose interest in their goals. Chinese believe that horses are born to race or travel, therefore horse people leave home at a young age, and remain restless throughout their life. They are impatient, yet quick-witted with a huge ego. They have a hard time belonging anywhere for long.

Horse people do well in groups and are never short on conversation. Social contact is important and they often form close relationships with others and will give up anything for a good romance. But romantic love in not a top priority for the horse personality in a horse year.

The horse represents desires and wishes and is usually associated with males. The ancients deemed the year of the horse to have masculine attributes. The hour of the horse falls at high noon and the month of the horse includes the summer solstice, which are both strong yang forces.

Astrologically, the horse is placed directly opposite the rat. The rat is the creator and the horse is the "consumer". Therefore a horse year may be marked by an increase in business and commercial activity, particuarly those involved with non-essentials like luxury cars, high fashion, alcoholic beverages, athletics, and anything "male" oriented. Unfortunately, it is often a year of waste. A household should be careful to make sure they don't overspend their budgets during a horse year.

The Chinese Year of the Horse begins on February 12, 2002.

©Qi Journal