Live updates on China travel restrictions for 2022. Learn more
Year of the Horse

Year of the Horse

Written by Fercility JiangUpdated Jun. 16, 2022

Years of the Horse include 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930...

The Horse occupies the seventh position in the Chinese zodiac, after the Snake and before the Goat. Horse years recur according to the Chinese zodiac 12-year cycle.

Content Preview

Zodiac Horse Years

People born in a year of the Horse are called "Horses" in China. If you were born in 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, or 2014, then you're a Horse.

However, Horse years are generally dated by the Chinese lunar calendar (starting on Chinese New Year).

You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator tool to find your zodiac animal sign or see the table below.

Choose your date of birth and find out about your Chinese zodiac sign.
Horse Year Zodiac Years Calendar Type of Horse
1930 January 30, 1930 – February 16, 1931 Gold Horse
1942 February 15, 1942 – February 4, 1943 Water Horse
1954 February 4, 1954 – January 23, 1955 Wood Horse
1966 January 21, 1966 – February 8, 1967 Fire Horse
1978 February 7, 1978 – January 27, 1979 Earth Horse
1990 January 27, 1990 – February 14, 1991 Gold Horse
2002 February 12, 2002 – February 18, 2003 Water Horse
2014 January 31, 2014 – February 18, 2015 Wood Horse
2026 February 17, 2026 – February 5, 2027 Fire Horse

The Horse's Personality: Active, Energetic...

1990 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Horse

People born in a year of the Horse are extremely animated, active and energetic. Horses love to be in a crowd, and they can usually be seen on such occasions as concerts, theater performances, meetings, sporting events, and parties.

With a deft sense of humor, Horses are masters of repartee. They love to take center stage and delight audiences everywhere.

Sometimes, the Horse is a little self-centered, but it doesn't mean that she/he ins't interested in others' problems. Horses are really more cunning than intelligent, and that is probably why most Horse people lack real confidence.

Lucky Things for People Born in a Year of the Horse

Year of the Horse: 1990, 1978, 2002...

Things that will bring Horses luck:

  • Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 7, and numbers containing them (like 23 and 37)
  • Lucky days: the 5th and 20th of Chinese lunar months
  • Lucky colors: yellow and green
  • Lucky flowers: calla lily and jasmine
  • Lucky directions: east, west, and south
  • Lucky months: the 4th, 9th, and 12th Chinese lunar months

Things that Horses should avoid:

  • Unlucky color: blue, white
  • Unlucky numbers: 1, 5, and 6
  • Unlucky direction: north and northwest
  • Unlucky months: the 5th, 7th, and 11th Chinese lunar months

Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold, and Water Horses

In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. A Wood Horse, for example, comes once in a 60-year cycle.

It is theorized that a person's characteristics are decided by his/her birth year's zodiac sign and element. This means there are five types of Horses, each with different characteristics:

Type of Horse Year of Birth Characteristics
Wood Horse 1954, 2014 Irritable and sentimental, with abundant imagination and insightful analyses of issues
Fire Horse 1906, 1966 Smart, charismatic, lively, overflowing with enthusiasm, but stubborn
Earth Horse 1918, 1978 Optimistic, kind-hearted, righteous, but irritable; with a strong sense of responsibility, and always ready to help others
Gold Horse 1930, 1990 kind, straightforward, calm, rational, always ready to help others, and popular among friends
Water Horse 1942, 2002 Sentimental, irritable, reliable, amicable, always ready to help others, and very charming for friends of the opposite sex.

See Chinese Zodiac Horse of 5 Elements: Characters and Destinies.

Love Compatibility of the Horse with Other Animals

The Horse's Love Compatibility

Each animal sign has its unique characteristics. Love compatibility within the Chinese zodiac animals takes the characteristics of each animal into account. Only those whose characteristics match each others can be good partners.

See below for the compatibility of the Horse with other animals, and find out if the Horse is compatible with your sign or not.

  • Best Matched Zodiac Signs with a Tiger, Goat, or Dog
  • Leats Matched Zodiac Signs with a Rat, Ox, or Snake

Want to know if she/he is compatible with you? Use our zodiac love compatibility calculator below. Or you can check the 12 Chinese zodiac signs' love compatibility in detail. 

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Calculator

Enter date of birth and test now
Boy's date of birth:
 
Girl's date of birth:

Horses' Horoscope for 2022

You are predicted a smooth life and good luck with money in 2022. Your career will go smoothly, and your leaders will reward you if you go all out to fulfill your goals.

In 2022, you will also enjoy good relationships. Patience and good communication will yield harmony with colleagues, friends and families.

Read more on Monthly Horoscope for Horses in 2022.

Is a Horse Year a Lucky Year?

year of the Chinese Zodaic Horse

According to Chinese tradition, when the year of your birth sign comes around it is believed to be bad luck. It is called one's Ben Ming Nian (本命年 běnmìngnián /bnn-ming-nyen/ 'origin (of) life year').

The Ben Ming Nian is a whole year of bad luck. Generally, all aspects of your life, including love, health, your career, and finances, will not go well. Therefore, "Horses" should be more careful in years of the Horse. Read more on How to Be Lucky in Your Ben Ming Nian.

The next Horse year is 2026. It starts on Chinese New Year (February 17, 2026). Those born in January or February should take particular note of when Chinese New year falls to confirm their birth sign.

Best-Suited Careers for Horses

Jobs involving communicating with others attract Horses most. The Horse sign stands for leadership, management, and decision-making. Horses dislike taking orders.

Horses can make it in any career that demands neither solitude nor meditation, for they are extroverts and need to be surrounded by people who approve of them and flatter them.

Good career choices for Horses include: publicist, sales representative, journalist, language instructor, translator, bartender, performer, tour operator, librarian, or pilot.

How to Build Relationships with Horses

1990 Chinese New Year animal sign is the Horse

People born in a year of the Horse have a pleasant, amiable, easy-going disposition. With good humor and geniality, they are extremely comfortable to get along with as they have the ability to instantly put people at ease.

Horses are very quick-witted and are right in there with you before you have had the chance to finish what you are saying; they know what you are thinking even before you've said it. All these traits guarantee their popularity and a large following of friends.

Good Health for Horses

Basically Horses are very healthy, most likely because they hold a positive attitude towards life. However, heavy responsibility or pressure from their jobs may make them weak. Therefore, Horses shouldn't do overtime very often and go home too late. Also, Horses should refuse some invitations to parties at night.

Famous Horse Year People

Famous Horse Birth Date Element
Isaac Newton December 25th, 1642 Water Horse
Neil Armstrong August 5th, 1930 Gold Horse
Jackie Chan April 7th, 1954 Wood Horse
James Cameron August 16th, 1954 Wood Horse

Check Other Chinese Zodiac Animals

Year of the Ox
Year of the Dog
Year of the Pig
China Highlights' wechat
We are here to help you...
start planning your tailor-made tour with 1-1 help from our travel advisors. Create Your Trip

The China Highlights Experience

1-to-1 Expert Planning

1-to-1 Expert Planning

Your tour will be tailor-made by your personal travel advisor — a destination expert. Every reply will be within 24 hours.

Personal Journeys

Personal Journeys

Enjoy your personal local guide and ride. Explore destinations at your own pace. Have unparalleled flexibility, which is impossible on a group tour.

Authentic Experiences

Authentic Experiences

Discover the hidden gems. Experience local culture by practicing it. Try new and exciting activities, and unveil the stories behind the sights and people.

Well-Selected Local Guides

Well-Selected Local Guides

Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!

China Highlights tailor-makes China tours to help travelers discover China their way. We're a passionate team of one hundred avid travelers who love to share our knowledge of China with those looking for a more authentic travel experience, more ...
China Highlights International Travel Service Co., LTD
Corporate Number: 914503003486045699
Featured on