Year of the Fire Horse

Two more weeks until the Lunar New Year. While I’ve always been aware of the twelve zodiac signs and have occasionally read about their meanings, this year feels different. February 17, 2026 marks the Year of the Fire (Red) Horse. Maybe it’s because I own a horse boarding business, maybe because my horse is a red dun, or maybe because I’m about to join AARP—but this year feels wholly different. Everything I’ve read and seen about it resonates more deeply with me.

One article I found opened with this:

“2026 doesn’t arrive quietly. It gallops in, bold, impatient, and full of that electric ‘let’s get moving already’ energy. In the Chinese Zodiac, it’s the Year of the Horse—restless, forward-leaning, built for momentum. And in numerology, 2026 adds up to a powerful One: the number of beginnings, fresh chapters, and daring first steps.”

As most of you know, it has long been my dream to begin my nonprofit—Veterans Equine Therapy (VETs). Each time I started the journey, I felt scared or overwhelmed. I worried I was making mistakes I couldn’t fix. It all felt like too much.

But I did it. I finally completed the necessary paperwork to file. In December, I decided to wait until January so it would begin at the start of the year. As I learned more about the Year of the Horse, I chose instead to wait and file on February 17. Then I came across this quote:

“The solar eclipses of February 17 and August 12 burn away patterns that have quietly destabilized you, clearing psychic space and nudging bold steps in your professional world.”

It felt like a nod in the right direction.

Every symbol of the Fire Horse I see feels more beautiful than the last—from a box of See’s candy, to USPS stamps, the calendar on my wall, and even the screensaver on my phone. This year is calling to me—boldly, urgently—pulling me forward with bright, impatient momentum.

My hope is that the Year of the Fire Horse calls to you as well.

“A little hope. A little disruption. A lot of invitation. Expect momentum and truth-telling. Expect course corrections. Expect the kind of chaos that clears space—not for drama, but for direction. This is a year that favors people willing to choose consciously rather than just coast.”