No Need to Bolt: The Year of the Horse Is About Calm Momentum

With global uncertainty looming and our news feeds a collection of on-a-loop disasters, it seems that a Chinese New Year has never been more apt than this one. For on 17 February 2026 we enter the Year of the Horse, and experts predict the tide will turn – we’ll say goodbye to confusion and hopelessness, and we’ll navigate the next 12 months with a sense of confidence and strategy.

The last Year of the Horse was in 2014, and if you were born in 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 or 2014, you are known as a Horse in the Chinese zodiac. You’re among excellent company too. Famous Horses include campaigner Greta Thunberg, former US president Joe Biden, actor Clint Eastwood and model Cindy Crawford.

And this particular four-legged steed, according to clinical hypnotherapist Tanya Laing Sibley, is making a return at a very opportune time.

‘It’s good timing, not because everything in the world is resolved, but because it isn’t,’ says Tanya, who works with clients in Abu Dhabi the UAE, Florida in the US and on the Isle of Man. ‘The Year of the Horse arrives as an invitation to release what no longer serves us, and move forward in a way that is calm, grounded and self-directed.

‘The Horse symbolises movement, sensitivity and power. When overstimulated or confined, it becomes unsettled, not broken. Collectively, we are experiencing a similar transition: movement without clarity, pressure without pause.

‘Yet this is not a picture of collapse. It is one of change. We are not witnessing a world in freefall, but a world in transition, becoming more aware, more conscious and ultimately more capable of choosing a calmer, more intentional way forward.’

What to Expect from the Year of the Horse

So, with progress now looking more likely, what can we expect of the 12 months up to 3 March 2027?

‘In Chinese symbolism, the Horse represents courage and freedom,’ adds Tanya. ‘It is associated with forward momentum, especially after periods of restriction or stagnation. Horse energy encourages release, direction and purposeful action.

‘This resonates strongly with where many people are now. There is a collective sense of fatigue and restlessness, often driven by prolonged stress and emotional overload. The Horse doesn’t thrive when confined, but when supported, it becomes focused and powerful.’

As well as confidence and vitality, the Horse also symbolises emotional sensitivity, resilience and endurance. Reflecting trust and co-operation, Horses respond to calm leadership, rather than pressure.

‘Together, these qualities encourage us not to rush ahead blindly, but to move forward with confidence, awareness and intention,’ continues Tanya. ‘Sustainable progress comes from pacing ourselves, resting when needed and making consistent progress each day.’

Yet there are some drawbacks to Horse energy. After all, according to the legend of The Great Race, which decided the order of animals, the Horse was a crowd favourite, but it dawdled for adoration at the starting line. Later, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon had all finished, but Snake hitched a ride on the Horse’s hoof. As the Horse was about to finish, the Snake startled the Horse and sneaked into sixth place, leaving the Horse in seventh place.

Says Tanya: ‘One of the main difficulties with Horses is restlessness. They’re also incredibly sensitive. When there’s too much noise or stimulation, they can feel overwhelmed or anxious. There’s also a risk of burnout. Even the strongest Horse needs rhythm and care. Without breaks, enthusiasm can turn into exhaustion.’

For UK coach and author Gill Hasson, the main Horse trait that will propel us forward this year is confidence. Yet, for most people, confidence isn’t a given – it’s something we have to build up and exercise, much as we would a muscle.

And, Gill explains, there will be times during the year when our confidence will falter – after a relationship breakdown, an illness or accident, or when we’re returning to the workplace or changing jobs, for example.

‘Confidence isn’t something that you’re born with,’ says Gill, author of Confidence Pocketbook (Capstone). ‘It’s not whether you can or can’t do something, but whether you believe you can do it.

‘While we don’t all have confidence, we all have the ability to feel confident. Everyday confidence comes from doing something lots of times. When you have plenty of evidence that you have done something before, you can build on that. We build confidence as we would build a wall, step by step, brick by brick.

‘Sometimes, it’s a case of doing things that frighten you or that you’re nervous about, like taking a driving test, joining a mother and toddler group, or going up to a stranger and introducing yourself at a party. But you have to keep on doing these things, or your confidence will dissipate and you’ll go back to baseline.’

So, with that in mind, how can we harness our inner horse to ensure we trot confidently through the next 12 months?

Tanya and Gill share their tips:

How to Harness your Inner Horse

Get writing!

Create a journaling habit, suggests Tanya.

‘Spend five quiet minutes journaling to help you gently offload what’s circling in your mind,’ she says. ‘Write about how you’re feeling and what you’re managing well. It will create clarity about what’s within your control and what isn’t. When your mind is less cluttered, your nervous system settles and your energy becomes more focused, rather than scattered. You’ll listen to your inner cues.’

Look back in time

Go right back to childhood and make a list of successes from your past, suggests Gill.

‘Write down all the things you won, achieved or did well, from the medal at a gymkhana and the race at school sports day to exams you passed, friendships you’ve nurtured and jobs you held down,’ she says. ‘They’re all a reminder of your past successes and strengths. They’re evidence that you have succeeded before and can do so again.’

 Walk in nature

Walking outdoors is not only great exercise, but it can also regulate you, advises Tanya.

‘Time in nature naturally slows the nervous system,’ she says. ‘It offers space to breathe, reflect and regain perspective. Walk without distraction, noticing your breath, surroundings and pace. Your restless energy will settle into calm momentum.’

Gather your tribe!

Surround yourself with positive people, advises Gill.

‘Make sure you spend time with people who champion and support you, who encourage you and allow you to be yourself,’ she says, ‘and avoid the negative ones who corrode your confidence and drain your energy. If you don’t already have supportive friends, join some groups or online communities to meet more people.’

Press pause!

Catch that moment between stress and reaction, recommends Tanya.

‘When something happens to stress you, whether it’s criticism, something going wrong or a pile of work landing on your desk, stop briefly, take a few slow breaths, and ask: ‘What is within my control right now?’ This will interrupt your stress response and move the body out of survival mode. You’ll go on to make more courageous and intentional choices.’

Find a role model

Choose a celebrity, a conservationist, an author or someone that you admire or are inspired by, says Gill.

‘It may be someone who has struggled in life, told their own story and become a success,’ she says. ‘Once you have your role model, study and research them.  Find out what worked for them and what made them strong enough to move forward, because these are the things that will also work for you. Then set about using their tips.’

Join the 1% club!

Focus on small, achievable goals, urges Tanya.

‘Rather than rushing ahead and setting overwhelming goals, set one daily intention – a 1% step,’ she recommends. ‘Sustainable progress builds confidence and endurance, and it will reinforce trust in your ability to move forward. Horse energy isn’t about constant motion – it’s about sustainable momentum.’

Have a Plan B

When you’re taking steps to build your confidence, give yourself options, advises Gill.

‘If you’re trying to be more sociable at parties, for example, and you’ve started chatting to someone who has rebuffed you, don’t let this defeat you or paralyse you emotionally,’ she says. ‘Have a plan beforehand that if that happens, you’ll move onto someone else. Even just knowing you can always get a cab and go home is a Plan B.’.

Move your body

Practise mindful yoga, stretching or gentle movement that focuses on your breath, rather than performance, says Tanya.

‘This encourages awareness, building strength, flexibility and presence, while also teaching us when to soften and release,’ she says. ‘Intentional movement helps release stored tension and reconnects you to your inner strength and stamina, which are key qualities of Horse energy.’

Learn to say no

Stop people pleasing and if you don’t want to do something, say so, suggests Gill.

‘You don’t have to say yes to anything and everything,’ says Gill. ‘You might be invited to a party that you really don’t want to go to or be given a job or challenge at work that you don’t have time for. You know your own limits, and if it’s too much, have the confidence to say no. Don’t feel bad or guilty.’

• For more information about Tanya’s work, go to www.tanyalaingsibley.co.uk

Ends