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The year 2014 is considered as the Year of the Wood Horse in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. Chinese Astrology is a prediction theory using Yin-Yang Five Elements. The zodiac calendar comprises 12 animal signs (Rat, Cow, Tiger, Dragon, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig), with Horse the seventh among them. All Chinese Astrology Signs pass through five elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth. These elements’ characteristics modify the animal signs.
Because Wood (tree) is connected to the color Green, 2014 is the Year of Green Wood Horse
Under the influence of the Wood Element, the Wood Horse is one of the most patient and creative members of the Horse sign. While other members of the Horse sign are burdened with indecisiveness, the Wood Horse is capable of picking a direction in life and working toward clear goals. Wood Horses take this same determination into personal relationships, to which they are heavily committed. With gifts of understanding and a calm demeanor, the Wood Horse is very successful in cooperative social situations. The Wood Horse has a bit of an adventurous side and is not afraid to commit fully to the unknown.
The horse symbolizes graciousness, dignity, momentum and firmness. Like the symbol by which they are represented, Horse-born people are high-spirited and lively. People born during the Year of the Horse have a pleasant, amiable, easy-going disposition which guarantees popularity and a large following of friends, and are regarded as witty, elegant, eloquent speakers and charming.
Holistic equine veterinarian, Madalyn Ward, DVM, developed an innovative system called Horse Harmony Temperament Typing. With roots in TCM, this system was created to help horse caregivers understand tendencies in their horses and how best to handle them in training, feeding and everyday interactions.
The Wood horse is the Ultimate Competitor. Wood horses love physical challenges and must be kept active or they will develop bad habits like kicking and biting. Wood horses make excellent jumpers, barrel racers and cutters so long as they understand the rules of the game. Don’t try to subdue or overpower Wood horses; instead, reason with them.
The Five-Element approach is unique in that it includes the idea that each of us, animal or human, represents a “constitutional type,” exhibiting certain physical and emotional traits that are specific to that type. Viewing the individual from this perspective can also be applied to horses, thus facilitating a better understanding of any given horse’s nature and needs.
Do You Have a Wood Horse?
Discover your horse’s personality by taking Madalyn Ward’s free Horse Harmony Test .
Horse Years are seventh in the cycle, following the Snake Years, and recur every twelfth year. Persons/Horses born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Horse," while also bearing one of the following elemental signs:
WATER HORSE WOOD HORSE FIRE HORSE EARTH HORSE METAL HORSE
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