The Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse 2026
Once upon a time there was a Jade Emperor in China, who created a mythical event called ‘The Great Race’ or, ‘The Heavenly Gate Race’.
The Great Race involved 12 animals who must cross a raging river to establish their order of importance within the 12 year calendar system. There was a rat, an ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, and pig.
Held in the spring and Aquarius New Moon every year, The Chinese New Year originally celebrated the return of regrowth of crops on the Yellow River.
Each animal also has a different attribute, which is earth, wood, fire, water and metal. This year, 2026, is the Year of the Fire Horse. Sometimes impatient, the fire horse is also very active, but does not like to be alone.
The Year of the Fire Horse combines fiery, volatile energies with fast paced events. The Fire Horse was made to challenge the confines of those boundaries that sometimes hold us back. I grew up in a horse barn and rode Western style bareback. I was a barrel racer when I was a teen. I loved the thrill of holding on to the ribs of your steed with all your might and coming as close to the barrel as you and your partner dare. I just recently took my grandson horseback riding in Albuquerque and he is, as expected a natural. Horses throughout history were adorned with beautiful bridles, bits, and the conchos on the saddle. These were made with silver dollars to symbolize wealth. This was like fine jewelry for your horse. The Spanish were particularly elaborate with their silver adornments for their horses as it was a sense of pride and declaration of wealth and power. Their presence in the American West were influential on the indigenous Native Americans who made concho belts.
My tribute to the horse is a gorgeous necklace strung on Kevlar, using the most beautiful mille fiore beads from Italy. I saw this piece as a snaffle bit on a horse. Somehow it came out perfect, and it was a very difficult piece to make. Everything had to line up perfectly. 'Mille fiore' means a thousand flowers and the Italians have been making these beads for thousands of years.
Enjoy!