Centaur Stride Horses “in the moment of Winter Wonderland.”

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 will be the Year of the Fire Horse, beginning on February 17, 2026, with the Lunar New Year. But what does that really mean for the rest of us?

The Chinese Zodiac isn’t about predicting the future. Instead, it offers insight into how to move with the energy of a given year rather than against it. Each year brings a unique combination of animal and element that influences the collective rhythm of growth, challenge, and opportunity, affecting everyone, not just those born under that sign. These combinations unfold in a 60-year cycle, reflecting nature’s ongoing patterns of renewal and transformation.

2025, the Year of the Snake, has been associated with shedding what no longer serves us, old habits, outdated beliefs, or worn-out paths, making room for something new to emerge.

The Fire Horse, by contrast, is known for its dynamic, forward-moving energy. It symbolizes strength, resilience, freedom, and momentum. Fire adds intensity and passion to the Horse’s natural drive, marking a time associated with bold opportunities, decisive action, and positive change.

With the Lunar New Year not arriving until mid-February, we still have time to finish letting go of what belongs to the past. The Fire Horse then invites us out of stagnation and into purposeful movement. Long associated with freedom and progress, the horse encourages exploration, honesty, trust, and hope, always with an eye toward what lies ahead.

This year’s energy reminds us to:

— Trust the timing — you may be closer to a breakthrough than you think.

— Let go; what is meant to stay will remain.

— Begin where you are, using what you already have.

— Take responsibility for your own happiness.

— Notice the “glimmers” — small sparks of beauty and hope that light the way forward.

The Horse as Teacher and Healer

Reflecting on this symbolism brings me back, once again, to the quiet power of horses themselves. Why is their presence so grounding? Why does time spent with them feel so deeply restorative?

Part of the answer lies in how horses interact with us, without words. Horses engage humans primarily through the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotion, connection, and survival. As prey animals, horses are experts in what scientists call limbic resonance: a nonverbal form of emotional attunement essential to their survival.

Through posture, breath, muscle tension, rhythm, and even scent, horses continuously read our internal state. They sense whether we are calm or anxious, present or distracted. This happens instinctively and without judgment.

That subtle syncing, limbic resonance, is also the foundation of empathy and bonding. It’s the reason horses are often described as mirrors. They reflect our inner world back to us, offering insight into how our emotions and energy affect others.

When a horse hesitates to connect, it isn’t rejection, it’s information. Without a single word, the horse invites us to pause, reflect, and approach ourselves with greater awareness and authenticity.

This is the heart of therapeutic horseback riding: healing that arises through presence, relationship, and shared regulation.

In modern life, humans rarely rely on this kind of deep emotional attunement for survival. With fewer moments of true stillness or connection, our minds often drift, sometimes seeking substitutes that don’t truly satisfy. The Fire Horse reminds us to return to movement with purpose, grounded in trust and presence.

A Year of Purposeful Growth for Centaur Stride

It feels fitting, then, that 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse, marks a time of meaningful expansion for Centaur Stride.

Fire Horse energy favors initiative, courage, and forward motion, sometimes before every detail is fully in place. In that spirit, Centaur Stride is stepping into new and enhanced programs and collaborations focused on:

— Engaging links with education and school attendance

— Supporting caregivers

— Promoting mental health and emotional regulation

— Continuing to fill critical service gaps for individuals with disabilities

— Guided by the wisdom of the horse and the momentum of Fire Horse energy, we move forward with clarity, compassion, and determination, committed to creating access, connection, and hope for those we serve.

The Fire Horse reminds us that growth requires motion, healing requires honesty, and freedom begins with trust. At Centaur Stride, we are ready to move together into a year of strength, renewal, and purpose.

To learn more, register for programs, schedule lessons, volunteer, or simply take the first step, please call the barn at (716) 326-4318.

Our next fundraiser, a Soup Supper and Raffle, will be Saturday, Feb. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Westfield United Methodist Church. Tickets will be available soon. Donations may be mailed to Centaur Stride, PO Box 174, Westfield, NY 14787. Our physical address is 8488 Jones Road, Sherman, NY 14781.

Thank you for your continued support.

Claudia Monroe is president of Centaur Stride.