The Chinese zodiac follows a twelve‑year cycle, with each year represented by an animal that carries symbolic meaning across generations. Rooted in the lunar calendar and long‑held cultural tradition, the zodiac reflects themes that people often use as a lens for the year ahead—like resilience, community, and momentum. This year marks the Year of the Horse, and within the 60-year elemental cycle, it is the Year of the Fire Horse, a pairing associated with bold energy and purp

September 2025   It’s one of the first questions we’re asked. Why horses? It’s a fair question. When most people think about dementia support, they imagine support groups or clinical environments. Horses don’t immediately come to mind. And yet — horses make profound sense. At It Takes a Herd,  we use equine-assisted learning as an educational and experiential approach to support care partners and people living with dementia. This is not therapeutic riding. It is not performan