Representing freedom, drive, and breakthrough, the horse will take the reins of the Chinese lunisolar calendar starting on February 17, ushering in a period that asks us to remain hard-working, action-oriented, adaptable, and instinctual. Plus, with the element of fire as an intensifier, the Chinese zodiac urges us to charge boldly into the heat head-on without fear of obstacles (which sounds like an apt and timely message for 2026). The Year of the Fire Horse places an emphasis on being in motion rather than standing still, and each of these equine-inspired audiobooks—ranging from world histories to stirring historical sagas to multigenerational memoirs—offers a uniquely propulsive listen.
While most people wouldn’t be surprised to hear the incredible impact the domestication of horses has had on world history, it’s still awe-inspiring (and a bit surprising) how much horses have impacted the creation, destruction, colonization, and revolutions of humankind. Timothy Winegard's 2019 audiobook, The Mosquito, explored the tiny insect’s huge impact on history, and this title takes the same approach—just on a much larger scale.
This year, a frowning horse plushie has become a sensation in China ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, as the toy's sorrowful expression apparently resonates strongly with people experiencing employment-related burnout. Their reactions don't exactly fit the spirit of the zodiac sign symbolizing high energy and hard work—but “hay,” it’s not easy being a “workhorse,” as this aptly titled corporate satire reminds us.
Philippines-born Geena Rocero tells a trans pacific saga both literally and figuratively in Horse Barbie, crediting the vibrant culture that shaped her childhood—with its gender-fluid history, performative Catholic customs, and unique love of pageantry—for helping her become the model and activist she is today. Titled after her stage name (which she says means “part equine and all fashion”), this listen exposes the cultural paradoxes that surround trans visibility in the United States and abroad while centering performance as a means of self-discovery.
Featuring another icon who broke glass ceilings and manipulated gender expectations with her fashion choices, this family-friendly full-cast listen follows Disney princess Mulan (and her trusty steed, Kahn, of course) on a quest to recover stolen weapons before an advancing enemy invades.
Meanwhile, Mulan meets the Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan’s queer reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Gorgeously performed by Natalie Naudus and nominated for a 2022 Lambda Literary Award, this story kicks into action after a peasant girl takes the name of her brother and enters a monastery to seek protection from the violent horsemen enforcing the Mongol rule throughout her region of China.
This moving memoir articulates the cyclical momentum that a horse year can represent, traversing two continents to chronicle the ever-changing relationships between mothers, mothers-in-law, and daughters. The Year of the Water Horse paints a vivid portrait of a chaotic, cross-cultural family (made up of a large Catholic brood and Taiwanese immigrants) living on the outskirts of Boston that ultimately culminates in a profound story full of humor and healing.
Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, this sweeping novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks transports listeners from the antebellum south to New York City’s mid-century art scene to contemporary Washington, DC. There, a Smithsonian scientist and a Nigerian American art historian connect over their shared obsession with piecing together the lost history of an unsung Black horsemen.
Emily Woo Zeller voices 17-year-old Jo Kuan in this story about a young woman who, by day, works as a maid for the cruel daughter of one of Atlanta’s wealthiest men, and by night moonlights as the author of a newspaper advice column called “Dear Miss Sweetie.” The novel picks up speed when she is led to suspect that an upcoming horse race for the community has been rigged, charging forth into an examination of identity, betrayal, and segregation in the South.
Legendary cowboy Grant Golliher translates the lessons he gleaned over decades of working with horses into this accessible philosophy on life, leadership, and parenthood that teaches listeners "how to think like a horse." Hear his additional insights on earning others' trust and more in our exclusive audio interview with the horse whisperer.
