Eye catching, strong boned and often a little denser set than their Fire and Metal friends, with a glorious black coat that radiates the reflection of surrounding light, the typical Water Horse has a very striking presence. With its association with the Kidney and Bladder meridians, this Phase represents a spiritual, cleansing, flowing and nurturing energy, which, in the positive, is linked to calmness. Although black is the colour associated with the Water Phase, Water Horses of course come in other colours although in my experience they do have a tendency to be more consistently darker coloured than some of the other types. (In TCM this Phase is linked with death and it is interesting that black is used in many cultures as an expression of mourning.)

Water Horses tend to be a little more introspective than their Metal friends. Balanced Water types are great thinkers and may appear to be secretive or guarded, since they enjoy being quiet whilst they muse on the greater meaning of life and the universe. Expressions such as 'a dark horse' or 'still waters run deep' may be used to describe that slight air of the unknown that often surrounds a Water personality.

Water Horses have a tendency to be slightly solitary by nature. Although they are generally good-tempered and enjoy companionship and contact, they also relish the opportunity to be alone at times. They may appear to have little quirks in their behaviour since, like a stream or river, they will tend to follow their own course to a certain extent. Provided the boundaries are flexible but firm, and the sensitive, questioning nature of this type is respected, the Water Horse can excel in many disciplines. They are often extremely talented and eye catching but may frustrate their owner/trainer due to the ever-changing quality of Water. Though generally calm and relatively easy to handle when balanced, the Water Horse can become tense under pressure. They may therefore sometimes be difficult to start and need patient, consistent and gentle handling if they are to reach their full potential. Channeling as opposed to containing is the key to success with the Water Horse. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, give and take is a must if a successful and rewarding relationship is to be developed. Movement is important for overall harmony of the organ network. If the Water Horse is overly restricted or confined they can become stagnant, frozen or turbulent emotionally and physically. Weavers often have an imbalance in Water energy due in part to the correlation between the Kidney and Heart meridian. An inability to be still further weakens the Water Phase adding to the stress and perpetuating the cycle further.

Whilst Calmness is the positive emotion attributed to the Water Phase, Fear is the negative and unbalanced Water can give rise to many irrational fears and phobias. Coupled with an affinity with the ears, disharmony in the Water Phase can result in extreme noise sensitivity. In particular, these types can be extremely reactive to noise or movement behind them. These phobias can result in panic bolting whether in hand or under saddle. As water will take the path of least resistance, so will the horse with an affinity with this Phase. It is not without reason that the black horse has the reputation that he/she does.

This tendency towards noise sensitivity and running blind would appear to have been utilised by the British cavalry. Black horses are used to pull the gun carriages to this day (although now it is obviously purely for display purposes). The heavy chains that are attached to the carts are not for decoration but trigger forward movement by rattling behind the horses to encourage them to gallop without question into the midst of the battle.

These attributes can make them highly unsuitable (and at times downright dangerous) for novice owners and it is a tragedy, in my opinion, that so many Welsh Section D Cobs in the U.K. are sold to beginners. They are simply not the same as other heavier types of horse who as Earth horses can make ideal horses for novice owners due to their tolerant and easy-going nature.

Although the eye is generally kind and round, it is often slightly smaller than that of the Fire, Earth or Metal Horse. It may be difficult to read at times, and is generally a little less striking than that of the Fire or Metal Horse. But if the Water Horse lacks a transfixing brightness of eye, he/she more than makes up for it in the sheen of his/her coat. As Kidney vitality governs hair, Water types are often blessed with full manes and tails and a rich, glossy coat that draws you to them. Just as a sparkling stream or shimmering pond invites you to put in your hand, so the appearance of the balanced Water animal makes you instinctively want to run your hand over his/her coat.

Winter is the season associated with this Phase and is when the Water Horse is at his/her best. Long dark nights that allow plenty of time for introspective thoughts are often relished by the balanced Water type. Excessive time alone however can have a detrimental effect as too much introspection can give rise to fear and worry. Care should be taken to ensure that the horse is well protected against the elements as Cold is the Pernicious Influence that has an extremely detrimental effect on the Water meridians. Cold makes the body slow and seize up causing retardation of movement and pain. Although Cold can invade the body at any time of year, winter is obviously a more vulnerable time. Horses that are suffering from the effects of External or Internal Cold (deficient Kidney vitality) will have cold limbs. They may also have cold patches in the lumbar region and over the hindquarters. I love the endless links between Linda's work and TCM, and TTEAM acknowledges the correlation between cold patches on a horse's body and fearful and spooky behaviour as well as the noise sensitivity that often accompanies this pattern of disharmony.

Clear discharges are other indications of Water imbalance. When the body temperature drops through the effects of Internal or External cold a clear nasal discharge, and frequent, clear urination will occur. With its affinity with the Kidneys, the Water Phase is linked to salt. Horses that crunch mineral licks or who crave salt may have an imbalance in Water energy. This behaviour may also be accompanied by a dry or staring coat or dry hair on either side of the spine (along the Bladder meridian), which are more symptoms of Water disharmony.

Water Phase Associations

The meridians of the Water Phase have extreme importance in TCM. They are linked to the overall vitality of the horse and are said to determine how the aging process develops. The Bladder meridian, which runs along either side of the spine has many important acupressure points along its length. The Kidney and Bladder meridians begin and end on the hind leg respectively and weakness in the hind quarters and limbs can be indicative of Water imbalance.

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