Way to go Susan! I can't imagine steep descents and sand. Your horses should get really tough .Going down steep hills has always been a problem for me - until Hunter. He came out of the box as the best downhill horse I've ever been on. He drops his hind quarters, I drop the reins and down we go. And it's quite a benefit on rides. If I can pass before the downhill section, we can really make time. I have no idea who taught him to be so good, but it's almost a religious experience for me sort of feel like shouting "Thank you Jesus!"
When I first started going out with the endurance riders at Creekside, I was riding a very clunky 14.1 h pony. Bev rode over the edge of a nearly vertical trail, followed by Donna on her Paso Fino. As they went over the edge, their helmets disappeared. I said "Holy Smoke (paraphrased) and followed them over the brink. That trail still bothers me. We went over the edge once recently and someone had dumped a white plastic garbage bag full of trash. Now that was exciting. Nancy
