Hi Ray, Duncan et al, I would use whatever gait in that steep and rough country I felt my horse to be the most surefooted and efficient at. That could be a running walk or foxtrot, depending upon the horse. As Duncan points out, these horses derive from much of the same stock, and I would select the horse based on conformation first, then gait. I've ridden arabs at a trot through all kinds of rough terrain. I ask my foxtrotter to move out efficiently, be it in a running walk or a foxtrot, or when terrain permits, a canter. I don't find the transitions up or down to be rough at all. As Duncan suggests, Lee Ziegler is truly an authority, and would be a good source of information, though I haven't heard that she does much long distance riding. Bottom line, like many of the other discussions - choose what suits you and "ride really ride" as well as you can! Happy trails, Kitty Longino, hardly an expert!
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