> > Great list, Judy, very comprehensive! I agree.
And after you have considered and "fixed" each of those things, you still could find that rushing hills and obstacles is caused by anxiety and inexperience. Because we live at the base of the mountains and all our trails go either up and down, our horses get lots of practice at coming down steep trails - some VERY steep. They seem to handle their first few experiences based on their temperment. Tali (nice Arab gelding) really scared me when I was riding him because he sort of hopped, skipped and bucked downhill. Now, several years later and with many hills under his hooves, he's a good downhill horse. Bev reported that Tosca trembled and handled her first steep muddy section of trail very badly. The second time she went down the same section of trail, she tucked her hind quarters and slid like an experienced little mountain horse. If all those other things (saddle fit, bit/no bit, teeth) are in place, sometimes it takes "tincture of time". Nancy
