>How does conformation influence the way they go downhill. Can you
give an example? What makes a good "downhill" horse. Thanks!
They have to be well-balanced, with good backs that lend themselves to
natural self-carriage and natural rounding with a rider on-board, as well as
having strong loins and properly angulated hips to be able to drive the rear end
underneath themselves. Normal hind limb angulation is also a must--this is
a tough thing for a posty-legged horse to do. I also suspect that horses
with proper conformation of the front part of the back and the shoulders (the
ones with good withers that tie well back into the back and with shoulders
that lay back properly and are properly set on so that the saddle does
not work forward and impinge) have a big advantage here, too. The same
conformation that makes a horse agile and catty and generally athletic is the
key here--it is these same traits that make saddle fit a piece of cake as well,
btw....
