I think this thread is sort of like ones on
"rocky" trails. What might be rocky to one rider, is hardly rocky at all to
another.
What might be a hard packed dirt/gravel road to
one, is good footing to another. The fire access roads I used to ride on
in So. CA around the local mountains was a very hard packed decomposed granite.
But that was pretty nice footing compared to the current condition of our
gravel/dirt roads here in No. TX right now. We've had little rain, and our
gravel roads are packed hard and smooth. More like riding on asphalt or
concrete. There is no "give" to the surface when the horses foot lands. They
sure don't leave foot prints.
