In a message dated 11/25/2004 7:04:02 PM Mountain Standard Time, helgeson@xxxxxxx writes:
Going downhill is about hind end engagement AND conformation. Too many Arabs are too straight on the back legs. They are not built with their hind legs under them in the first place. (You know in order to get that pretty “show” high tail carriage). This conformation fault makes it harder for them to get under themselves and go down hill. They make great trail and flat land horses, but pound their front legs going down hill at a trot. Once you have ridden a horse that truly knows how to go down a hill tucked under them, you don’t ever want another horse. Horses that are put together right for going down hill, take to going down a hill on their hind end like a duck takes to water.
Ahem....stifle placement in relation to the sacro-lumbar joint is the key.
Integral, in fact.
Not only vital in going downhill properly, but vital in the longevity of the horse.
Geometry, physics...all that math stuff is key to proper biomechanics/locomotion, be it on the flat or on downhill.
