I agree about not using one technique to try to fix everything. We don't use backing up for everything either. With my mare, it's usually in response to her NOT wanting to go forward for some reason. My attitude is to NEVER get in a tug of war/physical battle with my horse because she'll always win. If she's refusing to go forward, I first try "go forward" type corrections...not letting her evade, using my legs more, etc. But this is a mare who will, if pushed *directly* toward something that's she's adamant about not approaching, will begin to rear, spin and bolt, etc. So there are times we have to back away and then approach it backwards. But even then, she is NOT getting to "choose" it. I make her do it. If she starts backing before I ask for it, she's either "strongly" asked to go forward, disengage a hip, one rein stops, etc. Totally depends on the situation, but I'm pretty strict with her...essentially, she doesn't get to do much of anything if I haven't asked for it. My husband's horse weaves all over the trail because as long as she's headed in the general direction, he's ok with that. Not me...I expect that, if I put my horse's head in a certain direction, it stays in that direction until I ask otherwise.

And honestly, with my mare being so green and opinionated, I wouldn't take her on a trail that had a drop of hundreds of feet...I know our limits.