Do Horse Steps make Horse Sense?

The trail description warned there would be no “warmup” when starting the Hugh Norris Trail, one of the many trails found in Saguaro National Park West. One grumpy AllTrails reviewer complained the “1,000 horse steps were senseless for hiking trails.” I’ve never heard of horse steps and I’m pretty sure 1,000 was an exaggeration, although I didn’t count them. 
We stopped to read the information board then immediately began the climb up all those steps. The trail leads to 4,639’ Wasson Peak, a climb we chose not to do. Instead, our plan would lead us up to an elevation just over 3,600’, an elevation gain of 1,260’ before heading back down along a section of the Sendero Esperanza Trail, then joining the Dobbie Wash which would lead us back to our starting point.

After lunch, it was all downhill. We quickly reached the parking lot after cheating (just a little) and walking the last bit along the road.