In my early training--- which began during the summer---the haze was soooooo thick that I never once had a horizon-EVER--and we were over water-
since we were 'legal VFR' I wasn't violating any thing--as a result ALL of my maneuvers actually on instruments while my CFI --looked out for traffic--and guess what--two things 1. when I did finally have a horizon 60 and 70 degree steep turns were EXTREMELY EASY and my IR proceeded in minimum required time----but my CFI's had alway let me play a bit--
-the moral don't be helpless use your instruments to precisely ascertain the back pressure, attitude, seat -of-pants- and correlate the instrument data with the horizon both primary horizon references --wingtip and ahead---then you'll find it easier---and very intuitive---
sometimes I think of that famous parable from proverbs ---A lazy man says --"there is a lion in the street--I shall be slain"---when I see flight students
PA