the horizon does not tell you if you are climbing or descending. you would need the altimeter or VSI or IVSI to tell you if you are climbing or descending.
you live in San Francisco. are you taking flying lessons anywhere?
and you should get your terms straight
natural horizon
artificial horizon
.
and just think of PITCH ATTITUDE REFERENCE instead of horizon and you might figure it out better. You never reach the horizon (natural) even if you went towards it fo rhours