single track trail riding

[Darby]

I'm looking for a gaited horse to enjoy on the trails out here.  Right now I have Arabians and I'm tired of the hot blood lines.  They spook at everything, on guard all the time etc.... 
I plan to ride some friend's gaited horses to see which ones I like.  But.... which ones are sure footed on single track trails that have drop offs?  Not cliffs, but just drop offs?  I'm sure every horse is an individual of course - I have one Arab that is sure footed and one that will go off anything so I don't take that one on those type of trails. 
But in general,  is there one better than another for those type of trails? 

[Laceygirl]

I have a Missouri Fox Trotter and she is pretty sure footed..we ride the same type of trails and those don't seem to bother.

[Darby]

my friend suggested a MFT- in general how calm are they?  Are there huge differences between them and a TW? 

[Laceygirl]

My girlfriend who lives in Oregon rides a TWH and she says they are very calm....My fox trotter is also calm...She has a very social personality...She loves attention and when training her with something new, she picks up very quickly...I love the MFT and wouldn't buy anything else but thats just my personal preference.

[Shiloh0526]

Hi Darby,

I have a TWH and a Grade Gaited (unregistered, but has a foxtrotter gait) and we do a lot of single trail riding.  Been to Daniel Boone National Forest and East Fork in Tennessee. They both do great and my friends have Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Mountain and Foxtrotters.  They all are fine on the trails.  I think half the battle is taking your time and find a horse regardless of the gait that you feel comfortable on.  Most gaited horses I've been around have nice temperments and a nice gait would be an added bonus.  Good Luck!!

Shiloh

[Painted Horse]

I've had numerous breeds of horses. Arabs, NSH, Paints, QH and now I have mostly Foxtrotters.  They are in general pretty calm horses. Most of my friends have also bought foxtrotters. We ride some pretty rough country and these horses have preformed extremely well.

I think these trail would classify as a narrow single track. I trust my kids and their friends to ride my horses across this kind of country.

[abbypeaches]

MFTs usually have one or two feet on the ground at all times so they are very sure-footed.