What breed of gaited horse??

I like everybody say go check out different horses. When you find one that makes you not want to get in your truck and leave buy it and take it home with you.
If you think you do want a MFT check out Painted Horse on here that's about all he rides I think and this man is the trail rider we all wish we were.

I'm also going with the group in saying check out different gaited breeds. Each does vary a bit in "butt" feel and disposition.
The TWH I owned when I was younger could canter like a dream and at a gallop could outrun all of our other horses (QH, Appy, Morgans, and Arabs.
Not the sharpest turner, but he won many fun events with me aboard.

In a former life I also rode a lot of warmbloods, European breeds, and several gaited breeds. When it came time to get a horse again, after being horseless for a while, I knew I wanted another gaited horse. Was looking at Pasos, MFT, SSH, and RMH.
As mentioned above, the Rockies, KYs and Mt. Pleasure horses have terrific personalities!
Mine is about as quirky, goofy, and lovable as they come.

I personally prefer Paso Finos :)

Ditto, ditto, and ditto to not only try different breeds but try several horses WITHIN each breed.

You can have two champagne-smooth horses yet they will still feel different. A long lanky very loose going TWH is not going to feel the same a stout/raw-boned/short-backed TWH performing the same gait.

I have three Tennessee Walkers. One Step Paces, one racks, one performs the running walk. They all feel different in their intermediate gaits.

From what I have read on various forums, I must indeed be very lucky that all three horses are very smooth but, they all feel different.

They also all perform their intermediate gaits in the pasture, although the running walk guy will trot if he ends up behind the Arab

I have a TWH (not big lick show type) he is barefoot and natural. He is sooo smooth. BUT I have rode other TWH that were not. With a natural gaited horse it can be that way. If they have not been worked with on collecting themselves and transitioning between their gait, then they can be very choppy. I agree with the others to try as many different ones as you can. Also there are some gaited horses that run on the shorter side if that could be a factor (if you trail ride and might have to mount from the ground). Some TWH can be well over the 15 hand range. Also on the trail gaited horse tend to cover a lot of ground quickly and it can be harder for your friends on non gaited horses to keep the pace. My TWH does have a very plain flat walk and my QH keeps up with him with ease but if he hits any other gait other than a flat walk....he's gone! LOL I have found that my TWH has me very spoiled as well. He's always the first of our horses I reach for!

Boy isn't that the truth! We have a TWH mare that flat walks so fast we can't ride her with anyone else... they have to trot to keep up! We put her into gait; they canter... :)

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions! A gaited horse sounds nice, but maybe I should just stick with what I know as my first horse? I am really back and forth on what to get!

I will keep everyone posted on what I decide! Your tips were great!

The Missouri Trotters and Tennessee Walkers have Thoroughbred breeding so there's a slight problem. They can come naturally high strung.
I don't recommend them as straight under the saddle gaited, trail riding horses. I'm just saying, but their stature and height make them somewhat desirable.
Here's what I recommend for a great gaited trail riding horse: Paso Finos. They can have more endurance than even Arabians (I know that's hard to believe, but figure a horse bred in the Arabian deserts, and trained for battle; compared to a horse bred in ALL terrains for Spanish cattle ranchers who ride their horses for a smooth ride and extreme endurance, their rides always at a gaited trot (Corto) for days on end).
I recommend those smaller gaited horses (13-16 hands). They are quite lovely tempered and have wonderfully smooth gaits if trained properly. And are very intelligent. More so than Missouri Trotters or Tennessee Walkers. I'm just saying.

Don't believe me? Ask anyone who owns a well trained Paso only used for trail riding.
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MadamnE, I love PASOS but some of them can be quite "Hot" and more than a beginner wants to take on. They do have endurance. I would vote for for a Peruvian, another breed with a lot of endurance, but also rather "hot". Perhaps the more cold blooded gaited horses would be more suitable for a beginner wanting a placid natured horse but make sure you get good consistent gait. Many of them have gaits that are not reliable.

Try out a bunch of different ones, but around where I live (TN) you can get spotted saddle horses or walking horses very cheap. I got my SSH for $300 and I love her to death.