The Missouri Fox Trotter is known for the comfort it affords it's rider. Loved as a trail horse, 90 percent of registered Missouri Fox Trotters are owned by people who use them for trail riding, competitive endurance riding, and pleasure riding. Acclaimed as a show horse, the Missouri Fox Trotting horse is also recognized for it's beauty and style in the show ring. Used by hunters and forest rangers for it's endurance and surefootedness in rugged terrain, by ranchers for it's versatility and intelligence, and on hollywood movie sets for it's gentle nature, the breed has quickly earned it's reputation as a horse for all situations.
The Missouri Fox Trotter has three natural gaits; the long and easy going flat foot walk, the smooth and comfortable fox trot, and the "rocking horse" canter. The fox trot is basically a diagonal gait. The horse performs this gait by walking in front and trotting behind with reach in each stride. The Foxtrotter is not a high stepping horse, but an extremely sure-footed one; and because of the sliding action of the rear feet, rather than the hard step of other breeds, the rider experiences little jarring action and is quite comfortable in the saddle for long periods of time. The tail and head are carried slightly elevated, giving the Foxtrotter a graceful carriage. The rhythmic beat of the hooves, along with the nodding action of the head, give the Foxtrotter the appearence of relaxation and poise. The characteristic of the Fox Trot is that the horse travels with animation, rhythm and style. The head nods, the ears indicate the step with their movement and the tail is part of the rhythm as well. The step is springy, consistant and smooth. Th natural rhythm of the horse starts at the tip of the nose and goes back to the tip of the tail in one continuous motion. No special shoeing or trianing is required for these horses to perform their gaits and their good disposition and trainability are among their many desirable characteristics making them one of the most versatile and loved of horse breeds within the equine registries.
Bloodlines can be traced from early settlers coming into the Missouri Ozarks from neighboring states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Their horses were depended upon for their surefootedness in the mountainous region and their ability to do whatever was needed around the homestead, ranging from plowing, hauling logs, and working cattle, while at the sane time able to double as a stylish buggy horse or riding horse for the whole family. Whatever the need was, this horse from the homestead, which was eventually known as the Missouri Fox Trotter, proved capable and adaptable.
By 1948 a breed association was formed for this talented horse and in 1958 the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association, located in Ava, Missouri was reorganized and reincorporated. Since then breeders have worked to develop this multi-talented breed of horse into the much sought after pleasure horse and show horse of today. The Missouri Foxtrotter is every rider's pleasure horse, to ride one is to own one! |
