Missouri
Fox Trotting Horse
Breed Description:
The
Fox Trot will be performed in stylish collected manner by walking in
front and trotting behind with reach in each stride (front and rear).
The back feet must exhibit a sliding action in order to keep beat of
the gait. The horse will carry its head slightly elevated having as
much rhythmic head motion as possible. This head motion should always
be in time with the movement of the feet. The ears should be relaxed.
The tail will be carried naturally elevated and should be in rhythm to
the Fox Trot beat. The 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.
Reprinted from "Official Rules for Judging and Exhibiting the Missouri
Foxtrotting Horse".
"The Winning Combination"
The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is known best for the comfort if
affords its rider. Loved as a trail horse, 90 percent of registered
Missouri Fox Trotters are owned by people who use them for trail
riding, competition and endurance riding, and pleasure riding.
Acclaimed as a show horse the Missouri Fox Trotting horse is also
recognized for its 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 its gentle nature the
breed has quickly earned its reputation as a horse for all situations.
The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse has three naturally gaits: the long and
easy-going flat foot walk, the smooth and comfortable fox trot
characteristic of its name, and the "rocking horse" canter. No special
shoeing or training 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.
Developed from horses in the Ozarks, the breed is
characterized by a gentle disposition and an easy, fluid 4-beat
diagonal gait. 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 this mountainous region and their ability to do
whatever was needed around the homestead, ranging from plowing, hauling
logs, and working cattle, while at the same time able to double as a
stylish buggy horse or riding horse for the family. Whatever the need
this using horse from the homestead which eventually became 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 at Ava,
MO 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.
Surefooted in mountainous terrain, gentle in disposition, and smooth of
gait for the comfort of both horse and rider the Missouri Fox Trotter
Horse Breed motto today is "Every rider's pleasure horse".
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