The Missouri Fox Trotter is an American breed of horse with a unique lateral gait. It was bred in the Ozark Mountain foothills, and used by settlers who valued its smoothness. This article is about the Ozark Plateau. ...

Breed characteristics

The breed is best known for its unique gait, known as the fox trot, in which the horse appears to walk with its front legs and trot with its hind. Because the hind end has a sliding motion rather than a two-beat trot, the gait is incredibly easy to sit. It is accompanied by an up and down head nodding. The horses, unlike many other gaited breeds, do not have high-stepping action, but rather a very smooth, comfortable ride. The fox trot can be maintained for great stretches of time, reaching speeds up to 10 mph. The Fox Trotter also performs the flat-footed walk and the regular canter.

A typical 8 year old Missouri Fox Trotter paint (buck skins, roans and others exist). Image File history File links A typical 8 year old Missouri Fox Trotter paint. ...

The Missouri Fox Trotter is also known for its stamina and soundness. The horses have a willing and gentle disposition, and are very surefooted. They are generally medium-height, between 14.2 and 16.2 hands. They come in all colors.

Well-configured horses have an elevated neck, head, and tail carriage, sloping shoulders, a short back with a rounded croup, and a slender body with a deep chest. They should have muscular and powerful hindquarters and legs.

History of the Missouri Fox Trotter

In the early 19th century, when pioneers came to the rugged foothills of Missouri from Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky, they soon realized that a horse with a natural lateral gait would be ideal for the rocky and forested land. Farmers selectively bred for the gliding fox trot by blending American Saddle Horses, Standardbreds, and Tennessee Walkers with the Morgan, Thoroughbred and Arabian. An early breeding policy was to use horses that had reached fast running speeds. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... Standardbred harness racing horses are so called because in the early years of the Trotting Registry, the standardbred stud book established in the United States in 1879 by the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders, only horses who could race a mile in a standard time or better, or whose... The Tennessee Walker, otherwise known as the Tennessee Walking Horse, and other variations upon these themes, is a singularly tractable and comfortable riding horse. ... The Morgan is one of the first horse breeds developed in the United States. ... Thoroughbred race horses The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known as a race horse. ... The Arabian horse is a breed of horse with a reputation for intelligence, high spirit, and outstanding stamina. ...

Influential stallions include Brimmer, a Thoroughbred, Old Skip, a Morgan/Thoroughbred cross, and the two American Saddlebred stallions, Chief and Cotham Dare. Thoroughbred race horses The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known as a race horse. ... The Morgan is one of the first horse breeds developed in the United States. ... Thoroughbred race horses The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known as a race horse. ... The American Saddlebred is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. ...

The settlers used the horses for working cattle ranches and for transportation of local officials, such as the sheriff and local doctor. In the early 20th century, the Fox Trotter survived because ranchers found it to be irreplaceable.

The breed association was formed in 1948, and was recognized in 1958 as the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breeders' Association (MFTHBA). In 1982, all horses were required to have at least one parent registered with the MFTHBA to be registered themselves. This changed in 1983, when both parents were required to be registered in order for the foal to be registered, and the stud book was thus closed.

The Missouri Fox Trotter today

Today, the breed is still popular in Missouri, as well as elsewhere. There are over 52,000 registered horses in the USA, Canada, Austria, and Germany. They are very popular with forest rangers and pleasure riders.

They horses are typically shown in western-style performance classes, versatility (Western and English Pleasure, jumping, ranch, driving) classes, and halter classes. Many are used for pleasure and trail riding. Their disposition is even and very gentle, and they are very versatile, which is why the breed is now being used for long-distance competitive trail riding. They are also increasingly used in the sport of driving.

When shown, horses are not allowed to have any artificial devices to accentuate their action, such as heavy shoes or chains around the fetlock. They have a natural tail set, and, unlike the American Saddlebred, are not allowed to be nicked. They are judged on their fox trot (50%), flatfooted walk (25%), and canter (25%) in the performance classes. The American Saddlebred is a breed of horse that was developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. ...

External links

• Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breeders' Association Website