Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse originated in the Ozark mountains in Arkansas and Missouri, America, during the 1820s and, as such, is one of America's oldest breeds of horse. When Missouri officially became a State in 1821, many people started to move there from Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia and they took with them their various saddle horses. It is likely that the breed arose through a combination of Spanish, Barb, Morgan, Arab, and Throughbred blood, and is known that an early breeding policy was instigated to use horses which had reached fast running speeds.

Several of the early settlers in the Ozark region were instrumental in developing they type that was to become the Missouri Fox Trotter and among these were the Alsups. The Alsups became famous for their horses which were all related to the Thoroughbred racing stallion, Brimmer, and consequently became known as Brimmers.

Another influential stallion on the development of the breed was Old Skip, who was a Morgan and Thoroughbred cross, as well as two Saddlebred stallions, Chief and Cotham Dare, who are also credited with the early development of the breed.

It is likely that the initial breeding of  Missouri Fox Trotter was based largely on producing horses for racing which was a popular pastime, until it was deemed irreligious. Attention was then focused on producing a horse suitable for traveling long distances and being comfortable to ride over the surrounding rough landscape.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Fox Trotter is its gaited fox trot, which allows it to travel with a particularly smooth and comfortable stride. They are horses with great endurance and stamina, resisting fatigue to a much greater degree than many other breeds. The fox trot is a gait where the horse walks in the front and has a sliding trot action behind. This creates little movement through the back making them extremely comfortable to ride and capable of traveling long distances at speed. This gaited movement is accompanied by an up and down head nodding and a rhythmic tail bobbing. The Fox Trotter's other gaits are a four-beat walk, called the flat foot walk, in which the hind feet overtrack the front feet, and a very smooth canter. The paces of the Fax Trotter do  not include the flashy, extravagant, high-stepping style of the Saddlebred or Tennessee Walker.

There are many shows for the Fox Trotter, but unlike other gaited breeds, the Fox  Trotter is not allowed to have any artificial measures to accentuate its action such as excessively weighted shoes or show signs of having had chains round their fetlocks. They also have a natural tail set and are not allowed to be nicked. In the show ring, they are judged primarily on the quality of their fox trod stride, with other marks being awarded of the walk, canter, and conformation. Aside from the show ring, the Fox Trotter is popular throughout the States as a pleasure horse for trial riding and endurance riding, and is also an excellent 'cow' horse.

The Fox Trotter has an excellent temperament being quiet, amenable, intelligent and energetic with required and is frequently ridden by children and novices. In appearance, they are attractively put together, with good basic conformation. Generally they have a well-proportioned head with a straight profile and lively eyes and a muscular neck set onto very powerful sloping shoulders. They should be deep chested, compact through the back, and have very muscular and powerful quarters and legs. Usually they are chestnut in color, although can be any color, and stand 14.2 hh and 16.2 hh.

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