The Missouri Foxtrotting Horse: The Winning Combination

THE MISSOURI FOX TROTTING HORSE
"THE WINNING COMBINATION"
by Charlotte Blackwell
Originally published for the Missouri Foxtrotter News Oct 1997--Revised 1998 and 1999

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is known best for its versatility and the comfort it affords its rider. A gentle disposition and a unique, easy and fluid 4-beat diagonal gait characterizes the breed. Ninety percent of these MFTHBA registered horses are owned by people who use them for trail riding, competition and endurance riding, and pleasure riding. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is also acclaimed as a show horse and is recognized for its beauty and style in the show ring where it is shown in Performance and Model Point Classes, as well as Versatility Point Events such as Driving, English Pleasure,Western Pleasure, Trail Classes, Jumping.

This breed has quickly earned its reputation for producing a horse for all situations. It has been used by hunters and forest rangers for its endurance, reliability, and surefootedness in rugged terrain, by ranchers for it's versatility and intelligence in working cattle and helping with other jobs around the ranch, and on Hollywood movie sets for its gentle nature.

The three natural gaits characteristic of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse are: 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 horse breeds within the equine registries.

The Missouri Fox Trotting horse was developed primarily from saddle horses and light harness horses in the Ozarks and its bloodlines can be traced from early settlers coming into the Missouri Ozarks from neighboring states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

These horses were depended upon for their surefootedness in this mountainous region and their ability to do whatever was needed around the homestead, such as 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 Trotting Horse proved capable and adaptable.

In 1948 a Breed Association was formed for this "horse of all talents," and in 1958 what is now known as the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, located at Ava, MO was reorganized and reincorporated. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association is now an international association with affiliate charters throughout the United States as well as many countries throughout the world.

Since the beginning of the breed association breeders have worked to develop the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse into the much sought after pleasure horse and show horse of today.

Because of their surefooted in mountainous terrain, gentle in disposition, and smoothness of gait for the comfort of both horse and rider the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed motto today is "To ride one is to own one!"

Back to Previous Page
Back to Newsletter