The Versatile Missouri Fox Trotter: An All-American Horse

The Versatile Missouri Fox Trotter: An All-American Horse

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is a one-of-a-kind American breed known for its gentle temperament, smooth gaits, versatility, and stamina. Developed in the Ozarks region, this breed has been the official state horse of Missouri since 2002.

A Unique History

The Missouri Fox Trotter traces its origins to the rocky, wooded hills of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in the 19th century. Early settlers in this region needed a hardy horse that could work the farm yet provide a smooth, comfortable ride over rough terrain.

A mix of Morgan, Arabian, Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Tennessee Walking Horse blood created a medium-sized horse with an athletic build and signature easy-riding gaits. The fox trot gait, in particular, allowed the horse to skillfully navigate the Ozarks landscape while keeping the rider comfortable all day long.

Over time, the Missouri Fox Trotter became renowned as the ideal American pleasure horse. Today, the breed excels in disciplines like trail riding, endurance riding, ranch work, and mounted shooting competitions while remaining a favorite family horse.

Gaits: The Missouri Fox Trotter's Claim to Fame

The Missouri Fox Trotter boasts three signature gaits that give the breed its edge in comfort and rideability:

The Flat-Foot Walk

• A smooth, gliding 4-beat gait
• Each hoof meets the ground independently
• The back foot slides into place, overstepping the imprint of the front foot
• Creates little impact or jarring motion for the rider

The Fox Trot

• A broken diagonal 2-beat gait
• The front foot hits the ground a split second before the opposite hind foot
• No suspension phase, so the horse always has contact with the ground
• Allows sure-footed maneuverability over rough or steep terrain

The Rocking Chair Canter

• A 3-beat gait with suspension between strides
• Slow, relaxed and cadenced
• Comfortable for the rider due to its collected, smooth motion

These special gaits give the Missouri Fox Trotter its signature ease of ride. The fox trot, in particular, allows the horse to skillfully handle difficult terrain while keeping the rider comfortable all day long.

Versatile Trail Companion

With its athleticism, stamina and smooth way of traveling, the Missouri Fox Trotter truly excels as a trail horse. Its calm temperament and responsive nature also make it ideal for novice riders and children.

On the trail, the Fox Trotter navigates tricky terrain, logs, streams, and more with ease thanks to the diagonal fox trot gait. The breed can comfortably rack out miles on the weekend ride or compete in endurance races of 50 to 100 miles.

The Missouri Fox Trotter’s versatility expands beyond the trail. The breed also shows talent in:

• Pleasure competitions
• Ranch work and cattle handling
• Mounted shooting events
• Driving
• Hunt seat and Western shows
• Parades

With a Fox Trotter, you get the complete package: beauty, brains, talent and disposition.

Missouri Pride

In 2002, over 100 years after the beginning of the breed registry, the Missouri Fox Trotter became the official state horse of Missouri.

Some key facts about this homegrown breed:

• Height: 14 to 16 hands on average
• Colors: Every colorimaginable including black, bay, chestnut, buckskin, palomino, grey and more
• Markings: Common white markings include socks, blazes, spots and roaning
• Temperament: Gentle, friendly, eager to please
• Use: Riding, driving, work, competition and family horse

To learn more or find a registered Missouri Fox Trotter for sale or adoption, visit the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. With good care and training, this sturdy breed makes the ultimate lifetime companion.

Get to Know the Missouri Fox Trotter

Part of what makes the Missouri Fox Trotter so beloved is its kind yet willing disposition. They love having a job to do, whether it’s carrying a rider down the trail or moving cattle from pasture to pasture.

• Intelligence - The Fox Trotter often seems to think things through and anticipate what a rider or handler wants. Their ability to negotiate tough terrain shows cleverness and soundess of mind.
• Athleticism - With strength and stamina bred into them from Morgan, Arabian and Thoroughbred ancestors, Fox Trotters handle demanding terrain or long miles without issue. Their natural athletic talent serves them well in competitions too.
• Willing attitude - This good-natured breed wants to bond with people and eagerly puts in a full day’s work. They neither get lazy nor hot-headed and their pleasant attitude makes training highly rewarding.
• Patience - Slow to anger and quick to forgive, the Missouri Fox Trotter tolerates mistakes from novice riders. Their tolerance and forgiveness can make them ideal mounts for children or new adult riders.

Beyond personality, the Missouri Fox Trotter also wins fans with their captivating looks and fancy footwork. Let’s look at some of the breed’s most defining physical traits next.

All the Right Moves: How the Fox Trotter Is Built to Do Its Job

Selective breeding over more than a century has created the ultimate pleasure horse: the Missouri Fox Trotter. Both the breed’s form and function allow it to smoothly carry riders over miles of difficult Ozark terrain.

Some stand-out physical features that make this breed shine as a riding horse include:

Well-sprung ribs give the Fox Trotter lung capacity to travel long distances at various speeds and gaits.

A short back and strong coupling promote flexibility and athletic movement.

Sloped shoulders allow a free-swinging stride upfront.

Powerful hindquarters provide impulsion to effortlessly transition between gaits.

Hard, well-formed hooves stand up to rocky terrain and allow surefootedness. Farriers typically use shoes only for specific jobs.

Overall balanced conformation creates efficiency and agility on the trail.

Additionally, the Fox Trotter often exhibits a natural self-carriage while moving that contributes to its stylish way of traveling.

The result? A medium-sized horse carrying itself with athletic grace across all types of terrain. Form and function beautifully merge in the Missouri Fox Trotter.

Choosing Your Missouri Fox Trotter: Color, Markings & Patterns

The Missouri Fox Trotter dazzles with its rainbow of colors and range of distinctive facial and leg markings. From loud overo patterns to minimal bay coats, you’re sure to find a Fox Trotter that fits your aesthetic preferences.

On body color, options span from classic bay, black and chestnut to eye-catching palomino, buckskin, cremello and more. Roan, dun and champagne genes also sometimes influence coat color.

As for patterns, the Missouri Fox Trotter can exhibit:

• Tobiano - Distinctive white legs and white facial markings, with white spots crossing the topline to create a “shield” pattern on the body and neck
• Sabino - Jagged white patches that run horizontally across the horse’s barrel, with high white leg markings and face
• Overo - A mostly dark horse with sharp white markings concentrated around the forehead, belly and flanks
• Roan - White hairs evenly intermixed with a base body color like bay or red roan

Common leg markings include socks that extend above the fetlock as well as stockings that reach almost to the knee or hock. Many horses sport a unique brand of white facial markings like a star, snip, strip, blaze or bald face.

With so many color and marking variations, selecting your ideal Missouri Fox Trotter becomes a fun aesthetic endeavor.

Caring & Feeding Tips for Your Missouri Fox Trotter

Missouri Fox Trotters thrive when properly cared for. Like any horse, good health begins with:

• Nutritious pasture, hay and grain
• Routine hoofcare and dental exams
• Regular grooming and coat upkeep
• Annual veterinary wellness checks
• Proper shelter and fencing
• Exercise and mental stimulation

Diet

As easy keepers, many Fox Trotters need little supplementary grain beyond good-quality grass hay. Provide 1.5-2% of the horse’s body weight in hay daily, split into multiple small meals. This keeps the digestive tract moving and prevents boredom eating. Limit pasture access if your Fox Trotter quickly gains weight.

Often calm by nature, Fox Trotters likewise don’t need “hot” feeds with excess energy that can cause hyper behavior. Opt for grain mixes designed for trail and pleasure horses instead. Probiotics also help this breed stay healthy on trail rides or long endurance competitions.

Provide free-choice salt and clean water at all times, especially for hard-working horses

Hoof & Dental Care

Strong, well-formed hooves that stand up to rocks are a trademark of the breed. Still, regular trims every 4-8 weeks help maintain balance and prevent cracking or thrush. Shoes are usually only needed for certain jobs.

Dental exams every six months prevent sharp points that make chewing painful. Catching problems early is key.

Vaccinations

Fox Trotters should receive core vaccines on an annual schedule:

• Rabies
• Eastern & Western Encephalomyelitis
• Tetanus
• West Nile Virus
• Flu & Rhino

Work with your vet to determine if other risk-based vaccines are right for your horse. Proper prevention leads to good health.

Bringing Out the Missouri Fox Trotter's Potential

The Missouri Fox Trotter excels when given the right mix of nurturing handling and structured training. Their willing temperament means they respond eagerly to respectful guidance.

Here are six key training areas to emphasize with your Fox Trotter:

1. Basic Manners & Groundwork

From leading to loading, take time to teach good ground manners. Your Fox Trotter will behave better under saddle once responding well from the ground.

2. The Gaits

Help your Fox Trotter develop rhythm and balance at the flat walk, fox trot and canter. Ensure you can smoothly cue for gait transitions.

3. Exposure

Get the Missouri Fox Trotter comfortable with flapping objects, loud noises, vehicles, other animals like dogs or cattle, water crossings and more that you may encounter on the trail. Confident exposure prevents spooking episodes.

4. Obstacles

Train your Fox Trotter to calmly navigate any trail obstacle including bridges, water, logs, rocky sections, hills and more. Their natural agility helps them conquer most impediments.

5. Riding Out Alone

Condition your Missouri Fox Trotter to confidently ride out solo. Separation anxiety can cause acting out unless addressed through steady exposure to being alone while working.

6. Collection & Rating

Teach your Fox Trotter to carry himself in a collected, engaged posture and to rate his pace by half-halting on a loose rein. This allows precise speed control and grace in the saddle.

With the right approach, the Missouri Fox Trotter rises to almost any challenge their rider asks of them. Their talent and try make them a joy to ride or drive.

Fox Trotters Shine in Many Roles & Events

The Missouri Fox Troting Horse’s versatility allows the breed to excel in both western and English disciplines across a variety of venues.

A few areas this talented breed stands out include:

Competitive Trail – With good conditioning, Fox Trotters easily complete lengthy weekend rides of 25 miles or more, even when asked to trot volunteer checkpoints. The breed’s stamina helps them win ride placings.

Endurance – In 50 or 100 mile endurance races over challenging terrain, skilled Fox Trotter riders and mounts work efficiently as a team to reach the finish line with good vet scores.

Mounted Shooting – The Missouri Fox Trotter has the athletic moves and focused mindset to allow riders to safely shoot targets while riding at speed. Their cow sense gives them an edge.

English & Western Pleasure – Graceful, collected gaits let registered Fox Trotters clean up at open breed shows in both hunt seat and western pleasure classes, even against hot-bloods.

Parades – With flashy looks, showmanship and perfect parade gaits, the Missouri Fox Trotter makes an eye-catching mount forissez*any parade lineup.

Ranch Work – The practical Fox Trotter still shows cow sense and grit when used to sort, rope or herd cattle on modern ranches. Their versatility at all gaits keeps them working for hours.

Whether on recreational rides or in the competition ring, the Missouri Fox Trotter consistently impresses with top performance.

Choosing Your Fox Trotter: Finding the Right Match

When seeking your perfect Missouri Fox Trotter, carefully assess each prospect’s training, temperament and experience level. Seek out horses bred specifically for temperament and gait quality from proven bloodlines. Where and how a horse is started also greatly influences later behavior.

For first-time owners, look for:

• Solid ground training foundation
• Exposure to trails, traffic and obstacles
• Bombproof behavior around loud noises or flapping objects
• Consistent flat walk, fox trot and canter when cued
• A people-oriented personality

For returning riders, consider:

• Training specifically tailored to your riding style and discipline
• High percentage of foundation Fox Trotter bloodlines
• Sensible but willing attitude
• Extensive solo riding experience outside of arenas
• Physically conditioned for long weekend rides or intense competitions

Test riding prospective Missouri Fox Trotters multiple times in your intended environment helps match you with the best partner. Paired with good continued training and care, your Fox Trotter will be your friend for life on the trails or in the show pen.

Missouri Fox Trotters - An American Breed Apart

Whether climbing wooded Ozark hills, strolling down small town parade routes, or trotting out long miles in endurance completions, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse does it all with style and ease. This well-loved breed sets itself apart as an athletic, willing and supremely smooth trail horse without parallel among other breeds.

About the only thing this versatile breed can't do well is stand still for long. Missouri Fox Trotters crave interaction with people and thrive on having a job to do. They especially relish moving out with their favorite rider in tow, ready to rack up mile after comfortable mile.

Anyone looking for a willing, lifetime trail partner will surely have their wish granted in the superb Missouri Fox Trotter. As devoted fans already know, this made-in-America breed is truly a horse apart.

10 Key Questions About the Missouri Fox Trotter Answered

The Missouri Fox Trotter is a one-of-a-kind American horse breed known for its smooth ambling gaits, sure-footedness, pleasing personality and versatility across many disciplines. But if you're new to “Fox Trotters,” you probably still have some key questions about this breed before deciding if they're the right fit for you.

What Exactly Is the Missouri Fox Trotter Breed?

The Missouri Fox Trotter is a medium-sized, athletic horse breed developed in the state of Missouri. It’s often called the “state’s living legacy.”

Selective breeding of horses with smooth, ground-covering four-beat gaits created the Missouri Fox Trotter strain starting in the 19th century. Over 100 years later in 2002, the State of Missouri named the Fox Trotter its officially recognized state horse breed.

Today's Fox Trotter has contributing blood from several other American breeds including the Morgan, Arabian, American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse. The result is a versatile horse suited for both work and riding.

What Makes the Missouri Fox Trotter Special?

Two key traits set this breed apart from others:

Easy-Riding Gaits

The Missouri Fox Trotter boasts three smooth, ground-covering gaits: the flat walk, fox trot and canter. Riders appreciate the energetic yet relaxed fox trot most for its unique broken rhythm. This makes even long days spent riding over rough terrain comfortable.

Willing Personality

Fox Trotters also shine thanks to their gentle and willing disposition. They become very bonded with their owners and aim to please whether working cattle or strolling the trails. This loyal attitude makes them wonderful family horses.

Together, the special gaits and pleasant personality give the Missouri Fox Trotter an edge as an athletic, smooth and willing trail and pleasure horse.

Do Missouri Fox Trotters Have "Good Feet"?

Yes, Missouri Fox Trotters are highly praised for having dense, strong hooves. Their feet stand up well to rocky terrain without added protection.

Proper trimming/shoeing is still vital however. Ask your farrier to maintain the breed's naturally thick hoof walls while balancing the foot. This prevents cracking and ensures longevity even in demanding conditions.

What Height Are Missouri Fox Trotters?

Most Missouri Fox Trotters range from 14 to 16 hands high with an average size around 15 hands. A few may stand slightly taller or shorter.

For pony-sized variants, check out the Missouri Fox Trotting Pony Registry for horses measuring under 14 hands. Full-sized Fox Trotters make great mounts for most adult riders.

What Disciplines Are Missouri Fox Trotters Good At?

Thanks to their athleticism and cooperative nature, Fox Trotters adapt well to many equestrian sports including:

• Trail riding
• Endurance riding
• Western pleasure
• English pleasure
• Ranch work
• Mounted shooting
• Driving
• Parades

They also make wonderful all-around family horses for light riding and enjoyment. Don’t be surprised though if your Fox Trotter gets bored without adequate exercise!

Do Missouri Fox Trotters Get Along With Other Horses?

Missouri Fox Trotters tend to be amiable herdmates. Their pleasant temperament translates to getting along with other horses nicely in turnout situations.

Of course every horse has its own distinct personality. Monitor any new additions carefully to ensure peaceful adaptation. But in most cases, Fox Trotters integrate smoothly into existing herds once the hierarchy is established.

What Colors Are Missouri Fox Trotters Found In?

From classic bay to eye-catching palomino, Fox Trotters come in just about every equine color imaginable. Common body colors include:

• Bay
• Black
• Chestnut
• Buckskin
• Dun
• Roan
• Grey
• Palomino
• Champagne

The breed also exhibits various face and leg white markings, plus darker points on non-black coats.

With so much variety, finding a Missouri Fox Trotter that matches your personal style becomes part of the fun!

How Long Do Missouri Fox Trotters Typically Live?

With good care and nutrition, Missouri Fox Trotters often stay usable into their late 20s or early 30s. Average life expectancy falls between 25-30+ years.

Key factors that support longevity include:

• Appropriate housing and pasture/turnout
• Routine hoof, dental and veterinary care
• Disease prevention via vaccines and deworming
• Sufficient exercise
• Adequate but not excessive feeding based on workload

Practice proactive care and your Missouri Fox Trotter can potentially partner with you for decades of riding enjoyment.

What Health Issues Do Missouri Fox Trotters Have?

Luckily, Missouri Fox Trotters boast excellent overall health. They’re not associated with any unique genetic diseases.

However, some conditions seen occasionally within the breed include:

• OCD Lesions – Elbow/stifle OCD sometimes affects fast-growing youngsters. Most stabilize and resolve with rest.
• Tying Up – Intense exercise may trigger cramping and muscle stiffness in horses lacking conditioning. Proper training prevents this.
• Insulin Resistance – Easy keepers can become insulin resistant and prone to laminitis if overfed and underworked. Adjust nutrition/exercise accordingly.

Following sound nutrition, health, and training practices minimizes disease risks. Get familiar with your Fox Trotter's individual needs.

How Much Are Missouri Fox Trotters?

For registered stock with extensive training and show records, expect to invest $8,000 to $15,000+ at minimum. Exceptional bloodlines or successful show horses sell for much higher prices.

However, green or lightly started Missouri Fox Trotters can sell for under $5,000. Adoption fees for rescue horses are usually under $1,000.

Keep in mind the old saying: "Pay now or pay later." An investment in quality upfront saves money long-term through better behavior, training, rideability and health.

Still Wondering If a Missouri Fox Trotter Is Right for You?

If you want a willing, athletic horse for recreational trail riding or competition with smooth gaits and a friendly personality, the Missouri Fox Trotter makes an outstanding choice.

Be prepared to provide adequate pasture/turnout along with understanding leadership that brings out this smart breed's best qualities. Respect their sensitivity and train thoroughly in all gaits.

In return, you gain a versatile, beautiful horse ready to rack up the trail miles with you in total comfort!

So are you now ready to add your own special Missouri Fox Trotter to the family? Browse available horses for sale and find your perfect partner. Then get ready to ride in style wherever the trails lead you together!

And feel free to browse the rest of our website for more helpful Missouri Fox Trotter articles, videos, advice and inspiration!