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The Missouri Fox Trotter was developed in the rugged Ozarks Mountains during the nineteenth
century by settlers who needed smooth riding, durable mounts that could travel at a
comfortable, surefooted gait for long distances. When Missouri achieved statehood in 1821,
the pioneers who streamed across from the Mississippi River to settle in the Ozarks brought
with them their finest possessions; including their best saddle stock. The breeding of this stock
was largely Arabian, Morgan, and plantation horses. Later, more American Saddle Bred,
Tennessee Walking, and Standard Bred breeding was added. It soon became apparent that
horses able to perform the easy broken gait called the "fox trot" were the most useful in the
rocky, forest-covered hills of the Ozarks; thus, selective breeding of the fox trot began.
Easy-gaited stock imported to America's shores during the colonial era left its genetic imprint
on the fox trotting horse in the Ozarks; the American Saddle Horses of Kentucky and the
walking horses of Tennessee. Some nineteenth century greats such as the Canadian stallion,
Tom Hal, made sizeable contributions to the easy-gaited horses of all three regions. The distinguishing characteristic
of the Missouri Fox Trotter is the fox trot gait. The fox trot is basically a diagonal gait, like the trot, but the horse
appears to walk with the front legs and trot with the hind legs. Because of the back feet sliding action (rather than the
hard step of other breeds), the rider experiences little jarring action and is quite comfortable to sit for longer periods
of time without "posting" or "standing" in the saddle. The ability to travel long distances at a comfortable speed of
five to eight miles an hour made the Fox Trotting Horse a favorite of the country doctor, sheriff, assessor, and
ranchers. Today, the breed is in demand as a pleasure horse, show horse, and for cross-country trail riding. It is often
described as the common man's pleasure horse because of its gentle disposition. Missouri ranks number two in the
nation in cow/calf operations and Missouri Fox Trotting Horses are historically tied to the grazing cattle industry of
the Ozarks. When automobiles made horses almost obsolete in the every day lives of Ozarkians, the Missouri Fox
Trotter breed survived largely because of the cattlemen of the region continuing to use and breed them. Old Fox, one
of the breed's most influential sires, was a chestnut stallion that spent his adult life trailing cattle in southern Missouri
and northern Arkansas early in this century. Many famous families of the Fox Trotting Horse have been known
throughout the Ozarks and even to this day, the names of Copper Bottoms, Diamonds, Brimmers, Red Bucks, Chiefs
Steel Dusts, Cold Decks, and may others are recognized by horse breeders everywhere. Because of their stamina and
smooth ground-covering gait, the Missouri Fox Trotter has become very popular with field trial competitors and those
involved in the sport of long distance trail riding. Today, there are approximately 52,500 registered throughout the
United States, Canada, Austria, and Germany.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse should stand between 14 to 16 hands in height, be of good conformation, and able to
carry weight. The animal should stand well on its feet, be erect, and alert. The neck should be graceful and in
proportion to length of body and well-joined to the body. The horse should have a neat, clean, intelligently shaped
head; pointed ears that are well-shaped; good, large, bright eyes; and a tapered muzzle. The back should be
reasonably short and strong; the body deep and well ribbed. The flank should be full and the chest deep and full. The
shoulders should be properly sloped and well muscled. The legs should be muscular and well tapered. The foot should
be well made, strong, and in proper proportion to the to the size of the horse. The hair should be soft and silky. The
Missouri Fox Trotter may appear in the following colors: Bay, black, roan, brown, buckskin, chestnut, gray, palomino,
sorrel, tobiano, overo, white, cremello, perlino, champagne, and dun. The Missouri Fox Trot gait is basically a
diagonal gait. It may disfigure or overstep its track; provided it travels straight on all four legs and does a true Fox
Trot. The ideal characteristic of the Fox Trot shall be that the animal travels with animation, Fox Trot rhythm, and
style. The horse will travel in a collected manner. The Fox Trot should carry with it rhythm. The head should nod; the
ears should indicate the step and the tail should be part of the rhythm. The step should be springy, consistent, and
smooth. The up and down motion should not be not noticeable; but rather a smooth, gliding gait without swinging.
The Missouri Fox Trotter also performs a rapid flatfoot walk and a delightful canter or lope.

The Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) was founded in 1948 by fifteen men concerned with
preserving this unique breed. After a number of horses were registered in the Douglas County area, a fire destroyed
the secretary's home, along with the studbook and the records. Increasing interest in the Missouri Fox Trotter as a
show and pleasure horse brought about a reorganization of the breed association in 1958. Today, there are
approximately 52,500 registered Missouri Fox Trotters. The Breed's national headquarters and the Hall of Fame are
located on a beautiful 71-acre show ground nestled in the hills just outside of Ava, Missouri. The breed association
annually hosts a six-day Celebration Show in the fall. The Celebration, which crowns the champions of the breed, has
been an exciting annual event since 1959.
Ride a Fox Trotter and find out why it has been called the "horse industry's best kept secret." Come on......"Ride the
Glide."

Information provided by: The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association

~ Intro ~ About Us ~ What's New ~ DFE's Future Is A Dun ~ SCR's Special Attraction ~ Mares ~ For Sale ~
~ Videos ~ New Arrivals ~ Sold ~ Contact Us ~ Links ~ Training ~ MFT Info ~ Soy-Natural-E ~
HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF THE BREED
BREED CHARACTERISTICS
BREED ORGANIZATION
~ Intro ~ About Us ~ What's New ~ DFE's Future Is A Dun ~ SCR's Special Attraction ~ Mares ~ For Sale ~
~ Videos ~ New Arrivals ~ Sold ~ Contact Us ~ Links ~ Training ~ MFT Info ~ Soy-Natural-E ~