HISTORY OF THE FOX TROTTER . . .

      The Missouri Fox Trotter is known for its smooth, sure-footed ride and it's willing and gentle nature.  Their sure-footed, ground covering gait called the Fox Trot has made them a favorite mount for the U.S. Forest Service, hunters, endurance riders, field trial enthusiasts, ranchers, on Hollywood movie sets, as parade horses, carriage horses and many other things.  A large percentage of registered Missouri Fox Trotters are owned by people who use them for trail and pleasure riding.  They are also very popular as a show horse, where they have been recognized for their beauty and style in the show ring. The Missouri Fox Trotter is quickly earning the reputation as a versatile horse that can easily adapt to all situations.

      The Missouri Fox Trotter has three natural gaits; the long and easy going flat foot walk, the smooth and comfortable fox trot, and the "rocking horse" canter.  The Fox Trot is basically called a "broken" diagonal gait, because if watched very closely, the two paired diagonal legs do not land exactly at the same time as seen in a regular trot displayed by non-gaited horse breeds.  The horse performs this gait by walking in front and trotting behind with reach in each stride.  The hind hoofs reach well forward and touch down with a sliding action, rather than the hard step of other breeds.  The rider experiences little jarring action and is quite comfortable to sit for long periods of time without posting or "standing" in the saddle.  The tail and head are carried slightly elevated, giving the FO a graceful carriage.  The rhythmic beat of the hooves, along with the nodding action of the head, give the Fox Trotter the appearance of relaxation and poise.  The characteristic of the Fox Trot is that the horse travels with animation, rhythm and style.  The natural rhythm of the horse starts at the tip of the nose and goes back to the tip of the tail in one continuous motion.  They are not a high stepping horse, their step is springy, consistent and smooth.  They can travel from 5 miles per hour up to 12 miles per hour or more at the Fox Trot.  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, which has made them one of the most versatile and loved of horse breeds within the equine registries.

      The Missouri Fox Trotting horse comes in a variety of colors and stands between 14 to 16 hands in height, with a neat clean intelligent shaped head, pointed ears that are well-shaped, nice large bright eyes and a tapered muzzle.  Their neck should be graceful in proportion to the length of their body.  The back should be reasonably short and strong and the body deep and well ribbed.  The flank should be full and the chest deep and full.  Shoulders should be properly sloped and well muscled.  The legs should be muscular and well tapered and their feet should be well made, strong and in proper proportion to the size of a horse.  Their coats be should soft and silky and their manes and tails long and flowing.

      The Missouri Fox Trotting horse was developed primarily from saddle horses and light harness horses that early settlers brought with them to the rugged hills of the Ozarks during the 19th century.  These early settlers brought their finest saddle stock with them.  These horses were depended upon for their sure-footedness in their mountainous region and their ability to do whatever was needed about 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.  The easy gaited horses who left their genetic imprint on the Fox Trotting Horses of the Ozarks, were the American Saddle Horses of Kentucky, Walking Horses of Tennessee, Arabian, Morgan, Thoroughbreds, horses of the initial Spanish-Barb ancestry, plantation horses from the deep South and other light breeds. These breeds were combined to give the Fox Trotting Horse a smooth gait along with a pleasing appearance and disposition.  Their bloodlines can be traced from early settlers who poured across the Mississippi River, into the Ozarks, from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

      The story of the Fox Trotters would not be complete unless we mentioned a few of the many breeders whose names have been synonymous with good horseflesh since the pioneer days of this section.  Some gave their name or the name of a famous sire they owned to a family of horses.  Many of these families, all tracing their ancestry back to early sires, have long been known in the Ozarks. These early settlers of the rugged Ozark Mountains knew what they wanted in a good saddle horse - a gentle disposition, good conformation, soundness and a superb, sure-footed, smooth-riding horse with good looks to boot.  Many of these famous families were the Copper Bottoms, Diamonds, Brimmers, Red Bucks, Chiefs, Steel Dusts, Cold Decks and many others that are recognized to this day by horse breeders everywhere.

      In 1948, a studbook for the breed was opened by fifteen men concerned with preserving this unique all-American horse. That same year, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, located in Ava, Missouri was reorganized and reincorporated. From 1968 through 1973, the association decided to convert from a stock company to a membership corporation.  With this change came a greater interest and participation in our breed and the association itself.  Registrations picked up substantially after 1968 and have continued to grow ever since.  The association had kept it's registry open and still accepted horses that could qualify as characteristic foundation stock  until January of 1982.  Beginning the first day of that year, all horses approved under saddle to be registered in the MFTHBA, were required to have at least one parent permanently registered in the MFTHBA, in order to be accepted into the register.  Then, beginning on the first day of January, 1983, any horse approved under saddle for registration had to have both parents permanently registered in the MFTHBA in order to be eligible for registration.  These regulations brought to the Association what is referred to as "closed books." In 1976, the association purchased land just outside of Ava, Missouri, to establish a show ground's to use in putting on their annual Show and Celebration.  Prior to this time, the Ava fairgrounds had housed the Jubilee each September, but it's facilities had become somewhat inadequate to hold the large crowds in attendance.  Also, in 1976, stall barns were constructed on the newly acquired land and several camper hookups and lighting facilities were established.  Since then, there have been more stall barns added, more camper hookups, increased seating in the main arena, more warm up arenas, a versatility arena, restroom facilities & etc. to handle the large influx of fox trotters, exhibitors and spectators who come to Ava for the Show and Celebration each September.  In 1981, because of it's devoted members and supporters, the construction of an office building and adjoining Hall of Fame area was built on the grounds. The association has continued through the years and attempts to interest people from all over the United States and Europe in the fox trotters and into attending the annual Show and Celebration.  Breeders from all parts of the country have worked hard to develop this multi-talented breed of horse into the much sought after pleasure horse and show horse of today. The motto expressed by the association and it's members is "To Ride One Is To Own One!"

For more information on the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, contact the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association at:

Post Office Box 1027

Ava, Missouri 65608

call 417-683-2468.