Missouri Fox Trotter

The Missouri Fox Trotter is one of the oldest yet least known of the American breeds. As settlers moving westwards across the Mississippi from the hills and plantations of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia made their homes in the Ozark Hills of Missouri, so began the commencement of the breed . They were a sporting people, and took with them Thoroughbred horses as well as Morgans and Arabs.

The mares were bred to the fastest sires and a number of famous families developed, most of which were called after the founding stallion. A stud book was opened in 1948, and within 30 years contained over 15,000 registrations.

FOUNDING FAMILIES
One of the earliest and most prominent families was the Brimmer, which was descended from a racehorse of that name, who traced to the imported Thoroughbred, Jolly Roger. The Brimmer horses were bred by Moses Locke Alsup, whose family had settled in the Ozark Hills before the Civil War (1861-65). The Kissees were another family famous for its horses. They established the Diamond and Fox strains, while William Dunn, using good Morgan horses from Illinois and Kentucky, to which was added a Thoroughbred cross, produced Old Skip, who became a prepotent sire. Later, two great Saddlebred sires
were used to improve the breed: Chief, who was from the founding Denmark strain, and Cotham Dare, a prolific sire of Trotters in Douglas, Wright, and Ozark counties. Some infusions of Tennessee Walker blood were also introduced to the breed.

THE FOX TROT
Originally, horses such as the Brimmers, the Colddecks, and the Copper Bottoms were bred to race, as well as to be all-round utility horses. However, Puritan religious intolerance soon put a stop to what was regarded as a frivolous and thus sinful pastime. As a result, the Ozark horsemen concentrated their efforts on the production of a new type of horse suited specifically to their conditions and needs.

What was wanted was a strong, enduring horse with a smooth action that would take it long distances over rough ground with a minimum of fatigue to itself and its rider. As a result of fixing a type through skilful in-breeding and adding Saddlebred blood, very smooth-moving horse evolved, which employed a unique, characteristic gait that proved ideal. The gait, called the fox trot, is a broken gait that ensures great sure-footedness. In simple terms the horse performs an active walk in front while trotting behind, the hind feet stepping down and sliding over the track of the forefeet.

The sliding action, which must be entirely straight, reduces concussion in the lower limbs and reduces movement in the back very considerably, allowing it to remain peculiarly level. As a result, the rider is able to sit undisturbed in the saddle without feeling the effects of the action. The fox trot can be maintained over long distances at between 8-12 km/h (5-8 mph), and over short stretches speeds of 16 km/h (10 mph) can be reached. The gait is accompanied by an up-and-down movement of the head, similar to that of the Walking Horse, while the slightly elevated tail bobs rhythmically.

The other gaits are the four-time walk, performed with the hind feet distinctly overstriding the front track, and the canter, which is between the low, fast, long-rein lope of the cow pony and the high, slow gait of the Tennessee Walker or Saddlebred. Unlike the last two horses, the Fox Trotter is not a high-stepper and no artificial appliances such as false tails or tail sets, the latter giving a high upright carriage to the tail, are allowed.

Similarly, excessive weighting of the feet with specially designed shoes is forbidden at shows, and if any horse is seen to have sores round the coronet or legs, indicating the use of chains, they will suffer immediate disqualification. In show classes 40 per cent is awarded for the fox trot and 20 per cent each for the walk, canter, and general conformation. Unlike the Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walking Horse, the Missouri Fox Trotter is usually ridden in western gear.

CHARACTERISTICS
The Fox Trotter stands between 1.42 and 1.63 m (14-16 hh). The predominant coloration is chestnut in all shades, usually with white markings, although any colour is accepted. The Fox Trotter has to have a back of reasonable length to perform the fox trot gait, but is otherwise a fairly compact, well-made horse though somewhat plain in appearance. All horse shows in the Ozark area will feature classes for the breed but for most owners, whether adults or children, the Fox Trotter, with its easy gait and reassuring sure-footedness, is an ideal and very reliable trail riding horse, which is economical to keep.