The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

When in the 1820s the rough and rocky terrain of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas was settled, people recognized the urgent need for a sure-footed horse being able to travel long distances in a convenient way. The settlers brought along their possessions, as well as their best horses. The breeding of the Missouri-Foxtrotting- Horse was based mainly on Arabians, Morgans and plantation horses from the deep south. Later, American breeding material, such as Tennessee Walker, Standardbreds, has been brought in to give the horse an attractive appearance and a gentle character.

The ability to travel long distances at a speed of 10 - 15 km / h in a pleasant way,

made the Fox Trotting Horse the favourite horse of doctors, sheriffs, officials and ranchers.
The Missouri Foxtrotting Horse is still the preferred working horse for the hard job of the

cowboys and forest rangers and is therefore called "Cowboy‘s Cadillac".

Many trail- and pleasure-riders have discovered the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse as the ideal partner for their purposes.

Missouri Foxtrotting horses are balanced, sure-footed,

undemanding and human related family horses.

They can be used for almost all kinds of equestrian sports.

Since the mid-nineties there are Missouri Fox Trotting horses

also in Europe and the breed is becoming very popular for trail-, endurance- and pleasure-riders.

The gaits of the Missouri-Foxtrotting-Horse

The Walk

Walk is a natural, flat four beat gait at a low speed.

The Flat Foot Walk

The flat foot walk is a flat four-beat lateral gait - over stride is desirable.

The Foxtrot

The foxtrot - name-giving for the breed - is a diagonal four-beat gait - the horse is walking in front and trotting behind, with reach in every stride.

The front foot hits the ground split-second

before the opposite rear foot. The back foot disfigures or oversteps the track made by the front.

The head shakes with the rhythm of the gait,

the tail balances the movements of the head.

The Running Walk

The running walk shows the same pattern as

the flat foot walk but at a higher speed and

with more over stride.

The Canter

The Canter is a three-beat gait, executed in a straight manner on either hand, smooth and flexible, with a long reach.

Gallop

The gallop is an extended four-beat gait - smooth with tender movements.

Single Foot

The single foot is an even four-beat gait with sometimes only a single foot on the ground.

This gait allows for rather high speed.