Missouri Fox Trotters are one of the oldest breeds in America. It is an extremely popular horse in the US.
One of the earliest and most prominent families was the Brimmer, which was descended from a racehorse of that name, who traced to the important Thoroughbred Jolly Rogers. The Brimmer horses were bred by Moses Locks Alsup, whose family had settled in the Ozark Hills before the Civil War(1861-1865). The Kissees were another family famous for their horses. They established the Diamond and Fox strains, while William Dunn, using a 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 Cothan Dare, a prolific sire of Trotters in Douglas, Wright, and Ozark countries. Some infusions of Tennessee Walker blood were also introduced to the breed.
The Fox Trotter performs an active walk(a gait) 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, reducing concussion in the lower limbs and reducing movement in the back , allowing it to remain peculiarly level. As a result, the rider able to sit undisturbed in the saddle without feeling the effects of the action. The fox trotter can be maintained over long distances between 5-8 mph, and over short stretches, speeds of 10 mph can be reached. The gait accompanied by an up-and-down movement of the head, similar to that of the Walking Horse, while the slightly elevated tails 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 in between the low, fat, 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 hooves with specially designed shoes is a forbidden at shows, and if coronet or legs, indicating the use of chains they will suffer immediate disqualification. In show classes 40% is awarded for the fox trot and 20% each for the walk,canter, and general conformation. Unlike the Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walker, the Missouri Fox Trotter is usually ridden in western tack.
The Fox Trotter stands at 14-16 hands(56-64 in). The predominant coloration is chestnut in all shades, usually with white markings, although any color 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 somewhere 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 surefootedness, is an ideal and very reliable trail riding horse that is economical to keep.
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