Missouri Fox Trotter

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: July 2nd, 2016

About Missouri Fox Trotter

Weight

900-1,200 lb

Physique

Medium-build, strong body

Lifespan

20-30 years

Best Suited For

All levels of riders and horse owners, including children and beginners

Temperament

Calm, docile, placid, reliable, enjoys the company of people, good-natured, has a desire to please its owners, intelligent

Comparable Breeds

Tennessee Walking Horse, American Standardbred Horse

Top Breed

Height

Missouri Fox Trotter Breed History

Over 100 years ago, the pioneers and settlers of the Ozark Mountains in the state of Arkansas in the United States were in need of a horse that would be able to perform a variety of work on a daily basis. These tasks included hauling logs and plowing fields, as a couple of examples. But the horses would also need to be appropriate for the working families who needed them for general riding as well. That’s how the Missouri Fox Trotter came into being.

As more people migrated to the western parts of the United States from places like Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, they brought a variety of horses, including the Morgan and Arabian equine breeds, as well as the Tennessee Walking Horse, the Standardbred, and the American Saddlebred. The result of these horses being bred with one another was the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, which was developed during the 1800s.

The Missouri Fox Trotter is known for its calm and gentle nature.

The Missouri Fox Trotter quickly became popular because it was versatile and had the stamina to travel over long distances. This unique horse also had a comfortable gait and a fearless attitude when it came to living and working on the difficult mountain terrain.

In the latter part of the 1940s, horse breeders created and established a group whose aim was maintaining a studbook for this new equine breed. This organization would later become known as the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breeder’s Association in 1958.

Today, the Missouri Fox Trotter is easily found throughout many parts of the United States, as well as Canada and some parts of Germany and Austria.

Breed Traits

The Missouri Fox Trotter is an equine breed that is able to work with horse owners and riders of all levels because it is known for its calm and gentle nature. This horse is docile and reliable, and it thoroughly enjoys being around people. For these reasons, it is an ideal choice for adults who are first learning to ride horses, as well as for those who are new at owning and caring for horses. The Missouri Fox Trotter is even a great option for children who want to start riding for the first time.

This horse breed is also popular because it is good-natured and intelligent. It is highly renowned for being peaceful and easygoing, and Missouri Fox Trotters are highly tolerant and adaptable to a variety of situations. And because of this breed’s comfortable ride, many people use these horses for pleasure riding and for exploring trails.

The Missouri Fox Trotter is docile and reliable, and it thoroughly enjoys being around people.

Overall Description

Missouri Fox Trotter horses feature a straight face profile and a muscular body with a short back. You will also notice that the neck is of medium length, and the head, which is held high, features bright eyes, pointed ears that are well shaped, and a tapered muzzle.

The withers are pronounced, the tail is set high, and the shoulders of the Missouri Fox Trotter are powerful and sloped at roughly a 45 to 50 degree angle. This horse’s legs are sturdy, tapered, and muscular, with properly shaped and well-proportioned hooves. Also, the flank of this horse breed is sleek, while the chest is full and deep, and the ribs are well sprung.

These horses are surefooted and have an unmistakable fox trot step, with a rhythmic gait that is smooth. They also have a walk and gallop that are enjoyable to the rider and to the observer. Overall, the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse is graceful, with poise and a relaxed disposition.

The Missouri Fox Trotter breed is also popular because it is good-natured and intelligent.

Colors

The Missouri Fox Trotter Horse comes in a wide range of lovely coat colors, including spotted. This makes it one of the horse breeds with the most diversified set of colors. There are also white markings on the legs and face.

Colors include chestnut, skewbald, piebald, grey, bay, brown, grullo, champagne, roan, cremello, perlino, palomino, buckskin, dun, and black.

Grooming Requirements

Like all other equine breeds, the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse requires consistent grooming to look its best. You can use a set of horse grooming tools that includes a body finishing brush, a curry comb, a dandy brush, a mane comb, a shedding blade, and a tail brush, to keep the coat clean and healthy from mane to tail. And you can also utilize a hoof pick that is designed to easily remove a variety of debris from your horse’s hooves, especially after riding for extended periods of time and over varied terrain on your favorite trails.

Photo credit: Kayla Oakes; Missouri Agriculture/Flickr; Kristen Dempsey/Flickr

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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In today’s day and age, with the climate and environment at great risk, we want to do anything we can to minimize our own carbon footprint and the damage we do to Mother Nature. Of course, our pets also have an environmental impact – and eco-conscious pet parents are always on the lookout for simple ways to reduce their pet’s carbon footprint (or pawprint if we’re being precise). Luckily, there are a lot of small but important steps that you can take in order to make your pet’s lifestyle and care much more eco-friendly without compromising the quality of life they are used to. Here's where to start if you want to become a more eco-friendly, sustainable dog owner!5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Dog's Environmental PawprintCaring for your pet can be challenging, and that’s no secret. However, the things that make it easier are not often very good for the environment, and can make your pet’s environmental pawprint significant. Luckily, it does not take too much of a change to turn that completely around and start improving that environmental impact, day by day. What follows are just a few of the basic steps you can take as a caring and responsible owner.#1 Be Responsible About Your Pet’s Waste Disposal:

Jolly Pets’ Annual “#WeGiveaJolly” Campaign Helps Shelter Dogs

Jolly Pets is the brand behind innovative, durable, and unique pet toys that are made entirely by domestic manufacturers – and every holiday season, they make an effort to spread joy, kindness, and love to all the pooches in need. This season, collaborating with 19 influencer ambassadors, they are once again heading their # WeGiveaJolly charitable campaign. Starting from November 28th until December 25th, Jolly Pets will donate a high-quality toy for every single purchase made. The toys will go to rescue dogs at 19 animal shelters in the USA, each represented by the influencer ambassadors, as announced by the marketing director of Jolly Pets, Louisa Casto. "The holiday season is a time for giving, and what better way to make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs than through the power of play and companionship. Jolly Pets understands the importance of providing joy and comfort to dogs awaiting their forever homes, and # WeGiveaJolly exemplifies our commitment to this cause," said Casto. "We believe that every dog deserves love, care, and happiness regardless of their circumstances. That's why we're excited to kick off our annual # WeGiveaJolly campaign, collaborating with compassionate ambassadors and animal shelters to make a real difference in a dog's life."This campaign will bring true holiday cheer across the country, especially to rescue dogs who are in dire need of some love and compassion.The ambassadors, shelters, and locations are as follows:@guidingeyesfortheblind for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights, NY@goodasgoldens for Canine Companions, Sacramento, CA@Jack_the_Sleeper for Fort Worth North Animal Care and Adoption Campus, Haslet, TX@moosethegoldenretriever for Rescue Village, Russell Twp., OH@cheriethesurfdog for Frenchies United Rescue, Claremont, CA@incredibullstella for Animal Help Alliance, Las Vegas, NV@iheartpgracie for Animal Care Centers of NYC, New York, NY@2rockstarlabs for Crossed Paws Animal Shelter, Woodsfield, OH@koda.laredo for Hoosier Bulldog Rescue, Indianapolis, IN@posies_pocketful_of_praise for Pickens Humane Society, Liberty, SC@ziggy_loving_life for Home Fur Good Animal Rescue, Phoenix, AR@maligator_apollo for PAWS Chicago, Chicago, IL@remingtonpup for Great Pyrenees Rescue Society, Spring, TX@gvl_golden_girls for Dog Squad, Greer, SC@enzo.and.bella for Friends of Detroit Animal Care & Control, Northville, MI@benny.n.lola for Humane Society Silicon Valley, Milpitas, CA@leuleu_theblue for the Pet Alliance Sanford Shelter, Orlando, FL@the.hero.dogs for Hot Mess Pooches, Homer, IL@fosterkittenhq for The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Arlington, VA"By participating in Jolly Pets # WeGiveaJolly campaign, our customers are not only providing joy to their own pets but also extending that joy to shelter dogs waiting for a loving home. It's a small act of kindness that can profoundly impact these dogs' lives," Casto said. "We encourage using the hashtag # WeGiveaJolly on social media to encourage friends and family to participate in this heartwarming initiative."To learn more about the # WeGiveaJolly campaign and to shop for Jolly Pets' durable and innovative pet toys, visit  https://jollypets.com/pages/wegiveajolly-annual-toy-drive.

This Special Camera Reveals How Our Pets See the World Around Them

Have you ever wondered how your pet  sees the world around them? We all know that the eyes of dogs, cats, and all other animals are not the same as ours, and they often see the world in a very different way. While all we could do is imagine and theorize up until now, thanks to a new breakthrough in technology we will be able to take a peek through the eyes of animals!Scientists have  invented a special camera that uses a unique combination of state-of-the-art hardware and software, in order to create videos and images that show us exactly how certain animals see. For example, with this latest tech, you will be able to see the vivid world of colors that are seen through the eyes of birds and bees. One of the recent demonstrations revealed how a UV-sensitive vision of a bird renders an orange sulfur butterfly - the result is more than striking, as it doesn’t look like anything related to human vision.

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