Missouri Fox Trotter is an American horse breed developed in the Ozark region of Missouri in the nineteenth century by settlers crossing Morgan, Arabian, American Saddlebred and Standardbred stock, selecting for a distinctive broken diagonal gait called the fox trot, in which the horse walks with its front feet while trotting with its hind feet, producing a smooth, sliding motion comfortable for riders spending long hours in rough, hilly terrain. The gait was especially valued by Ozark farmers and cattlemen who needed a mount suited to long days working steep, rocky ground without tiring the rider. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, founded in 1948, maintains the breed's registry and standard. The breed remains popular today for trail riding and pleasure riding, prized for its smooth gait, calm disposition and stamina over rough terrain.
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1. Missouri Fox Trotter (Wikipedia)
lead: developed in the Ozark Mountains by settlers in the early 19th centuryView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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