Missouri State Horse: Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

Missouri Fox Trotting Horse

(Equus caballus)

Adopted on June 4, 2002.

On June 4, 2002, the Missouri fox trotting horse became Missouri's official state horse. Missouri fox trotters, Equus caballus, were developed in the rugged Ozark hills of Missouri during the early 19th century. Bloodlines can be traced from early settlers to Missouri from the neighboring states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas. The distinguishing characteristic of the fox trotter is its rhythmic gait, in which the horse walks with the front feet and trots with the hind feet. This gait gives the rider a smooth gentle ride. (RSMo 10.140)

The Missouri Fox Trotter was developed in the rugged Ozark Mountains during the nineteenth century by setters who needed smooth-riding, durable mounts that could travel at a comfortable, surefooted gait for long distances.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse should stand 14 to 16 hands in height, be of good confirmation and able to carry weight. The animal should stand well on its feet, be erect and alert. The neck should be graceful, in proportion to length of body and well-joined to the body. The Fox Trotting Horse should have a neat, clean, intelligently-shaped head; pointed ears that are well-shaped; good, large, bright eyes; and a tapered muzzle. The back should be reasonably short and strong; the body deep and well-ribbed. The flank should be full and the chest deep and full. The shoulders should be properly sloped and well-muscled. The legs should be muscular and well-tapered. The foot should be well made, strong and in proper proportion to the size of the horse. The hair should be soft and silky. The Missouri Fox Trotter may appear in the following colors bay, black, roan, brown, buckskin, chestnut, gray, palomino, sorrel, tobiano, overo, white, cremello, perlino, and champagne.

The Missouri Fox Trot gait is basically a diagonal gait. The horse will perform this gait by walking in front and trotting behind with reach in each stride. It may disfigure or overstep its track, provided it travels straight on all four legs and does a true Fox Trot. The ideal characteristic of the Fox Trot shall be that the animal travel with animation, Fox Trot rhythm and style. The horse will travel in a collected manner. The Fox Trot should carry with it rhythm. The head should nod, the ears should indicate the step and the tail should be part of the rhythm. The step should be springy, consistent and smooth. The up and down motion should not be noticeable, but rather a smooth gliding gait without swinging. The Missouri Fox Trotter also performs a rapid flat-foot walk and a delightful canter.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom

Animalia -- animals

Phylum

Chordata -- chordates

Subphylum

Vertebrata -- vertebrates

Class

Mammalia

Order

Perissodactyla

Family

Equidae

Genus

Equs

Species

caballus

Mammals are one group of animals. Bears, monkeys and dolphins are mammals. So are humans. But what makes a mammal a mammal?

an·i·mal (ān'ə-məl)
n.

1. A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia, differing from plants in certain typical characteristics such as capacity for locomotion, nonphotosynthetic metabolism, pronounced response to stimuli, restricted growth, and fixed bodily structure.
2. An animal organism other than a human, especially a mammal.

mam·mal (mām'əl)
n.

Any of various warm-blooded vertebrate animals of the class Mammalia, including humans, characterized by a covering of hair on the skin and, in the female, milk-producing mammary glands for nourishing the young.

State Animals and Mammals