The original fox trotters were a part of the family here in the Ozarks. These horses were depended upon for their surefootedness in the mountainous region of the Ozarks and their ability to do whatever was needed around the homestead, such as plowing, hauling logs, and working cattle. At the same time they were able to double as a stylish buggy horse or riding horse for the family. Whatever was needed this "using" horse from the homestead, which eventually became known as the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, proved capable and adaptable. The horses raised on our farm today are much the same as they were then.
We have several MFT's which we use for many purposes. One of these purposes is working cattle. Even though we don't have any cattle our horses do get used quite a lot for this activity. Our neighbor has cows and on occassion has not been in the best of health. Consequently, we have worked his cattle for him horseback. (We only own MFT's.). There has been lots for them to do including returning a few cows that he bought at the sale barn that jump fences and a bull that found out he could crash through them. Then there are the calves.....Bob usually uses our stallion, which is also his riding horse, for this, but has also used Sassafrass--shown in the spotlighted picture on the Newsletter being ridden at a foxtrot without a bridle--and her mom and my riding horse, Franny.
It's not JUST cattle these MFT's work that make them using horses, though. When we had an ice storm and the electric company needed to clear downed trees from the power lines Bob used both Yankee and Sassafrass to haul the logs and brush to the chipper. The work really needed to be done and the men hired to do the job really needed and wanted to work, but they could not get a truck into the area. With the help of the horses the necessary work was accomplished for the good of all.
Then there was the time that a man's horse on a trail ride jumped off a cliff with his rider on him. Bob's horse was the only horse out of all on the trail ride, made up of many, many quarter horses, that was sure footed enough to go down into the canyon. If a horse had not gone down that cliff the horse that had jumped off the cliff would have been left in the canyon because no one was willing to ride it out and the horse had not been broke to lead. The horse had not even been halter broke so Bob had to take a few minutes to do that, as well, before leading him out horseback.
Then there are things that our horses help with around here that are just part of living in the country. Sassafrass helps Bob mend fence by stretching it tight for him. She is much better help than I am! She has also helped pick blackberries and worked around ostriches and emus (another one of our neighbor's sidelines.)
The great thing about fox trotters is that they are not just "another pretty horse", but they are a part of the family doing everything that is called for along side the rest of the family members. To this date, ours have now pulled buggys and carts and farm equipment, they are exceptional trail riding horses, enjoy parades and flag ceremonies, and seem to be the happiest when they are "doing" something as a part of the family.
When you include the family trail rides,the sportting events(which both Bob and the horses enjoy, such as barrel racing and pole bending, etc.), and that these horses can perform along side working quarter horses, which ours have done and put some good quarter horse people in awe, why would anyone want to own something other than a truly versatile fox trotter!
Copyright © 2000 Charlotte Blackwell for the Missouri
Foxtrotter News. All rights reserved.