Ask anyone who isn’t a horse person about the foxtrot, and they’ll likely talk about a smooth, progressive dance with long, flowing movements. In the foxtrot dance, dancing partners glide across the floor. Ask anyone who knows about Missouri Fox Trotters, and they’ll speak similarly of the gait the breed is known for, with horse and rider as the dancing partners.
In the foxtrot gait, the horse walks with his front legs and trots with his hind legs. It’s a diagonal, four-beat gait, with the front foot hitting the ground just before the opposite hind foot. The back feet move in a sliding action, rather than up and down.
In addition to the foxtrot, Missouri Fox Trotters have: a four-beat, flat-footed lateral walk that can take place at considerable speed; a slow four-beat trail walk; and an expressive, three-beat rocking-horse canter. The breed has a large stride but remains surefooted, even on rough terrain.
**For the full article, pick up the September 2007 issue of HORSE ILLUSTRATED.**
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