On the trail: Alpert says Fox Trotters make great mountain horses, in part because their hallmark gait carries them with surefooted ease over rocky or uneven trails. "And they round their backs and know how to use their rear ends," she says. "You can't pull yourself over the Rocky Mountains, but you can push yourself over."
Says Warfel, "We've had our Fox Trotters on trails out West, mostly Montana, and they've performed beyond our expectations. On one trip, we were at a fairly high elevation when we could see a major storm brewing in the distance. We'd started down the mountain when the storm hit full force. There was thunder, lightning, rain, wind, and hail. Although our Trotters weren't fond of any of it, they never missed a beat."
The Trail Rider feature writers Kent and Charlene Krone ride extensively in the United States and western Canada. Their breed of choice: the Missouri Fox Trotter. "We love their smooth ride and fast, ground-covering walk," Kent says. "We've never had any problems going over rocks and rivers, or through mud and bogs. My gelding, Buddy, is the smartest of the 30 horses I've owned and has the most interesting personality."
The Krones purchased the handsome buckskin from MFTHBA Hall of Famer Paul Senteney. They purchased Charlene's horse, Scout, from Montana legend Bill Free; the gelding is by Free's Fox Trotter stallion, Clouds Real McCoy.
The couple has traveled hundreds of miles aboard their Fox Trotters. "One of my favorite memories is of riding across the eerie moonscape of the Badlands of North Dakota," says Kent. "We rode at a fox trot, then a canter, while a group of wild horses paralleled us across a nearby hillside. They raised their heads a bit higher, but they didn't spook or attempt to run away. Farther along the trail, we rode through a buffalo herd."
One unforgettable August night, the couple camped on Montana's Continental Divide. When their campfire died, they stretched out on the ground to watch fireworks above as the summer sky lit up with the Perseid meteor shower.
"After a while, we looked over to see Buddy and Scout laying down in their corral, just 10 feet away," Kent recalls. "We figured they were watching the shooting stars, too. It was a neat feeling. Our horses have given us the greatest experiences of our lives."
Selection savvy: Buy a horse with trail experience. Age doesn't necessarily equate experience: The 6-year-old horse with three years of trail experience will usually be better than the 10-year-old with none.
Test drive the horse on trail: Cross water, and climb hills.
Spend time with the horse on the ground, and get to know his personality. Take a few lessons, and learn to recognize the Fox Trotter's special gaits, and when and how to cue for them.
Consider heading to a riding-vacation destination that offers Fox Trotter mounts, such as Bucks & Spurs Guest Ranch in Ava, Missouri, Golden Acres Foxtrotter Ranch Rest N' Ride in Belleview, Florida, or Meramec Farm in Bourbon, Missouri.
