Missouri’s horse trots into new territory
story by Sarah Joplin and photos by Zach Smith | info@ruralmissouri.coop
The first horse trainer ever inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Geno Middleton, calls it the “horse bug.” He says if you are afflicted, it’s probably for life — and no doctor or therapist can do a thing to help. Geno should know. He’s trained horses for 43 years and is the third generation to have what he calls “a true sickness.” It seems the only cure for this would-be malady is spending time with horses.
For the Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative member whose grandfather and father-in-law helped found the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) in 1948 not just any horse will do. “If you’re a horse enthusiast and have never ridden a Missouri fox trotter, you need to put it on your bucket list,” says Geno, a MFTHBA Hall of Famer.
Geno Middleton of Pomona rides Another Hot And Sassy, the 2022 4-year-old Amateur World Grand Champion, outside the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association grounds in Ava.
This particular breed originated when settlers in the Ozark Mountains crossed a number of gaited horse breeds in an effort to yield a solid horse with intelligence, vigor, ease of handling, careful footing and versatility to meet the needs of pioneer life. Its smooth and comfortable ride coupled with the ability to travel long distances at a brisk pace made the breed a preference among rural doctors, sheriffs and ranchers.
More recently, its practical and pleasurable seat has become useful for U.S. Forest Service rangers in western states, a favorite among trail riders, often selected for disabled riding programs and desirable for children and those with minor back trouble. No wonder the Missouri fox trotter is widely considered the Cadillac of the horse world and was designated the Show-Me State Horse in 2002.
The show ring at the MFTHBA headquarters in Ava plays host to numerous seminars, shows and clinics, including the Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity Show in June and the World Show and Celebration in September.
Having worked with the breed since 1987, JoAnn and George Becker report customers in four countries and upwards of 30 states. The Black River Electric Cooperative members and their team breed, raise, train, rent and sell Missouri fox trotters near the Ozark Trail that runs through the Mark Twain National Forest. Their 350-acre operation is comprised of Valley Springs Fox Trotters (barn and training facility), Valley Springs Youth Camp and Brushy Creek Outdoor Adventures (lodge, resort, cabins and campgrounds).
JoAnn claims the draw to the fox trotter is almost like an addiction. “They are so easy to work with,” she says. “I love their personality and disposition; the more you do with them, the more they love it.” She fondly recalls years back when George demonstrated the horse’s steady gait by getting a cup of coffee at a drive-thru while on horseback. Friends on other mounts, she says, attempted the same but only George didn’t spill a drop.
Such testimony is mirrored in the moniker of the MFTHBA itself: “To ride one is to own one.” For a horse to be an official fox trotter, it must descend from a registered stallion and mare and undergo DNA testing. Three characteristic gaits including the flat foot walk, fox trot and canter are considered standard for the breed. These three- or four-beat deliberate, diagonal gaits are unique in that the horse always has a foot on the ground.
Continuous footfalls yield the steady ride by eliminating moments of suspension followed by the jolt of paired legs hitting the ground.
Jim McNail of De Soto adjusts the bridle on a horse.
Trainer Mike Meizler of Rafter M Training Stables in Thayer is one of just 27 clinicians worldwide to be featured in this year’s Art of the Horseman online equine fair. The Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative member works primarily with trail horses but knows firsthand how versatile fox trotters are. He sold the winning cattle-sorting horse he rode in 2018 to a man who now uses it to play polo.
Another horse Mike raised went on to be among those ridden by the “Saltwater Cowboys,” who herd hundreds of Virginia and Maryland wild ponies and their foals in the waters between the Assateague and Chincoteague islands each spring.
“These horses are doing incredible things that nobody ever thought a fox trotting horse could do,” he says.
He’s equally enthusiastic about the National Trail Ride program, which grew exponentially while he was MFTHBA trail committee chairman. For 2023, 28 national trail rides are scheduled in 10 states. Whereas trail programs of other breeds are based on an individual honor system, the fox trotter program organizes groups of riders. “That’s why the program exploded in the past few years; it’s about fun, relaxation, enjoyment and inclusion,” Mike says.
The camaraderie and competition of the MFTHBA are highlighted during two annual shows at the expansive headquarters in Ava, which is served by White River Valley Electric Cooperative. Multiple shows throughout the year are well attended, but the big event is the weeklong World Show and Celebration in September. During his tenure as MFTHBA president, Mark Mackie even saw the week of this event be designated as Missouri Fox Trotter Week by the state legislature.
Over the course of the week that commences with Labor Day weekend, the event draws thousands of participants and spectators. The celebration includes close to 140 classes in performance, versatility, model, ranch horse and ranch sorting. “There’s nothing like getting together with a bunch of fox trotting friends; they can be competitive but also friendly,” says Mark, an Ozark Electric Cooperative member and member of the MFTHBA Hall of Fame. He describes MFTHBA as more of a halter than a bridle, as it provides structure, opportunities and resources without being overly restrictive.
Geno has trained horses, such as Another Hot And Sassy, for 43 years.
A sister organization, the German Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Association, was established in 1992 and has continued to expand and now includes owners in a number of European countries. With horses from Canada to New Zealand, this sure-footed horse from the heartland is steadily trotting its way into widespread popularity.
For more information about the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association, visit mfthba.com or call 417-683-2468. The group’s annual Spring Show and Three Year Old Futurity show takes place in June and the World Show & Celebration takes place in September.
Joplin is a freelance writer from Loose Creek.