It’s glorious May! Trails are starting to finally dry up so we can now get our Missouri Fox Trotters in condition to take us out on trail adventures, clinics and shows. That four-beat walk is so important as it is the precursor to the fox trot. Get your horse’s head in the right position so your horse isn’t pacing or trotting. Sit properly in the saddle to encourage the proper gait. Find the right speed and you’ll soon be gaiting down the trail. Michigan has so many to explore! For more gaiting help, check out Gaye DeRusso on YouTube.
Are you shopping for a Missouri Fox Trotter? Make sure you buy from a trustworthy seller. A breeder would be best. There are a couple in Michigan but more outside of our state. Visit michiganfoxtrottinghorse.com to see our breeders, their contact information and their horses. If you want to breed to a good stallion, Chuck Fanslow in Gladwin, Michigan, has a couple who have the Cotton-Eyed Joe bloodline. John and Kelly Sweet in Barton City, Michigan, have a stallion with Southern Sunrise bloodline. Either way, you will end up with a well-gaited foal. Charleen Ostrom and Susan Williams have a couple of registered well-bred Palomino mares available. They have great personalities too. You would have to saddle train them. Call Ostrom and Williams at 517-755-9899 for more details.
Some people are getting grade gaited horses that are touted as being Missouri Fox Trotters. A DNA test could help identify the breed. Then you could find out from the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association if the horse either has papers or is registerable. I was in that situation and they helped me.
If you get an unbroke Missouri Fox Trotter, you could either train it yourself or hire a trainer to do it. You want a qualified honest person to do it and to give you lessons with your horse along the way. Learn the trainer’s cues so you can get the proper gait when you want it. A Masterson Method Clinic will be held at Hands on Harmony in Dewitt, Michigan, from May 16-17. Improve the performance, relationship and communication with your horse. Contact courses@mastersonmethod.com for more information and to secure your spot.
Gaited clinician Carl Bledsoe will be at Morning View Farm, LLC in Ionia, Michigan, from Aug. 28-29. Contact Susan Williams at 517-755-9899 for more information and to reserve your spot. He provides one-on-one coaching. Each horse is different and so needs specialized instruction with you aboard. He’s great so give him a try. Check out mfthba.com for the list of programs, trail rides, clinics and shows that they offer. Become a member, earn points on National Trail Rides to earn prizes. Sign up for Fox Trot America too.
Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association’s mission is to educate those interested in Missouri Fox Trotters and to promote the breeding, training and enjoyment of them in Michigan.
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Ready to ride: Getting your horse from winter rest to trail best
Reporting by Marilyn Mannino, Farmers’ Advance / Farmers Advance
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
