TRAILBLAZING FOX TROTTERS Missouri's horse trots into new territory by Sarah Joplin | T info@ruralmissouri.coop photos by Zach Smith he fi rst horse trainer ever inducted into the issouri ports all of ame eno iddleton calls it the horse bug. e says if you are af icted it's probably for life and no doctor or therapist can do a thing to help. eno should kno. e's trained horses for years and is the third generation to have hat he calls a true sickness. t seems the only cure for this ould-be malady is spending time ith horses. or the oell-regon lectric ooperative member hose grandfather and father-in-la helped found the issouri o rotting orse reed ssociation in not ust any horse ill do. f you're a horse enthusiast and have never ridden a issouri fo trotter you need to put it on your bucket list says eno a all of amer. 42 RURAL MISSOURI | OCTOBER 2023 his particular breed originated hen settlers in the ark ountains crossed a number of gaited horse breeds in an effort to yield a solid horse ith intelligence vigor ease of handling careful footing and versatility to meet the needs of pioneer life. ts smooth and comfortable ride coupled ith the ability to travel long distances at a brisk pace made the breed a preference among rural doctors sheriffs and ranchers. ore recently its practical and pleasurable seat has become useful for .. orest ervice rangers in estern states a favorite among trail riders often selected for disabled riding programs and desirable for children and those ith minor back trouble. o onder the issouri fo trotter is idely considered the adillac of the horse orld and as designated the ho-e tate orse in . aving orked ith the breed since onn and eorge ecker report customers in four countries and upards of states. he lack iver lectric ooperative