MFTHBA Annual Awards & Recognition

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association recognizes the people and horses whose accomplishments, participation, and contributions help strengthen the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse breed. These annual awards celebrate sportsmanship, achievement, responsible breeding and ownership practices, and those helping build the breed’s future.

Matthew Keeter Sportsmanship Award

Administered by: Membership Committee

The Matthew Keeter Sportsmanship Award recognizes an adult MFTHBA member who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and reflects positively on the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse community through respect, helpfulness, encouragement of others, and support of fellow members.

This is a member-nominated and member-selected award.

Nomination and Selection

• Nominees must be adult MFTHBA members.
• MFTHBA members may nominate a deserving individual.
• Nominations should include information explaining why the nominee exemplifies good sportsmanship.
• The MFTHBA office must receive nominations.
• MFTHBA members vote to select the recipient.
• If no nominations are received, no award is given for that year.

The award recognizes individuals whose character, conduct, and willingness to support others reflect positively on the MFTHBA.

Trainer of the Year

Administered by: Membership Committee

The MFTHBA Trainer of the Year Award recognizes consistent success throughout the show season based on points earned in official MFTHBA point classes.

Points are based on the number of horses competing in a class. In general, the larger the class, the more points available. Only official MFTHBA point classes count toward Trainer of the Year.

Trainer of the Year points are credited to the trainer listed in the show entry system, based on the information provided on the entry form. Exhibitors should review their entry receipt before showing to ensure the correct trainer is listed.

All applicable membership, ownership, exhibitor-card, horse, and class eligibility requirements must be met and recorded in the MFTHBA system before the class is held for points to count. Changes made afterward generally cannot be used to retroactively qualify for points.

Stallion of the Year

Administered by: Membership Committee

The MFTHBA Stallion of the Year Award recognizes the competitive success of a stallion’s offspring throughout the show season.

Points are earned through the performance of the stallion’s offspring in official MFTHBA point classes. Points are based on the number of horses competing in each class, with larger classes generally offering more available points.

The MFTHBA database contains the approved point classes and calculates points based on class results and applicable eligibility requirements.

To properly credit points, you must satisfy and record applicable membership, ownership, horse, exhibitor-card, and class eligibility requirements in the MFTHBA system before the class takes place. Changes made after a class generally cannot be used to retroactively qualify for points.

Breeding Sire of the Year

Administered by: Membership Committee

The MFTHBA Breeding Sire of the Year Award recognizes the stallion with the greatest number of qualifying foals registered during the calendar year.

The award highlights breeding stallions that contribute to the growth of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse breed, encourages timely foal registration, and supports accurate breed records.

Eligibility and Calculation

• The foal must be born during the calendar year being considered.
• The foal must be registered during that same calendar year.
• Only completed, fully processed registrations count.
• Registrations of horses born in previous years do not count toward the current year’s award.
• Each qualifying foal is credited to its registered sire.
• The stallion with the greatest number of qualifying registered foals is named Breeding Sire of the Year.

The Breeding Sire of the Year is recognized annually at the MFTHBA Spring Show.

Breeder of the Year

Administered by: Breeders Committee

The MFTHBA Breeder of the Year Award recognizes the breeder who registers the highest number of qualifying Missouri Fox Trotting Horse foals during a calendar year.

Eligibility

• The foal must be born during the calendar year being considered.
• The foal must be registered during that same calendar year.
• The breeder listed must also be the original recorded owner.
• Breeder and ownership names must match MFTHBA registry records.
• Only completed, fully processed registrations count.
• Registrations carried over from previous birth years do not count.

The program encourages prompt registration while recognizing breeders actively contributing to both the growth of the breed and the integrity of MFTHBA registry records.

The Breeder of the Year is recognized annually at the MFTHBA Spring Show, with additional recognition of leading breeders through MFTHBA communications.

Seller of the Year

Administered by: Breeders Committee

The MFTHBA Seller of the Year Award recognizes individuals who support accurate registry records and responsible ownership practices by ensuring transfers are properly completed when Missouri Fox Trotting Horses are sold.

The award is based on the most qualifying outgoing transfers in a calendar year.

Eligibility and Calculation

• Tracks the highest number of horses transferred from an owner in a calendar year.
• Transfers must occur during the award calendar year.
• Only completed and processed transfers count.
• The award measures outgoing transfers, or seller activity.

The program encourages sellers to complete transfer paperwork promptly, supports responsible transaction practices, improves registry accuracy, and helps maintain an accurate ownership history for Missouri Fox Trotting Horses.

The Seller of the Year is recognized annually at the MFTHBA Spring Show.

Producer of the Year

Administered by: Breeders Committee

The MFTHBA Producer of the Year Award recognizes individuals actively contributing to the growth and future of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse through the registration of young horses.

The award recognizes the individual responsible for registering the greatest number of eligible foals during a calendar year, demonstrating an investment in bringing young Missouri Fox Trotting Horses into the registry.

Eligibility and Calculation

• Horses must be registered with the MFTHBA during the award year.
• Only horses registered at 12 months of age or younger are eligible.
• Credit is given to the individual who pays for the registration, regardless of breeder, owner, or recorded agent status.
• Registrations must be completed, accepted, and paid in full during the award year.
• Award one point for each eligible registration.
• The individual with the most eligible registrations is named Producer of the Year.
• Registrations are credited to the individual responsible for payment, as recorded by the MFTHBA.

The Producer of the Year Award encourages prompt registration of young horses and recognizes individuals whose investment in registration supports the integrity of the breed registry, preserves the documented history of the breed, and contributes to the long-term success of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse.

Trail Horse of the Year

Administered by: Promotions Committee

The MFTHBA Trail Horse of the Year recognizes the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse achieving the highest qualifying trail mileage during the calendar year.

Eligibility and Recognition

• The horse must be the top-mileage Missouri Fox Trotting Horse on the Top Trail leaderboard at the end of the calendar year.
• The horse must also be enrolled in the Fox Trot America program.
• A completed Fox Trot America hours log must be submitted by the end of January following the award year.

The qualifying horse meeting these requirements is named the MFTHBA Trail Horse of the Year.

As a permanent recognition of this achievement, the horse’s name is added to the Trail Horse of the Year plaque in the MFTHBA Hall of Fame.

The award celebrates Missouri Fox Trotting Horses actively demonstrating one of the breed’s most valued qualities—the ability to carry their riders comfortably and dependably down the trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Breeder of the Year and Producer of the Year?

Although both awards encourage the registration of young Missouri Fox Trotting Horses, they recognize different contributions.

• Breeder of the Year recognizes the breeder who registers the greatest number of qualifying foals that are both born and registered during the same calendar year. The breeder must also be the original recorded owner.
• Producer of the Year recognizes the individual who pays for the registration of the greatest number of eligible horses registered at 12 months of age or younger. That individual does not have to be the breeder or owner of the horse.

In short, Breeder of the Year recognizes breeding and timely registration by the original breeder/owner, while Producer of the Year recognizes the individual making the investment to bring young horses into the MFTHBA registry.

What is the difference between Stallion of the Year and Breeding Sire of the Year?

Both awards recognize Missouri Fox Trotting Horse stallions, but they measure different accomplishments.

• Stallion of the Year is a show-based award. It is determined by points earned by a stallion’s offspring in official MFTHBA point classes throughout the show season.
• Breeding Sire of the Year is a registration-based award. It recognizes the stallion with the greatest number of qualifying foals that are both born and registered during the same calendar year.

In short, Stallion of the Year recognizes the competitive success of a stallion’s offspring, while Breeding Sire of the Year recognizes a stallion’s contribution to producing and registering the next generation of Missouri Fox Trotting Horses.

Why didn’t my show points count toward Trainer or Stallion of the Year?

Only official MFTHBA point classes count toward these awards. You must also meet all applicable eligibility requirements, and the MFTHBA system must reflect them when the class takes place. Purchasing a membership or exhibitor card, completing a transfer, or correcting horse information after the class generally does not make the points retroactively eligible.

How can I make sure my Trainer of the Year points are credited correctly?

Before showing, review your entry receipt and make sure the correct trainer is listed. Trainer of the Year points are assigned using the trainer entered in the show entry system.  Owners, trainers, and exhibitors should also verify memberships, exhibitor cards, horse ownership information, horse information, and other applicable eligibility requirements before competing.

How is Trail Horse of the Year selected?

Trail Horse of the Year is based on mileage rather than member nominations or show points.  The award goes to the top-mileage Missouri Fox Trotting Horse on the Top Trail leaderboard at the end of the calendar year, provided the horse is also enrolled in Fox Trot America and has a completed hours log submitted by the end of January.

The winning horse receives permanent recognition with its name added to the Trail Horse of the Year plaque in the MFTHBA Hall of Fame.

How do I nominate someone for the Matthew Keeter Sportsmanship Award?

MFTHBA members may nominate an adult MFTHBA member who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship. The MFTHBA office must receive nominations. After the nomination period, the MFTHBA office presents nominees to the membership, and MFTHBA members vote to select the recipient.