While known as a smooth gaited, all around horse, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse is loved by many as a trail companion. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) is excited to announce a partnership to further recognize the many miles Missouri Fox Trotters spend on the trail each year.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Top Trail, America’s Trail Horse Mileage Program,” shared Dr. Joyce Graening, MFTHBA President.  The program officially launches June 1.

“MFTHBA members are avid trail riders.  Our members who are competitive in the show arena also spend time trail riding their fox trotters,” added Dr. Graening. “The Top Trail program compliments the MFTHBA’s Fox Trot America Program and adds another opportunity to showcase our breed on the trail.”

The MFTHBA’s Fox Trot America Program recognizes Missouri Fox Trotting Horses based on hours ridden. Top Trail recognizes horses and riders based on verifiable miles ridden. Trail miles are recorded, uploaded, and verified using a GPS device or smartphone app.

“Top Trail has become the fastest growing, most innovative online mileage program for the American Trail Horse, and we are excited to announce the development of Top Trail Groups where other breed and trail associations can start their own Horse Mileage Program,” states J.R. Hull, the founder of Open Trail.  Top Trail’s Managing Partner, Troy Lynn Norris, adds “We welcome MFTHBA’s Fox Trot America Program to our great program and look forward to the partnership and opportunity it will provide to their members to showcase their horses.”

Top Trail recognizes participating riders and horses quarterly, monthly, and annually with Top Trail honors. Through the partnership established between both organizations, MFTHBA members and registered Missouri Fox Trotters will be eligible for additional recognition.

“The MFTHBA will provide special awards for the top five Missouri Fox Trotting Horses,” shared MFTHBA Region 4 Director, Amber Wilson. “We will also provide an additional award for the top mileage horse that is also enrolled in our Fox Trot America Program.”

To be eligible for the special awards, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse’s registration number must be provided when registering the horse for the Top Trail program. Top Trail has established a special registration page  to facilitate capturing horse registration information for new and existing Top Trail members to enroll in the Fox Trot America mileage program. In order to be eligible to receive the special MFTHBA awards, the horse’s owner of record on file with the MFTHBA must also be a current MFTHBA member.

Starting this fall, participants will be able to track their progress with the launch of a special leaderboard which will rank Top Trail registered Missouri Fox Trotting Horse participants.

In 2016, Top Trail membership level for MFTHBA participants will be optional.  Top Trail membership packages range from Bronze, which is free—to Platinum, which costs $35 annually.   Starting in 2017, participants will need to maintain an annual Top Trail membership of at least Silver ($15) or higher.  More information on Top Trail membership is available at http://www.toptrailhorse.net/premium-memberships.html

To help kick off the program and assist members in getting started, Top Trail will be attending the MFTHBA World Show and Celebration this coming September.  Final arrangements are being made and will be announced as the event gets closer.

“We are looking forward to starting this partnership and growing it in the coming years.  It offers a great opportunity for our members as well as provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse,” added Wilson.

Editors Note (6/1/16):  Since our announcement about our Top Trail Partnership, there have been a few questions about the future of Fox Trot America. There will be NO changes with the Fox Trot America Program. The MFTHBA remains committed to expanding this MFTHBA program. Fox Trot America logs the hours ridden for the nominated horses. Participants in this program should continue with their logs and submit them at the end of January.  Your hours will continue to be part of your horses permanent MFTHBA record.  

Our Partnership with Top Trail opens up an additional awards program. Top Trail allows riders to log miles ridden. They have a monthly, quarterly and yearly awards program. Our partnership expands the awards for the registered Missouri Fox Trotting Horses that participate in the Top Trail Program. In addition to Top Trail’s normal awards, the MFTHBA will also be providing yearly awards to the top horses based on miles. In addition, a special award will be given to the Fox Trot America participant that logs the most miles with Top Trail.

About Top Trail  (learn more at http://www.toptrailhorse.net/)

Top Trail is a GPS based online mileage program created for the trail horse and rider to upload trails ridden, set riding goals, accumulate miles and create your very own trail record.

The program features monthly Top Trail Horse challenges and quarterly Top Trail Rider challenges. These are sponsored challenges with awards to given to the top riders and horses at the conclusion of each period.

Top Trail tally’s your miles automatically when you upload your trails. Watch your trail miles accumulate and know where you rank amongst other Top Trail participants from all over the U.S.

Member trails can be shared with others or kept private. It’s up to you.

Ride a lot, or ride a little, it doesn’t matter—what is important is that you’re tracking the miles on trail for both you and your horse while contributing to the repository of trails on the Open Trail website.

About Open Trail (learn more at http://www.opentrail.us)

The history of horseback riding is integral to our history, Open Trail’s goal is to provide the  largest repository of horse trails in the U.S. — and arm organizations that maintain and advocate for horse trails with essential data to fight for our National Treasures… The Open Trail.

“Open Trail” was developed by J.R. Hull because no other trail site had a way to create interactive trail maps of our favorite riding trails, and most importantly, a way to share them with other riders!

Contact information:
Troy Lynn Norris, Managing Partner, Top Trail

email: troy-lynn@opentrail.us; phone: 913-634-2409

J.R. Hull, Founder, Open Trail

email: jr.hull@opentrail.us