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Curly Haired Fox Trotters
Missouri Fox Trotters for Folks Allergic to Horses
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19 yr old stallion, Walker's Curly T
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Yes, it is true. There are curly haired,
registered Missouri Fox Trot horses which are hypoallergenic for people
allergic to horses. I know, because we're Curly Fox Trotter breeders, and I've
seen, with my own eyes, many allergy sufferers able to touch, groom, and ride
our horses with no allergic reaction.
Genetically there are 2 different kinds of curly coat Missouri Fox Trotter
horses. One kind is curly because of a recessive curly gene, the other because
of a dominant Curly gene.
6 yr old mare Sassy Princess |
Recessive Curlies
Many of you have seen or heard about curly haired Fox Trotter foals born,
usually as quite a surprise for the breeder, when both parents have normal,
straight hair. In year's past, it was thought (unfortunately) that curly hair
was a sign of sickness or inbreeding. This is not the case. There is a
recessive gene for curly coat carried in some Fox Trotter bloodlines -
actually, it is present in some of the BEST Fox Trotter bloodlines. |
| Genes work in pairs, one gene
comes from each parent. A recessive gene does not cause curly coat when a horse
only has one. So a horse can be a "carrier" of the recessive curl
gene and you cannot tell by looking at the horse. When two "carrier"
horses are bred to each other, there is a possibility that each will contribute
the recessive curl gene to the foal. If the foal gets the curl gene from each
parent - you have a curly haired foal out of two normal haired
parents |
Mare Meghan and filly DCC Lady
Victory |
When bred, these horse do not have curly haired foals, unless they are bred to
a horse also carrying the recessive curly gene. Recessive curly Fox Trotters
often have an extremely curly body coatin the winter. In the summer, they
usually shed their mane and tail hair and keep a textured body coat.
mare, Meghan |
Dominant Curlies
There is another kind of Curly Fox Trotter, which is cause by a different
gene and are unrelated to the recessive curly coated Fox Trotters. These horses
are curly because of a dominant gene.
A horse from dominant curly gene breeding will look curly coated even if they
get a curly gene from only one parent. These horses will have an unbroken line
of curly coated horses going back through their pedigree. |
These horses can produce curly foals, even when
bred to (normal) straight haired horses. Dominant gene Curly Fox Trotters have
a winter body coat that can range from wavy to very curly. In the summer they
shed to a shiny smooth or slightly wavy body coat and keep a long, full mane
and tail year round
filly DCC Strawberry Ice in summer
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Filly DCC Strawberry Ice in winter
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Dominant Curly Fox Trotters trace back to the
1950's and 60's, when a gaited Curly stallion named Curly Jim produced a
handful of gaited, curly haired, daughters. Some of these Curly Jim daughters
were bred to Fox Trotter stallions, and their offspring registered with the
MFTHBA.
Our Curly Fox Trotters
The horses we raise on our farm are all dominant gened Curlies and all can
be traced back to Curly Jim through an unbroken line of curly haired horses.
The Curlies were crossed with excellent Fox Trotter bloodlines so our horses
also carry the bloodlines of Mr President, Danney Joe W, Walker's Merry Lad,
and Rex's Golden Touch. They are well conformed, good looking horses with
wonderful temperaments, and natural fox trotting ability. |
week-old filly DCC Red Hot QT |
There are now a handful of breeders specializing
in Curly Fox Trotters. There are even two that have been exported to Norway! We
have found huge demand for horses of this type. Our foals generally sell long
before theyare weaned. There are many would-be horse owners out there, kept
from their dream of owning a horse because they are allergic to horse hair. To
them, the hypoallergenic Curly is a dream come true. Add to that, with
wonderful fox trot gait and you have the perfect horse.
Another group interested in our Curly Fox Trotters are fans of the
"Bashkir" or American Curly Horse. The comfort of riding a fox
trotting horse makes this type of Curly very appealing, especially to those
with bad backs, injuries, or those who are just getting a bit older. Our horses
combine the best of both worlds. Curly horse lovers still enjoy owning a rare
and unique horse, and since the horses also have MFTHBA papers, they have much
broader breeding choices - there are many more Missouri Fox Trotters to breed
with than Curly horses. And with Fox Trotter clubs in many states, they can
take advantage of those social and showing opportunities as well.
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If you know an allergic horse
lover, tell them they need suffer no more. They can have it all - a beautiful
Missouri Fox Trotting Horse to take them down the trail without sneezing,
watery eyes, or rash!
By
Wendy SauersSmith
Deserter Creek Curlies Farm
www.DCCurlies.web.com
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