Horses For Sale in Missouri

Horses for sale in Missouri - find your dream horse

Missouri has a reputation for the quality of its horses and mules. Indeed, this state has long specialized in producing sure-footed, reliable, and intelligent animals for riding. Could your ideal equine partner be among the horses for sale in Missouri on the ehorses website? To find out, use the country and radius filters. Refine your search by using zip codes, or focus on a specific county, city, or town. Then, add some other criteria, including the age, height, gender, and color of your dream horse – or mule. Wherever you are in the world, this will locate sellers with horses for sale in Missouri who are waiting to find the perfect owner. In Missouri, the most searched-for breeds and bought horses are Quarter Horses, gaited breeds, such as Missouri’s own Fox Trotter, Thoroughbreds, and drafts, including mules.

Horses for sale in Missouri - find the perfect owner for your horse

Are you a private seller or breeder looking to find the perfect new home for your horse? The ehorses website offers a truly global service that opens up new opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Simply use our checklist and prepare to sell.

Checklist for an advertisement

• Always include details of your horse’s age, height, gender, and color. Tell prospective buyers about your horse’s abilities and specialist disciplines.
• Up to 20 images and 4 videos can be included in advertisements for free. This is a great way to promote your horse to the world.
• Checking more options on the menu ensures your ad reaches an even larger audience.
• Most importantly, are your contact details full and up-to-date? Inaccurate information can lose sales, so double-check that everything is correct and complete.

Horses in Missouri

The economic impact of the Missouri horse industry

Missouri ranks seventh in the USA for horse population, at an estimated 281,000 horses. The majority are light horses of various breeds for recreational riding. There are some 4,000 race horses of various breeds, 6,000 draft horses, and over 8,000 ponies of various breeds. There are also 9,000 donkeys, mules, and burros. This state has always had an excellent reputation for the quality of its mules, and historically raised the greatest number in the USA. Together, all these equines add up to a value of over $420 million. The total economic impact on the Missouri economy is $1.3 billion. Missouri's total equine assets are worth well over $8.5 billion.

The history of horses in Missouri

Missouri’s own breed: the Missouri Fox Trotter

Versatility and hardiness in horses and mules were qualities prized by the first Europeans to arrive in Missouri. The settlers who put down roots in Missouri's Ozark Mountains during the 1830s came mainly from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. These states had developed their own supremely successful riding horses, which were prized for their comfortable gaits, versatility, and stamina. What the Ozark settlers needed were all those qualities, plus the hardiness and surefootedness to tackle rugged, rocky mountain terrain. The Kentucky Saddlers and their descendants the American Saddlebreds, plus Tennessee Walking Horses and Standardbreds, all contributed to the creation of the Missouri Fox Trotter. The Morgan Horse contributed, too. The best Ozark horses had a distinctive gait known as the fox trot, a diagonal gait with a sliding, or gliding, movement of the back feet. They had a long reach, rather than a high step. This is still one of the most popular breeds in the state, as its versatility and beauty means it can be used for every equestrian discipline, including showing, trail riding, and hunting. Thanks to the comfortable ride they provide, they are suitable for all ages and elderly or less able riders. 

Tom Bass, Missouri horseman extraordinaire

Tom Bass is probably Missouri’s most famous horseman. Bass was the son of an enslaved black woman, Cornelia Grey, and the plantation owner William Hayden Bass. He was born on a plantation in 1859. Eventually settling in the town of Mexico, Missouri, Tom Bass had probably already acquired some knowledge of horses when he went to work for a horse dealer called Joseph A. Potts. Bass developed his own system of training horses, using a specialist bit of his own design, which is still known today as the Bass Bit. The name of Tom Bass and his American Saddle Horses Belle Beach and Miss Rex were known all over the world, and Bass showed his skills and his horses at premier horse events in the USA and England. 

Horse associations and facilities in Missouri

Missouri has its own Horse Council, the aim of which is to promote the welfare of Missouri’s horses and equine organizations. Membership is open to a broad range of equine industries, from breed and show associations to equine businesses. The University of Missouri College of Agriculture has a long-time Quarter Horse breeding program, which began in 1957. Over the years, the University has had a breeding herd of horses and working animals. The youngstock is sold to support the equine program, and the students learn how to manage horses and train them primarily for cattle work. 

Disciplines in Missouri

Missouri is home to some of the best trail riding in the USA. Since the Missouri Fox Trotter was created to tackle the demands of the mountains, visitors and locals find there’s no better way to see the country than from the back of one of these reliable horses. They are also popular in showing and Western classes, and their versatility makes them suitable for all equestrian activities. 

Basic information about Missouri

Due to its location in the USA, Missouri can be described as either a Midwestern or a Southern state. Its capital is Jefferson City, and the population of the state is 5,800,310. Missouri honors its equine population through its state animal, the Missouri Mule, and its state horse, the Missouri Fox Trotter.