Roy Rogers said this prayer
(with Trigger closing his eyes)
at the beginning of his TV shows.

The Cowboy’s Prayer
Oh Lord, I reckon I’m not much
just by myself.
I fail to do a lot of things
I ought to do.
But Lord, when the trails are steep
and the passes high,
Help me to ride it straight
the whole way through.
And when in the falling dusk
I get the final call,
I do not care how many flowers they send—
Above all else the happiest trail would be
For you to say to me
“Let’s ride, my friend.”
Amen (Author Unknown)

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TRIGGER ~
The Smartest Horse in the West!

*Sire: Tarzan, a Throughbred Racer
at Caliente Race Track
Bred by Captain Larry Good
*Dam: Cold Blood Mare and
Palomino coloring
and a Thoroughbred blood line.

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TRIGGER REMEMBERED
Author: William Witney
Published: 1989
ISBN: B0006EYMSG
from Earl Blair Enterprises
Availability: Out of Print

The book "Trigger Remembered" has information about all three Trigger horses. They may be out of copies but The Happy Trails Children Foundation did sell this book. The binding glue was not good so the book pages are fragile.

~TRIGGER~
*Foaled: July 4, (1932 or) 1934
(Post Office Box 323)
San Diego, California
Owner when he was born was
Mr. Roy F. Cloud Junior.

March 25 1937 - Registered with the Palomino Horse Association and Stud Book Registry Number 214

This is a photo copy of the 1937 Registration paperwork for Old Man Trigger
when Roy Cloud owned him.


*Gender: Stallion
*Blood Lines:
half Thoroughbred and half Warm Blood
*Offspring: NONE

(info from the book
Happy Trails Our Life Story).

*Purchase Price:
Roy Rogers paid Roy Cloud $2500.00 for Trigger
*Original Name: Golden Cloud
*15 1/2 Hands Tall
*Movie/Television Credits: 188
*Trigger won the P.A.T.S.Y. award in 1953 which is the animal equivalent of the "Oscar®."
*Trigger never sired any colts.
*Died: 1965 at age 33

Trigger was purchased from Hollywood Studios in 1938.

*Trivia*
Trigger's hoof prints share a cement spot with Roy Rogers in the April 21, 1949 dedication at the Mann's Chinese Theater, Hollywood, CA.

Roy Rogers dubbed his horse Trigger as 'The Old Man' often times.


The famous horses 'The Old Man' AKA 'TRIGGER' and 'Trigger Jr' and 'Buttermilk' are 'Mounted' the same way the displayed animals are in the Smithsonian Institute Museum. No animals were Stuffed!

Trigger's 24 foot fiberglass rearing frame formerly Greeted visitors at the entrance of the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, CA..
Now his new home is in Branson, MO.
at the NEW RR/DE Museum & Theater!

The TRIGGER Statue got a facelift in 2004!

Here is how it all started..........
Before filming began on Under Western Stars, several of the stables that provided horses to Republic brought their best lead horses to the studio so Roy could select a mount. As Roy recalled it, the third horse he got on was a beautiful golden Palomino who handled smoothly and reacted quickly to whatever he asked it to do: "He could turn on a dime and give you some change." Smiley Burnette, who played Roy's sidekick in his first two films, was watching and mentioned how quick on the trigger this horse was. Roy agreed and decided that Trigger was the perfect name for the horse with whom he would become synonymous. As Roy's popularity grew he never failed to give Trigger credit for much of his success. Roy was an excellent horseman, who sat in a saddle well and who knew just how to handle Trigger. He never resorted to using his reins as a whip and never used his spurs. Trigger had been trained to respond to touch and hand movements, so with just a gentle pat on his neck Roy could let him know what he wanted him to do. And it seemed as if Trigger instinctively knew just how to respond. Roy was proud of the fact that throughout his more than 80 films, the 101 episodes of his television series, and countless personal appearances, Trigger never fell. However, there was one occasion when the horse really put a scare into him. It happened while they were driving up to a film location with Trigger's horse trailer attached to Roy's car. As they came around a bend, a car coming from the opposite direction forced Roy's car off the road, causing the trailer to overturn. Roy jumped from his car and ran back to the trailer, where he found Trigger lying motionless. Roy spoke calmly to Trigger, and by using a rope he was able to pull him from the trailer. At that point the horse opened his eyes and jumped to his feet. A relieved Roy smiled when he realized that Trigger must have thought this was just another movie stunt and that he was supposed to play dead.


Roy Rogers and Trigger saves a run away Nellybelle (the Jeep).


Trigger's hoof prints at
Mann's Theater 1949.


Roy Rogers and Trigger
March 1, 1954
Roy takes Trigger up the stairs to check out the bedrooms at The Queens Hotel.

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QUOTE:
the blood line of the original trigger .....
on march 25 1937 golden cloud the real registred name of trigger recorded with the palomino horse association and stud book registry on the number 214 and the application was sign by roy f cloud junior. of course his sex was a stallion bred by captain larry good. his sire was tarzan and his dam was apac. a light chestnut mare of aTB-blood line. no more informations is avalable on this mare or trigger dam but here is more information on trigger or golden cloud's sire tarzan. he was a golden palomino mention as a saddle horse you see at this time many horse breed was just starding including the palomino registry and much of the time it is was difficult to have alot of information. now to come back to golden cloud or if you prefer firt trigger -he was born july 4 1934 and he died july 3 1965 and his owner when he was born was to mr roy f cloud junior, address - p o box 323, san diego, california usa. remark, trigger junior got no connection with old trigger blood line and trigger jr was for sure a tennesse walking horses registred as allens gold zephyr no431975 and registred as phba association and under palomino horse association no129. I must say that junior was a palomino champion horse -a very -very good trick horse (stallion)and a good parade horse plus a good sire. concerning old trigger, you know now that golden cloud or if you prefer trigger was a registred palomino stallion under no214 of their stud book in 1937 I got others informations on trigger life but it is to the rogers familly to give it or not. you see I am very sure that old roy have make more research in the past on trigger his great horse --but it was his secret.
many happy trail, tex lavallee

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Trigger, Jr

Foaled: 1941
Gender: Stallion
Blood Lines: Tennessee Walker
Registered: Tennessee Walking Horse as
'Allens Gold Zephyr' Number 431975
and
Registered: PHBA Association
and
Registered: Palomino Horse Association
Number 129

His sire was Barker's Moonbeam and his dam was Fisher's Gray Maud. He was bred by C. O. Barker, of Readyville, Tennessee. Barker's Moonbeam was sired by Golden Sunshine whose dam was Golden Lady.
All were palominos.
Trigger Jr had no connection with old Trigger's blood lines but he carried on the 'Trigger' name. As one of the real Trigger's doubles, Little Trigger, also performed live many times. He was a Palomino (coloring)and a registered Tennessee Walker, and did sire twenty-one foals.

Trigger Jr was a Palomino champion horse, a very very good trick horse, an excellent parade horse plus a proven sire.
Trigger Jr (Allen's Gold Zephyr) on the TWHBEA iPEDs program reports that he sired 50 TWH foals.
(Plus potentially and possibly more crossbred with non-Walker mares).
Paul K. Fisher, Souderton, Pennsylvania, advertised in the 1946 Blue Ribbon magazine as being the world's largest breeder and dealer in yellow horses. He sold Trigger Jr. to Roy Rogers.

Trigger Jr is mounted in an air controlled glass room at the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Museum, Branson, MO next to 'The Old Man' AKA 'Trigger', Buttermilk and along with their dog 'Bullet.'

Trigger Jr., registered as
Allen's Gold Zephyr, was the most famous of all yellow horses.

-Allen's Gold Zephyr Family Tree-
Zephyr's Flash O' Gold
Miller's Gold
Merry Man's Charm
Jetstar's Sunrider
Blue Gold
Golden Gambler

Dates N/A

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Don't Forget about
'Little Trigger' too!
Little Trigger was an 18 month old palomino when Roy bought him.

Roy couldn't stand for "Trigger" to be shipped around in a trailer three of four days going from Rodeo and personal appearances so "Little Trigger" got the job. He was a little chunky, on the Quarter horse side and not quite as tall as "TRIGGER". His markings were almost like the "Old Man" but instead of being calm like the "Old Man" Little Trigger was a playboy full of mischief and smart. He had two white stocking on his front legs.

"Little Trigger" actually was in the movie Trigger Jr. which was actually written for him to be in the movie.
Lil' Trigger was unfortunately not mounted like Trigger, Trigger Jr. & Buttermilk were.
Roy regretted not doing so.

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Roy Rogers with his LIBERTY horse act.
Notice that all the horses are of Palomino coloring.

The year this was taken is unknown.

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Buttermilk BUTTERMILK mounted (not stuffed) at the museum in Victorville, CA. prior to the move to MO. Quote from Grandson-in-Law Dave of the Official RR/DE Website; * "Buttermilk" was rescued by a cattle farmer who bought him from a horse trader while he was taking him and others, to the slaughter house. The horse had been severely abused and was very mean. The new owners quickly began to work with him, and eventually he came around to become friendly and affectionate. These folks named him Taffy, and were training him to become a cutting horse in competition. * While at the Minatare rodeo in Nebraska, Glen Randall, who was appearing there with his Liberty Troup, saw him in competition and apparently must have been impressed. Shortly after, Glen ended up bringing him back to California with him. There are more details, but that is the gist of the lucky and humble beginnings of "Buttermilk." * End of Quote He was Dale Evans beige-colored Quarter horse on the Western Range. Originally trained and owned by Glenn Randall, Buttermilk was offered to Dale because her first movie horse looked too much like Trigger. Dale Fell in Love with the gelding and bought him. She rode Buttermilk in all but six of the Roy Rogers Show television episodes that aired Sundays from 1951-1957. Buttermilk died of old age. He was 31 years old (Year Unknown). Bullet the Wonder Dog The faithful and famous German Shepherd starred on THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, a western adventure, aired on NBC 1951-1957 and on CBS 1961-1964. Bullet, billed as the "wonder dog," made his debut in the 1951 Roy Roger's film Spoiler's of the Plains produced by Republic Pictures. There were actually three Bullet's. Bullet, who was often seen running beside Roy's horse Trigger, is on display in an air controlled glass room at the Roy Rogers Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Missouri. The last Bullet is next to the famous horses 'The Old Man' AKA 'Trigger' and 'Trigger Jr' and 'Buttermilk.' No animals were Stuffed! They are 'Mounted' the same way the displayed animals are in the Smithsonian Institute Museum. Bill Nolt on KOKOMO portrays Roy Rogers and Trigger. Kokomo recently had eye surgery to remove tumors and is doing well now. Dear Fans, This is a letter telling all our fans about what we are trying to do. As many of you know, we have been in the process of getting a U.S. Stamp published with the image of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and/or Trigger on it. (There is a ten year rule in effect). Trigger died in 1965. Let's suport the Roy Rogers or TRIGGER Postage Stamp idea now! We need your help to accomplish this. Send an Email letter AND a regular letter to: *Post Master General, Stamp Development, United States Postal Service, *Request a new stamp for Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys or Trigger, the Smartest Horse in the movies and television! *Ask all your friends and family to do the same. *Put your name, address and date on the letter. *Send it promptly. *Add some personal thoughts/words of your own. *To send the letter via email, select the text portion of the letter in your browser. *Copy it, and paste it into a new Email message. Send to all of these Contacts please. * Email President George W. Bush! *Email Mr. Tolbert of USPS! *Email Vice President Richard Cheney! *Also address your Email message to Post Master General Potter of USPS via The White House. More Contact Information Postal Consumer Questions: We have the answers. We Want to Know. To expedite any service related issues, please contact (800) ASK-USPS or (800) 275-8777, TTY: (877) 877-7833 *The White House Mailing Address: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 *The White House Phone Numbers: COMMENTS: 202-456-1111 and 202-456-6213 SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 The American Way is to stand together and we have to do this if we want a Roy Rogers or Trigger stamp. Remember, the more letters we send in the better chance we will have! Sincerely Your Friends, Painted Pony & Sheila Reiboldt

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