Trigger (horse)
Encyclopedia
Trigger was a palomino
horse, made famous in American Western films with his owner/rider, cowboy
star Roy Rogers
.
and his dam a grade
(unregistered) mare who, like Trigger, was a palomino
. Movie director William Witney, who directed Roy and Trigger in many of their movies, claimed a slightly different lineage, that his sire
was a "registered" Palomino stallion
(though neither Palomino registry existed at the time of Trigger's birth), and his dam was by a Thoroughbred
and out of a "cold-blood
" mare. (Trigger, Jr, who was no relation to Trigger, was in fact, a registered Tennessee Walking Horse.) Though Trigger remained a stallion
his entire life, he was never bred and has no descendants.
, played by Olivia de Havilland
in The Adventures of Robin Hood
(1938). A short while later, when Roy was preparing to make his first movie in a starring role, he was offered a choice of five rented "movie" horses to ride and chose Golden Cloud. Roy bought him that same year, 1938, and renamed him Trigger for his quickness, not only of foot but of mind. Trigger had 150 trick cues and could walk 50 feet on his hind legs (according to sources close to Roy Rogers). They were said to have run out of places to cue Trigger.
Trigger was ridden by Rogers in many of his motion pictures, becoming much loved by the youthful audience that saw him on film and in Rogers' 1950s television
series with his wife Dale Evans
, who rode her trusty buckskin Quarter Horse Buttermilk
.
Trigger became the most famous horse in film entertainment, even having his own Dell
comic book
recounting his exploits.
There was also a famous saying: "What a face, what a figure, two more legs and she'll look like Trigger."
which was relocated to Branson, Missouri
in 2003, and closed in late 2009. The taxidermy work was performed by Adolph Robert (Bud) Stasche of A. R. Stasche Taxidermy, Feasterville, Pennsylvania. A 24-foot replica of Trigger was produced to sit atop the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville
. The 1,300 lb. replica could be seen from the freeway and served as a landmark until the museum closed and moved to Branson
. When the fiberglass replica of Trigger was being made, Rogers was approached by the owners of the Denver Broncos
. Rogers allowed another statue to be made and then broke the mold. "Bucky the Bronco," Trigger's twin, stands above the south scoreboard of the Denver Broncos stadium.
After the closing of the museum in 2009, its contents were placed at public auction on July 14-15, 2010, at Christie's
auction house in New York City
. Trigger's hide sold for $266,500 to television channel RFD-TV
, which plans to start a Western museum. Bob Tinsley, a Victorville developer who had built Roy Rogers
' home in nearby Apple Valley
, bought the fiberglass replica in April 2010. Tinsley's plan is to make the statue a part of historic Apple Valley Village. He explained, "I just couldn't see letting him go anywhere else."
Palomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
horse, made famous in American Western films with his owner/rider, cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
star Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
.
Pedigree
Though often mistaken for a Tennessee Walking Horse, his sire was a ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
and his dam a grade
Grade horse
A Grade horse is a horse whose parentage is unknown, unidentifiable, or of significantly mixed breeding. This differs from purebred animals of known bloodlines and also differs from deliberately crossbred animals that are produced with an intent of either creating a new breed of horse or an animal...
(unregistered) mare who, like Trigger, was a palomino
Palomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
. Movie director William Witney, who directed Roy and Trigger in many of their movies, claimed a slightly different lineage, that his sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
was a "registered" Palomino stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
(though neither Palomino registry existed at the time of Trigger's birth), and his dam was by a Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
and out of a "cold-blood
Draft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
" mare. (Trigger, Jr, who was no relation to Trigger, was in fact, a registered Tennessee Walking Horse.) Though Trigger remained a stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
his entire life, he was never bred and has no descendants.
Film career
Golden Cloud made his movie debut as the mount of Maid MarianMaid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
, played by Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
in The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood (film)
The Adventures of Robin Hood is a 1938 American swashbuckler film directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley. Filmed in Technicolor, the picture stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Claude Rains.-Plot:...
(1938). A short while later, when Roy was preparing to make his first movie in a starring role, he was offered a choice of five rented "movie" horses to ride and chose Golden Cloud. Roy bought him that same year, 1938, and renamed him Trigger for his quickness, not only of foot but of mind. Trigger had 150 trick cues and could walk 50 feet on his hind legs (according to sources close to Roy Rogers). They were said to have run out of places to cue Trigger.
Trigger was ridden by Rogers in many of his motion pictures, becoming much loved by the youthful audience that saw him on film and in Rogers' 1950s television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series with his wife Dale Evans
Dale Evans
Dale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
, who rode her trusty buckskin Quarter Horse Buttermilk
Buttermilk (horse)
Buttermilk was a light buckskin Quarter Horse with dark points. He appeared in numerous American Western films with his owner/rider, cowgirl star Dale Evans....
.
Trigger became the most famous horse in film entertainment, even having his own Dell
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
recounting his exploits.
There was also a famous saying: "What a face, what a figure, two more legs and she'll look like Trigger."
Death and legacy
After Trigger died in 1965, his hide was stretched over a plaster likeness and put on display at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, CaliforniaVictorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
which was relocated to Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
in 2003, and closed in late 2009. The taxidermy work was performed by Adolph Robert (Bud) Stasche of A. R. Stasche Taxidermy, Feasterville, Pennsylvania. A 24-foot replica of Trigger was produced to sit atop the Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
. The 1,300 lb. replica could be seen from the freeway and served as a landmark until the museum closed and moved to Branson
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
. When the fiberglass replica of Trigger was being made, Rogers was approached by the owners of the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Rogers allowed another statue to be made and then broke the mold. "Bucky the Bronco," Trigger's twin, stands above the south scoreboard of the Denver Broncos stadium.
After the closing of the museum in 2009, its contents were placed at public auction on July 14-15, 2010, at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
auction house in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Trigger's hide sold for $266,500 to television channel RFD-TV
RFD-TV
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons...
, which plans to start a Western museum. Bob Tinsley, a Victorville developer who had built Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
' home in nearby Apple Valley
Apple Valley, California
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was in 2002.*On average, the coolest month is December.*The lowest recorded temperature was in 1949.*The most precipitation on average occurs in February.-History:...
, bought the fiberglass replica in April 2010. Tinsley's plan is to make the statue a part of historic Apple Valley Village. He explained, "I just couldn't see letting him go anywhere else."
External links
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum
- Auction information at Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
(July 14–15, 2010)