Trigger

Trigger, a golden palomino, was born in 1932 and originally named Golden Cloud.

Trigger was foaled at a small ranch in the San Diego area which was partly owned by Bing Crosby. At the age of 3, Trigger was sold to the Hudkins Stables which rented horses to the movie industry.

Trigger made his film debut in 1938 in The Adventures of Robin Hood where he was ridden by Olivia de Havilland.

In 1938, Roy Rogers was cast in the lead role for Under the Western Stars. Before filming, Hudkins Stables brought five horses for Roy to select from, the third horse he got on was a beautiful four year old golden palomino who handled smoothly and reacted quickly to whatever he was asked to do. This horse was Golden Cloud and a star was born.



Roy Rogers changed Golden Cloud's name to Trigger because he was "quick on the trigger."

Trigger knew 60 tricks and could walk 150 steps on his hind legs.

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.

In 1943, Roy Rogers would officially purchase Trigger for $2500.00.

The two of them appeared in dozens of westerns in the 1930s and 40s, always chasing and thwarting the bad guys, and working to serve peace and justice.



Trigger even shared the movie title with Roy on two occasions: My Pal Trigger (1946) and Trigger Jr. (1950).

Trigger's last film was Alias Jesse James (1959).

Trigger won a Patsy award for the role in Son of Paleface (1952) and the 1958 Craven award.

Trigger was so popular he had his own fan club with members from all over the world.

Trigger even had his own Dell comic book series.

Trigger has more television and movie credits than any other animal actor, just shy of 200 credits.



Trigger also made frequent public appearances. During World War II, he toured with Roy with the USO and they performed for the men and women in uniform. As soon as Roy Rogers completed a movie, he would hit the road with Trigger, traveling all over the country appearing in theaters, stage shows, fairs and rodeos.

Early on, the fans demanded to see Trigger and Roy realized that all the movie making and traveling were too much for one horse, so Roy acquired Little Trigger. Little Trigger looked alot like Trigger except that he had four white stockings at was not quite as tall.

Fans who saw Trigger during the early and mid 1940s saw Trigger (the original). However, fans that saw public appearances in the late 1940s and 1950s most likely saw Little Trigger.

Little Trigger appeared in Don't Fence Me In (1946), Heldorado (1946), and Son of Paleface (1952) as a relief for Trigger. Trigger was also in these movies but when Trigger needed a rest from shooting, Little Trigger was used in some scences.

Trigger died on July 3, 1965 at the age of 33. Originally he was put on display at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California but has since been relocated to Branson, Missouri.