What palomino lover hasn't dreamt of owning Roy Roger's Trigger or Trigger Jr.? I've always been fascinated with them, but finding factual information amid the sea of rumors was sometimes difficult. When I came across an article in the Voice Magazine (The official publication of the TWHBEA), I was finally given some factual information!

The original Trigger is said to be a cross between a Walking Horse and a Thoroughbred, but Trigger Jr. was a full-blooded Tennessee Walking Horse named Allen's Gold Zephyr! He was registered TWHBEA (#431975) and PHBA (#4055). The TWHBEA records that he was foaled on January 1st, 1941.

"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. (pictured on the lead page) to Roy Rogers. Trigger Jr., registered as Allen's Gold Zephyr, was the most famous of all yellow horses. He was foaled in 1941; his sire was Barker's Moonbeam (#380497) and his dam was Fisher's Gray Maud (#420776). He was bred by C. O. Barker, Readyville, Tennessee. Barker's Moonbeam was sired by Golden Sunshine whose dam was Golden Lady. All were palominos." Harold Dean Givens in The Voice of The Tennessee Walking Horse Magazine published in January, 1991.

"Roy Rogers' original "Trigger" was a magnificent golden palomino purchased from Hollywood Studios in 1938. He bought "Trigger Jr." in 1948. This horse, ALLEN'S GOLD ZEPHYR, TWHBEA #431975, came from Paul K. Fisher's farm in Souderton, Pennsylvania. During the 1940's and 1950's, Paul was known for having the largest breeding farm in the U.S. for both palomino Tennessee Walking Horses and palomino Quarter Horses. His horses were in great demand, and among his prized stock was Allen's Gold Zephyr. He had beautiful conformation and a very stylish way of going. Zephyr was highly schooled and could accomplish a variety of difficult tricks." -   from "Roy Rogers & Gene Autry and Their Tennessee Walkers" by Grace Larson in Walking Horse News, September/October 2000

Trigger Jr. replaced the original "Trigger" when he became older and infirmed. Trigger Jr. was mounted just like 'Trigger, the old man'. You may see him along with Trigger, Buttermilk and Bullet at the Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theatre in Branson, MO.

Watching the Triggers on television, you almost believe that the horses were just that smart. I never imagined all of the training that went into producing what I saw. As I gained experience with my own horses, I quickly realized what a feat that must have been! Not only were the Triggers taught tricks, they were also taught classical dressage. The precise movements were then put together for their "dances." (Check out this example of Trigger Jr dancing!)The Randall family (father Glenn and son, Corky) were responsible for training all of the Triggers. I highly recommend purchasing the book"An Illustrated History of TRIGGER" by Leo Pando  for wonderful stories, history and more on the Triggers, the Rogers' and the Randalls. - Stephanie Langston

“Trigger Jr. loved to dance. That was his specialty. He could do almost every stunt that those white stallions, the Lipizzaners do, and he loved it. He did not make the movies, just the public appearances,” - Cheryl Rogers-Barnett, the daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 'Cowboy Princess' remembers father

"Trigger Jr was the most elegant of the three horses in appearance. He was a nice horse. I showed him in rodeos as Golden Zephyr." - Corky Randall

Chasing Trigger - His Doubles From "An Illustrated History of TRIGGER" by Leo Pando Buy it on Amazon! TRIGGER JR. and Paul K. Fisher "During the shooting of the picture "My Pal Trigger," one scene called for the birth of a colt. The studio arranged to rent one from a California horse breeder, and the rancher was so pleased with the deal that he gave the colt to Roy when the picture was completed. Roy began training the young horse to become Trigger's understudy. He named him Trigger Junior. Later Roy and Glenn Randall took over the training, and Trigger Junior appeared in two pictures as Trigger's son." This charming account of Trigger Jr's origin from the book "Roy Rogers - King of the Cowboys" by William Roper made a nice story for young fans. Unfortunately, like the two foals who were sired by Trigger in "My Pal Trigger," the story is a fantasy. Rogers purchased Trigger Jr. much later in his career. Trigger Jr. was born in 1941 and died 28 years later in 1969. Trigger Jr. was originally owned by breeder O.C.Barker of Readyville, Tennessee. When Paul K. Fisher of Souderton, Pennsylvania, owned the gorgeous palomino, the animal was registered with the Palomino Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) as Allen's Gold Zephyr. Glenn Randall purchased the horse as Rogers' agent. The original registration was later canceled and the palomino was re-registered as Trigger Jr. by Roy Rogers of Hollywood, California. The horse was also registered with the Palomino Horse Association [PHA] and the Tennessee Walking Horse Association (TWHA). Allen's Gold Zephyr was sired by Barker's Moonbeam (registered with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Association [TWHBA], color: (yellow) and he by foundation Tennessee walking stallion Golden Sunshine. Zephyr's dam was Fisher's Gray Maud (registered TWHBA, color: (gray) and she by Curlee's Spotted Allen out of Susie Hill. At five years of age Allen's Gold Zephyr stood 15.3 hands tall and weighed about 1050 lbs. He was described as dark golden in body color wit four evenly matched white stocking legs, blaze face, and white mane and tail. ...... The Tennessee walker had wonderful conformation and great looks. It's no wonder that his original owner, Paul Fisher, and Roy Rogers wanted to use the palomino as a breeding sire. ...... Trigger Jr. received billing on personal appearance tours. Marquees read, "Roy Rogers, Trigger, and Trigger Jr." Glenn Randall taught Trigger Jr. a full range of crowd-pleasing tricks including how to dance. Beyond the movie that bears his name in the title, "Trigger Jr." was not used in films but extensively in personal appearances throughout the 1950s and 1960s. On certain occasions he was used as a double for Trigger. Copies of an old Perry Como television show are in circulation with an appearance by Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and "Trigger." It's in fact Trigger Jr. standing in. When author David Rothel asked Rogers about using Trigger Jr. in movies, he replied, "Very little, we used him for personal appearances. He wasn't worth a nickel as a cowboy horse, but he could do a beautiful dance routine." At one time Fisher Farms was considered one of the largest palomino breeding farms in the United States. Before Roy Rogers, Hoot Gibson and Tom Mix were customers of Fisher's. Paul Fisher often took his horses to Madison Square Garden Rodeo to show and sell them. Fisher's palominos were in great demand, as Roy Rogers found out when he tried to buy Allen's Gold Zephyr. Rogers stated that it took him six years to buy Trigger Jr. Fisher had many offers besides the one from Rogers. At first Fisher refused because the horse was so important to his breeding program. Rogers really fell in love with Trigger Jr. during the filming of the movie that bears the palomino's name, but Fisher had still not agreed to sell him. Fisher allowed Rogers to use Trigger Jr. in personal appearances, according to Corky Randall. It has been said that Trigger Jr. and Buttermilk had stalls in the first Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum when it opened in 1966 in Apple Valley, California, and lucky visitors during the first three or four years got to see them in the flesh. Rogers used Trigger Jr. as a stud and raised some good palomino foals on his Happy Trails Ranch in Oro Grande, California. The horse that actor Val Kilmer led on stage as a tribute to Rogers and his B-western cowboy peers during the Academy Awards show in March 1999 was reportedly a descendent of "Trigger." Since Trigger was never bred, this horse - if descended from any of Rogers' horses - was most likely a descendant of Trigger Jr. For many years, Rogers also raised and trained Thoroughbred race horses at his Happy Trails Ranch. Run Trigger Run took first place in his maiden race. Another Rogers race horse was called Triggero. In October 1993, he auctioned the last of his herd, which included grandsons and granddaughters of Trigger Jr. The palomino sired several foals that were registered with TWHBA, and his bloodline continues today.

While I was researching my own buckskin stallion's pedigree, I was thrilled to learn that he is a descendant of Allen's Gold Zephyr! Growing up watching Roy Rogers and dreaming of Trigger, the discovery was quite a thrill!

The Westwood Farms Connection: Gambler's Bourbon Cream WF < The Tennessee Stud WF < Golden Gambler < Blue Gold < Jetstar's Sunrider < Merry Man's Charm < Miller's Gold < Zephyr's Flash O' Gold < Allen's Gold Zephyr Darrah's Handsome Traveler < Captain's Cream Color < Blue Gold < Jetstar's Sunrider < Merry Man's Charm < Miller's Gold < Zephyr's Flash O' Gold < Allen's Gold Zephyr

OFFSPRING

TWHBEA #	Name	Color	Sex	DOB	Dam
450651	ZEPHYR'S GOLD BOY	PALOMINO	S	4/28/1944	KIT FISHER
453643	MY GOLDEN PRIDE	PALOMINO	S	7/16/1945	YOUREE'S DOLLY
461331	CHAMPAGNE PUNCH	PALOMINO	M	4/15/1945	JONQUIL
461332	ZEPHYR'S GOLD PET	PALOMINO	M	4/12/1945	YELLOW ELLA
464355	MARY ALLEN GOLD	PALOMINO	M	8/12/1946	LEOLA HOOVER
472607	ZEPHYR'S GOLD NUGGET	PALOMINO	S	4/10/1946	YELLOW ELLA
472608	ZEPHYR'S FLASH O'GOLD	PALOMINO	S	5/10/1946	PALOMINO POLLY
473176	SMART GIRL'S ETHEL	CHESTNUT	M	6/24/1947	ALLEN'S SMART GIRL
473516	ABBOTT'S MERRY BOY	YL	S	5/10/1947	SOUDERTON SALLY
474114	FISHER'S PATRICIA	CHESTNUT	M	5/09/1947	PATRICIA OF PA.
474115	ZEPHYR'S SNOW GIRL	WH	M	5/14/1947	LETTA FLIKA
474198	ZEPHYR'S PIKE ALLEN	CHESTNUT	S	5/18/1947	FISHER'S MARY DARE
474613	ZEPHYR'S GOLD BOND	YL	S	5/15/1947	ALLEN'S GOLDEN GLORY
474727	MONSOON	CHESTNUT	S	6/05/1947	BRANTLEY'S ALLEN'S GYPSY
480074	ZEPHYR'S ALLEN DARE	PALOMINO	S	5/09/1947	GOLDEN MARY
480173	ZEPHER'S MOONBEAM	PALOMINO	S	8/23/1947	ZOLA MOONBEAM
480174	HAL'S BRONZE EAGLE	CHESTNUT	G	7/31/1947	SIS PASCHAL
480433	ZEPHYR'S GOLD PRIDE	PALOMINO	S	5/17/1947	QUEEN OF SMITHVILLE
480434	ZEPHYR'S MAN O'GOLD	PALOMINO	S	9/02/1947	FISHER'S GOLDEN LADY
480437	ZEPHYR'S GOLD RADAR	PALOMINO	S	4/20/1947	CREAM HANNAH
480438	ZEPHYR'S STROLLER F.	CHESTNUT	S	5/17/1947	ALLEN GOLDEN REPLICA
480665	ZEPHYR'S JONQUIL	PALOMINO	M	5/26/1947	JONQUIL
480666	ZEPHYR'S GOLD TOPSY	PALOMINO	M	7/08/1947	BLAZE'S LADY GOLD
480667	ZEPHYRS GOLDEN GIRL R.	PALOMINO	M	6/07/1947	RED ACE'S GOLDEN GIRL
481785	ABBOTTS BLUE SULTAN	BLK ROAN	G	5/22/1948	SOUDERTON SALLY
481786	BARKER'S SCHEHERAZADE	CHESTNUT	M	6/01/1948	JAY BARKER
482184	ZEPHYR'S GOLD CHARM	YL	M	7/30/1948	BARKER'S MAT ALLEN
482610	ZEPHYR'S PLAY BOY	CHESTNUT	S	5/30/1948	PASCHAL'S WILSON LADY
482611	ZEPHYR'S RED ACE	CHESTNUT	S	5/28/1948	LADY VIOLA
482612	ZEPHYR'S ACE OF GOLD	PALOMINO	S	4/04/1946	LADY VIOLA
482613	ZEPHYR'S DAISY MAI	CHESTNUT	M	6/15/1948	DAISY MAI BARKER
482614	ZEPHYR'S GOLD KING	YL	S	5/19/1947	MISS FISHER
482615	ZEPHYR'S GOLD HONEY	PALOMINO	M	6/10/1948	ALLEN'S GOLDEN GLORY
482616	ZEPHYR'S GOLD RAMBLER	PALOMINO	S	5/16/1948	CREAM TOPSY
482617	ZEPHYR'S GYPSY ROSE	YL	M	5/27/1948	THOMPSON'S GYPSY ROSE
482913	ZEPHYR'S GOLD DUST	YL	S	5/24/1948	WILSON'S GOLDEN DAWN
482914	ZEPHYR'S GOLD KNIGHT	YL	S	6/01/1948	GOLDEN GLEAM
482915	ZEPHYR'S HEIRESS	CHESTNUT	M	6/02/1948	OAKWOOD'S GOLDEN MILLIONS
482933	GOLDIE ZEPHYR A.	PALOMINO	M	5/07/1948	ODIE CURLEE
483001	ZEPHYRS GOLDEN JEWEL	YL	M	5/17/1948	FISHERS YELLOW GOLD
490122	BUD'S SUNNY SUE	CHESTNUT	M	5/11/1947	PALOMINO POLLY
490419	DOLLY DAY	CHESTNUT	M	5/28/1948	LADY MORROW
490461	ZEPHYR'S GOLDEN BOY	PALOMINO	S	6/21/1948	BLAZE'S CREAM TOPSY
490462	ZEPHYR'S MERRY GOLD	YL	M	4/16/1948	GOLDEN MARY
490463	ZEPHYR'S GOLD DUST II	YL	S	8/12/1948	FISHER'S GOLDEN LADY
490464	ZEPHYR'S SUNSHINE	YL	M	6/03/1948	*GOLDEN SUNSHINE
490465	ZEPHYR'S HONEY CHILD	PALOMINO	M	5/18/1948	MISS FISHER
510088	WALKING GOLDEN GLEAM	CHESTNUT	M	5/26/1948	FISHERS FRANCESCA
530137	WALKING FOX	CHESTNUT	G	4/29/1948	CHARLIE H.
652138	TRIGGER'S GOLDEN GIRL	PALOMINO	M	5/03/1948	YELLOW SELENA

Westwood Farms - Locust Dale, Virginia 22948 - stephanie@westwoodfarms.net - 540-825-1300