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Reference:
Allen's Gold Zephyr
aka "Trigger Jr."
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.
|
Chasing Trigger - His
Doubles
From "An Illustrated History of TRIGGER" by Leo Pando
 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:
|
ALLEN'S GOLD ZEPHYR
TWHBEA #431975
FOALED: 5/11/1941
DIED: 1969
COLOR: PALOMINO SABINO
MARKINGS: FOUR
STOCKINGS, BLAZE, WHITE MANE AND TAIL
15.3 H |
BARKER'S MOONBEAM
TWHBEA #380497 COLOR: CHESTNUT CREAM CHAMPAGNE |
GOLDEN SUNSHINE
TWHBEA #44
COLOR: GOLD CHAMPAGNE
MARKINGS: BOTH HIND
STOCKINGS, STRIP, MIXED TAIL. |
HUNTER'S ALLEN
TWHBEA #10
COLOR: CHESTNUT
 |
GOLDEN LADY
TWHBEA #350031
COLOR: GOLD CHAMPAGNE
|
SQUIRREL MARE
TWHBEA #11448
COLOR: "YELLOW" (CREAM) |
KNOB SQUIRREL
TWHBEA #1105
COLOR: "YELLOW" (CREAM) |
|
UNKNOWN |
FISHER'S GRAY MAUD
TWHBEA #420776 COLOR: GRAY |
CURLEE'S SPOTTED ALLEN
COLOR: 350194
COLOR: CHESTNUT SABINO (SPLASH?)
MARKINGS: BOTH
HIND AND NEAR FORE STOCKINGS, ON OFF SIDE, BALD. |
ROAN ALLEN
TWHBEA #38
COLOR: CHESTNUT SABINO
|
MAUD CURLEE
TWHBEA #992549
COLOR: "ROAN" (SABINO) |
SUSIE HILL
TWHBEA #391110 COLOR: BROWN
MARKINGS: NONE |
GIOVANNI
TWHBEA #370291 COLOR: BLACK
|
LULA MAY
TWHBEA #992206
COLOR: BROWN |
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 |
Reference Home
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