From:  "Kevin Carey" 
Date:  Fri Jul 2, 2004  5:44 pm 
Subject:  This Is My Story: Trigger
 
Trigger, registered name "Golden Cloud"
Born: A stable in Missouri, USA, 1932 (Exact date unknown)
Died: "Hidden Valley", Victoria, California, July 3rd 1965

After making her debut film appearance in The Adventures of Robin Hood
(1938), when she was ridden by Olivia De Haviland (Maid Marian), Golden
Cloud was bought by Roy Rogers for $2,500 in the same year when Rogers
landed the film role in 'Under Western Skies'.

The name 'Trigger' was suggested not by Roy Rogers, but by Smiley Burnette
(Roy Rogers faithfull sidekick), who claimed the horse was "quick on the
trigger."

Her first starring film role with Rogers came in the classic 'My Pal
Trigger' (1946), later followed up by 'Trigger Jnr' (1950). Although Trigger
was rarely referred to as a he or she, this cult film confirmed her female
gender, with the birth of her only offspring (father unknown).

Trigger would appear in more than 80 films, and appeared alongside 'Bullet',
Roy's faithfull German Shepherd dog, in all 101 episodes of the Roy
Rogers/Dale Evans TV Shows (NBC, 1951-57). The highlight of Trigger's career
coming when she accepted the PATV award (the animal equivalent of the
Oscars) in 1953. A transcript of her acceptance speech has, sadly, not been
recorded.

Rogers' related in his book Roy Rogers: King of the Cowboys (Collins, 1994)
that when Trigger died at the age of 33 that he (Rogers) just couldn't bury
him. Inspired by the animals mounted on display in the Smithsonian, Roy had
Trigger mounted rearing on his hind legs.

Recommended listening: 'It Was Always The Way' (4 cd box set, including
lyrics to many favourite Roy Rogers songs

Recommended viewing: Susanna Pass (1949) Spoilers Of The Plains (1951)

Fan Club: Roy Rogers Riders Club

To prove the longevity of Trigger's reputation, the pilot episode of Only
Fools And Horses included the following exchange between Del and Rodney -

Rodney: "'Ere Del, whi is that bloke called Trigger? Is it because he
carries a gun?"

Del Boy: "No, Rodders. It's because he looks like Roy Rogers' 'orse"