Horses of the Old West-The Palomino

 

The palomino is one of the most famous horses in the West. Roy Roger’s Trigger catapulted this horse to fame in the popular Roy Roger’s television series back in the fifties that ran from 1951-1957. The horse was nearly as popular as Roger’s himself. Trigger was part thoroughbred and very smart.  His original name was Golden Cloud. After riding him, Roger’s liked him so much he purchased him for $2500 and paid off the bill in installments. He considered it the best $2500 he’d ever spent. For dangerous stunts, Trigger had stunt horses that filled in for him. He knew over a hundred tricks and could walk nearly fifty feet on his hind legs. He was referred to as the smartest horse in movies. Trigger lived to be thirty years old. Roy loved him so much that when Trigger died, he had him stuffed and mounted.

The television show Mr. Ed also starred a palomino. AND Elvis Presley had a palomino named Rising Sun. Queen Isabella of Spain had hundreds of palominos.

 

Like the piebald, the palomino is not a breed but a color.  The color is golden or yellow and they have white manes and tails. Even though palominos can be any breed, most are quarter horses.

On the whole these horses have great temperaments and are good-sized animals that weigh at least a thousand pounds.

Because of their temperament they are good family horses, easily trained and loyal.

 

Palominos fall into four colors: golden—the best known and most popular—, chocolate and pearl—both  uncommon—and light palomino. Their coat colors can be affected by diet and the seasons.

They also live a few years longer than the average horse. In some cases they can live up to thirty-five years.

All in all, a definite keeper in the horse world. 

 

*Two of my heroines think so too, Gwen Slade of GwenSlade, Bounty Hunter and Abigail Jennings of Montana Shootists.

 Got a favorite in the horse world? What’s your thoughts on palominos?