Author Archives: jerrysprague

Buttermilk Saved from the Slaughter House!

11 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in B-Western trivia, Cowboy Talk, Movies

≈ 3 Comments

I have read quite a bit about Buttermilk and Dale Evans but last week I received a posting on my face book from a cousin which had a story I had never heard about Buttermilk. I could not find the original source of the posting but I thought you would enjoy it.

HORSE  SHOPPING? THINK ADOPTION!

Too many people think of rescue horses as old, lame, or otherwise unappealing, and forget to even visit their local rescues when ‘horse shopping’. Do you remember Dale Evans and her horse, Buttermilk? Buttermilk was a day away from being slaughtered when rescued. He became one of the most famous horses in the world of films and television.

Here’s what you didn’t know about Buttermilk:
Buttermilk was a young colt when he was rescued by a cattle farmer on his way to the slaughterhouse. The farmer bought him from a horse trader and he had been severely abused which resulted in a very unkind demeanor. The new owners quickly began to work with him, and through lots of dedication and care he eventually came around to become a friendly, affectionate and playful horse.

After renaming the bubbly Quarter Horse Soda, Randall introduced Soda to Dale Evans because her movie horse Koko was too much to handle and also resembled Trigger too much. Dale fell in love with Soda and bought him immediately. He was renamed Buttermilk after Dale saw a cloud pattern in the sky that reminded her of the Hoagy Carmichael’s song, “Ole Buttermilk Sky.” Dale rode Buttermilk in almost all of Roy’s movies and in all but six of The Roy Rogers Show television episodes that aired from 1951-57.

A true Quarter Horse, Buttermilk displayed bursts of speed and could outrun Trigger. On the set, Roy asked Dale to please hold Buttermilk back when riding alongside him, since Trigger always had to lead.

Even after he died at the age of 31, he was a valuable horse. Like Trigger, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had Buttermilk stuffed, and he sold for $25,000.00 at the NYC Christie’s Auction, when the Roy Rogers estate was liquidated in 2010.

The Wannabe Cowboy

Who’s Who Among the Silver Screen Steeds?

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in B-Western trivia

≈ 6 Comments

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In my last post I asked the question: “Who was Ben Cartwright or Little Joe’s horse? Or Clint Eastwood or Matt Dillon’s? I know you’ve been dying to know so let’s get that out of the way. According to Bobby Copeland’s “Silent Hoofbeats”, Ben rode Buck, Little Joe rode Cochise and Concho, Clint Eastwood, Midnight and Matt Dillon, Buck. So now let’s test your memory with a little quiz. Can you match the cowboy with his horse?  If your memory is as good as mine is getting to be, you should get at least 3 right.

1) Tom Mix                                                       a) Sonny and Thunder

2) Buck Jones                                                   b) Champion

3) Ken Maynard                                               c) Trigger

4) Hopalong Cassidy                                      d) Tarzan

5) Roy Rogers                                                  e) Tony

6) Gene Autry                                                  f) Silver

7) Lone Ranger                                                g) Koko

8) Johnny Mack Brown                                  h) Topper

9) Rex Allen                                                      i) Silver (another)

10) Bill Elliot                                                     j) Rebel

Answers: 1-e, 2-i, 3-d; 4-h; 5-c; 6-b; 7-f; 8-j; 9-g; 10-a

So, buckaroos, how did you do? Here’s the grading scale:

0-2 right: you haven’t watched enough B-Westerns

3-4 right: just average but if you did not get Trigger and Champion right you get an automatic F.

5-6 right: Trail Boss status

7-8 right: Cowboy Scholar

9-10 right: you are in the Jerry Campbell league and will be nominated to the Cowboy Hall of Fame!

You know, actors are just that: actors. They pretend to be someone they really aren’t. But have you ever wondered if any of those silver screen cowboys were real cowboys or at least real horsemen? More on that next time. Until then, goodbye, good luck and may the good Lord take a likin’ to ya!

The Wannabe Cowboy

April 15, 2014