There aren’t any good horse series on TV, are there? This wasn’t always the case. Over the years there have been many. Some included fictional horses like Black Beauty, Flicka and famous race horses. Others featured horses as faithful companions to a hero. Here are just a few of the most famous from the past.
Mr. Ed
A horse is a horse, of course of course, but Mr. Ed was a little more special. Mr. Ed is either our worst nightmare or our favorite daydream, because not only could Mr. Ed talk, he had lots of opinions. The Mr. Ed character was inspired by books by children’s author Walter R. Brooks, who wrote many books and short stories featuring talking animals. Mr. Ed made his television debut in January, 1961 and the series ran for five years with 143 episodes in all. Since then Mr. Ed has surfaced now and again on classic TV specialty stations.
Similar to another talkative equine relative, Francis the Talking Mule, Mr. Ed only spoke to one person, his owner Wilbur Post, a gormless young architect. Mr. Ed’s advice and hijinks tends to get his owner in a lot of trouble. A palomino gelding named Bamboo Harvester played the role of Mr. Ed. although another palomino was used for promotional material.
To get Mr. Ed to talk, a thin nylon thread was put through his mouth. What looks like the horse talking is actually the horse trying to spit the thread out. If you look closely at early pictures of Mr. Ed ‘talking’ you can actually see the string tied to the halter ring. However, Mr. Ed quickly learned to move his lips on cue. Rumors of putting peanut butter in the horse’s mouth are apparently untrue. The series won a Golden Globe award in 1963 for best comedy TV series.
Pokey
Although the cartoon hasn’t been on for ages, you can still buy Gumby and Pokey toys. Pokey was Gumby’s claymation sidekick and the series began in 1955. Gumby was very adventurous and happy-go-lucky with a tendency to see the world through rose colored glasses. But his pony Pokey was more timid. In fact, Pokey could be downright difficult. He grumbled and was often critical of Pokey. Considering that Gumby first met Pokey when visiting a western town very early on in the series, and freed him from being caught in a railroad track and being hit by a train, Pokey isn’t a very grateful or congenial companion. Both Gumby and Pokey were painstakingly modeled in clay and filmed using stop-motion film methods.
Trigger
Perhaps the most famous TV horse is Trigger. Trigger, originally named Golden Cloud, was owned by Roy Rogers and appeared on TV, in personal appearances and parades with the TV cowboy. He often was seen alongside his almost as famous friend Buttermilk, owned and ridden by Rogers’ wife Dale Evans. Trigger was a palomino Thoroughbred X Grade stallion. He learned over 150 tricks, often used in the Roy Rogers TV series, including walking on his hind legs and climbing steps. Several other horses eventually played Trigger in the series. The original Trigger was taxidermied and in 2010 the remains were sold to a TV station with plans to place it in a museum. Currently, Trigger and the taxidermied remains of Buttermilk and Roy Rogers’ German Shepard, Bullet are not on display to the public.
Silver
The Lone Ranger started out as a movie serial. In 1949, a television version of the masked cowboy’s adventures was created and it ran until 1957. Lone Ranger, a vigilante who fought for justice in the old west, was accompanied by his sidekick Tonto in his adventures. His horse of course was Silver and the cry of High ho Silver, Away, is perhaps one of the best known TV quotes. The Lone Ranger’s first horse was a mare named Dusty. But, after saving the white stallion from a charging buffalo, Silver gave up a life of freedom to be his hero’s faithful companion. There seems to be little documented about the horse that plays Silver. As we know, often several horses are used in a role, depending on what stunts and behaviors are required. The Lone Ranger and Silver rode again in the 2013 movie starring Johnny Depp.
My Little Pony
The My Little Pony toy collection was originally marketed as plastic toy horses for girls. Like many other toys, as popularity took off, Hasbro created the My Little Pony animated series. TV series, specials and movies have been made all featuring the colorful, poofy coiffed ponies and their adventures in Dream Valley where lives many magical creatures and one human friend. My Little Pony has reached cult status with adults joining in the fandom and kids of all ages becoming bronies, cosplayers, playing video games, customising ponies, collecting ponies and writing fan fiction.
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