An article on GOLDEN TRAIL as it first appeared in The Palomino Summer 1967

Born 5th July 1946 -

The arrival in England in July 1949 of Mrs Peter Howell’s Golden Trail was not acclaimed but it can now be seen that it was truly the beginning of a ‘golden trail’ for Palominos in this country.

Foaled on 5th July 1946 on the Wyoming ranch of the late Chris Jensen, Golden Trail was no chance foal but the result of careful selection by Mr Jensen with the aim of sending Mrs Howell a colt of good type with quality and clean limbed substance, whose pedigree contained Thoroughbred and Arab blood-lines and who showed typical Western Stock Horse characteristics, both in conformation and temperament and who, in addition, showed true ‘gold coin’ colour.

With the above requirements in mind three colts were selected as possibles from the very large number foaled in 1946 on the Jensen ranch.  The eventual selection was a colt by the Palomino sire Wahoo who traced to the Thoroughbred mare Suzie Q on the sire’s side and to the Arab Sargon, who was incidentally, an import from England, on the dam’s side.  The colt’s dam was the Palomino mare Jensen’s Whirlwind who was out of Thoroughbred mare by the Palomino stallion Van’s Golden Glow.

It was a policy of Mr Jensen that none of the horses should be ‘coddled’  and the colt later to be named Golden Trail was no exception; he lived out all the year round and learned to take care of himself.  This policy of ‘rearing ‘em tough’ proved of great value to the colt and many of this companions in the appalling winter of 1948-1949 during which thousands of cattle and sheep froze to death and temperatures as low as 40 below zero were recorded on the Jensen ranch, they came through lean but fit having spent much of their time digging through the snow in an endeavor to find grazing.

During the early months of 1949 the colt was broken ‘western style’ and lightly trained; being too young for anything more serious.  He proved a good pupil with common sense and fleetness of foot and in Mr Jensen’s words would ‘turn on a dime and give you back the change’.  The next event in the life of this colt, now registered with the Palomino Horse Breeders of America as Golden Trail was the 3000 mile journey to New Jersey prior to his departure for England.   This journey was achieved in ten days at the end of which he was left in the good care of Mr Howard Harris.  He sailed on SS Martland on June 24th 1949 due to arrive in England on July 4th, almost three weeks years after his birth in Wyoming.

The young horse took some time to acclimatize and at Thatcham Show – his first – in 1950 he was very fortunate to be awarded third place.  Over the years he showed steady improvement and in 1953 gained the Supreme Palomino Championship, following which, except for a few invitation appearances he was retired from the show ring.  One honour conferred upon him early in his career was that of parading at the well-known Timperley Horse Show at the invitation of Mr W E Bendell.

Among owners who sent mares to Golden Trail was the well know breeder and exhibitor Mr E A Bayliss, then resident at Box in Wiltshire.  His good mare Ashley Golden Sandstone had many foals by Golden Trail, among them the filly Sabina who has had a most successful show career including being runner up for  the Supreme Championship in 1962 being beaten by another of Golden Trail’s offspring Kingsettle Zecchino.  Sabina in this year was winner of the brood mare cup and the class for mares or geldings over 14.2 hh in which class Mr and Mrs Collings Tequila by the same sire out of Ashley Golden Flight stood second.  Sabina also won the Harry Hall Trophy for the best animal over 14.2 hh.

The 1963 Supreme Champion was won by Mr E Vicker’s Ready Token Lucky Coin, bred by Mrs E hope and by Kingsettle Moidore of Muston out of Coral.  Moidore was bred by Mrs E Betty by Golden Trail out of her good mare Muston Sult, so Coin is a direct descendant of Golden Trail.  At the same event Mrs G Durrant’s good daughter of Moidore, Shaken Oak Chrysippe was the winner of a strong under 12.2 hh class and runner up for the brood mare championship.  1964 was another triumph for Golden Trail; the Supreme Championship being won for the second time by his son Kingsettle Zechino who was also under 14.2 hh champion.  The over 14.2 Champion was Miss D Scott’s Kingsettle Mohur by Golden Trail out of the Arab mare Lakme Mohur’s full sister Kingsettle Pagoda owned by Mr E M Thomas was reserve for the Supreme Championship having won the leading awards in the brood mare and youngstock sections.  Kingsettle Zecchino was retired from the show ring at the end of 1964 season but still descendants of Golden Trail prove themselves, and at the 1965 National Championship Kingsettle Pagoda swept the board by winning four Cups.  In the mare or filly championship the runner-up was Miss D Scott’s Kingsettle Angel, by Golden Trail out of the thoroughbred mare, Bedillo.  Grandchildren were also to the fore Shaken Oak Chrysippe being second in the 12.2 class; Ready Token Lucky Coin winner of the Open Stallion and ridden classes, Kingsettle Cruzado, who is by Kingsettle Zecchino out of Daisy B, winning the larger youngstock class in which Kingsettle Mohurr was third and the over 14.2 Championship.  Brynbank Stud’s Wychwood Miradore by Moidore out of Coral and thus a full sister to Ready Token Lucky Coin was runner up to Pagoda for the brood mare cup.  Sire produce groups included in the Championships for the first time proved a success for Golden Trail.

The 1966 National Championship again proved a happy hunting round for Golden Trail the following prizewinners being direct descendants.  Kingsettle Pagoda, Ready Token Lucky Coin, Gaunt d’or Perelada, Kingsettle Cruzado, Ashby Springfarm Dolomite, Wychwood Miradore, Shepley Ambergold and Brynbank Ambre Soleil with first and second places in the sire produce group going to Golden Trail and Kingsettle Moidore of Muston respectively.

The foregoing show-ring successes of Golden Trail stock have of necessity been confined to the National Palomino National Championships but it is interesting to note that in the Part Bred Arab Palomino class included at the Arab horse show for the first time in 1959 and subsequently, and open to Palominos of any age, height or sex; winners for six of these years have been directly descended from Golden Trail.

Of particular interest and of considerable value to owners of mares sent to Golden trail is his ability to produce stock of high standard from all types who are thus able to hold their own  in open competition.  There are show ponies such as Miss R Maxton’s dun Golden Phantom and the chestnut Kingsettle Sabrailen, the show jumper Ashley Golden Trigger and many more.  Stock by his son Moidore have proved themselves in open competition, Wychwood Miler, Royale Yankee and Solway Sugar Ray coming immediately to mind.  Golden Trail stock have also been exported and have proved themselves as performers and breed stock abroad. 

What of Golden Trail himself at the age of 21?  He carries his years lightly; is always well mannered, though gay; retains his marvelous golden glint, although this is now somewhat deeper than perfection and is as muscular and agile as ever.  What a privilege and a thrill it is to see him parade in the sun, as I was able to do on my visit when I  saw many of his descendants.  His sons Zecchino and Moidore, and the latest born a promising young colt from an Arab mare, his grandsons Cruzado and the unnamed yearling from Ashley Golden Primrose both by Zecchino; there was also a promising filly by Moidore from Mrs G Durrrant’s mare Sweet Champagne.  Nominations to Golden Trail are not many for outside mares and those owners who were fortunate enough to have a mare accepted will not, I feel sure, be disappointed.  At the time of my visit two visiting mares had already been covered by him and certified in foal as had two of the stud’s own mares.

Of the 1967 show season so far, one can say the ‘golden trail’  continues, Aldershot, Devon County, Leicesterhire and Steeple Langford results all showing descendants among the prize winners.  It is to be hoped that this grand old hose may live many more years and that he will give yet more ‘gold’ to the Palomino world.