Beast of burden, you say? Pshaw. Whoever coined the term never spent a day with Traveler V, the galloping white horse of USC.

For 40 years, Traveler -- or rather, various incarnations of him -- has served the university as its official mascot, trotting onto the field before kickoffs and racing along the sidelines each time USC scores.

Like any job, some days are more taxing than others for Traveler. Three weeks ago, for example, the 10-year-old Andalusian gelding cantered onto the field five times during USC's 34-24 victory over San Jose State. Last weekend, Traveler had only two opportunities to kick up his heels as USC scored only twice in a 31-15 loss to Arizona.

In between celebratory jaunts, Traveler -- and the four USC students known as "Traveler's Crew" -- bide time in the tunnel under the grandstand. The crew provides crowd control and monitors Traveler's condition during the game. It also gives him pep talks, carrots, and affectionate scratches behind the ears.

On a balmy day, Traveler might even get to share a can of root beer with one of the crew. On a chilly day, the crew meets Traveler upon his return to the tunnel and immediately swathes him in a red blanket, a scene reminiscent of James Brown being draped in his trademark cape after a particularly taxing number.

Until this season, it had been a charmed life for both Traveler and his proud owner, Pat Saukko, whose family has raised all five generations of Travelers. In 40 years, the most harrowing episode Traveler had experienced was being painted blue and gold the night before USC's game with UCLA two years ago. Fortunately, the paint was vegetable-based, and the pranksters didn't even assail the "right" Traveler: The horse they painted was not Traveler V, but his predecessor, Traveler IV, a now-retired Arabian gelding.

That event, says Saukko, pales in comparison to the battle she is currently waging with USC over the rights to Traveler.

Two years ago, Saukko -- whose late husband, Richard, owned and trained Traveler I and three subsequent Travelers -- applied for a trademark on the USC mascot's name. Saukko maintains her family owns the rights to Traveler, having provided the mascot since 1961. But the university has taken legal action to stop the trademark, saying it does not want an outside party to have control over an image so closely linked with the school's football team.

While Saukko says she will continue to bring Traveler to all USC home games, she fears a time might come where the white horse could be equina non grata.

"I hate that this is heading toward the courtroom," said Saukko, who signed a five-year contract with USC last year. "The trademark was just a way of formalizing things. We wanted to endow the horse forever to USC. We never thought the school would be against that."

Because the university has no funding to provide for the mascot, Saukko said, proceeds from the sale of items bearing the horse's image could help pay for the rider's expenses and the horse's general upkeep.

"But it is our image," she said. "We are the ones who brought Traveler to them. We aren't trying to trademark something that was theirs from the beginning."

Before 1960, two other mascots briefly supported the football team. George Tirebiter, a Shepherd mix with a penchant for chasing cars, eventually met his maker under the back wheel of a red Pontiac convertible. Rockazar, a horse, supplanted George Tirebiter for one season before being phased out.

In 1961, USC sophomore Ed Tannenbaum initiated the search for a white horse to appear at the USC home games. Tannenbaum contacted Rose Parade officials and was given the name of horse trainer Richard Saukko, who regularly appeared in Rose Parades with his white horse.

Saukko had inherited Traveler I -- a half Arabian/Tennessee Walker gelding born in 1949 -- from retired Hollywood stunt man Bill Ward. Traveler I had been Ward's stunt horse in 20 films and played Silver in the "Lone Ranger" serials starring Clayton Moore.

Saukko not only provided USC with the horse but also rode him, donning the leather vest and helmet worn by Charlton Heston in "Ben Hur." For 30 years, until his death in 1992, Saukko continued to appear with Traveler I and his successors -- Traveler II (a Tennessee Walker), Traveler III (an Arabian stallion) and Traveler IV, an offspring of Traveler III. Ardeshir Radpour, a USC graduate and former polo player, has been Traveler's rider since 1996.

The "Trojan horse," as Traveler is more commonly known, came to symbolize the fighting spirit of USC football. Famed alumnus O.J. Simpson is said to have selected USC because of the "magical white horse" that marched onto the field with the team.

Pat Saukko, who met Richard in 1974 through a fan letter she wrote to Traveler II, says she has tried to honor her late husband's wishes to maintain the Traveler dynasty. In the off-season, Traveler makes guest appearances at fund-raisers, performs at horse shows and has even pulled a sleigh across the stage during a performance of "The Nutcracker."

At last week's Arizona game, 20-year-old Traveler IV joined Traveler V for pregame festivities. On Oct. 28, Traveler IV will be at the campus for his 20th consecutive homecoming celebration; he first participated in festivities with his father and mother as a five-month-old suckling in 1980.

"Traveler is an important part of the university's family," said university counsel Steve Yamaguchi. "This is being handled through the proper legal channels, and hopefully it will be resolved soon to the satisfaction of both parties. Pat has a contract with the university and is compensated very well for the services she provides with Traveler."

Saukko said Traveler will continue as USC mascot for as long as he is welcome.

"It's just sad," she said, "but until something is resolved we're just going to keep showing up and having a good time."