Neither fame nor fortune matched the joy that Rising Sun brought Elvis Presley, his world-famous rider.
The story began on Christmas Day of 1967 when Elvis surprised his soon-to-be wife, Priscilla, with a Quarter Horse, named Domino. Soon after, with the help of his friend Jerry Schilling, Elvis began a quest for a mount of his own. He wanted a horse of gold, fit for a king of rock-and-roll, and found it in a six year-old palomino gelding he dubbed, Rising Sun.
Finding just the right horse had not been easy. They would often start their search early in the morning, visiting farms and ranches to inquire if there were any palominos for sale. As word spread, they were contacted by Robert Boyd about a horse he had for sale. It was a big, beautiful golden palomino, a registered American Quarter Horse with a snow white mane and tail, three stockings, and a wide blaze that was being shown by Boyd’s 12-year-old daughter. Elvis bought the horse on the spot. Renamed Rising Sun, it became his favorite horse, and Graceland’s Elvis Presley Stables soon gained a new moniker, Rising Sun Stables.
Each morning after breakfast, Elvis would saddle up and the pair would gallop the fields of his Civil War-era estate, often stopping to greet visitors and to sign autographs. After such excursions, Elvis would tenderly cool out his equine friend with a long walk, and no detail at the barn was spared to assure Rising Sun’s comfort. When the beloved palomino finally passed away in 1986, he was buried at Graceland, facing east, forever towards the rising sun.
Breyer’s tribute to this famous palomino includes Elvis’ signature and Rising Sun’s name printed in elegant gold ink on the model’s belly. First in a series of Elvis’ beloved horses!
Scale 1:9 (Approx. 12''L x 9''H)