44 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
riscilla is quick to remember that fateful day at Graceland
when Elvis presented her with a horse. “It was an absolute
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I didn’t know where. A couple of hours later he came to me
and said, ‘I want you to come outside, I have something for you.’”
It turned out to be a present that would change the face — and
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More horses were added to the Graceland herd so that friends
and family could join them. Priscilla recalled, “It became a bit of a
labor of passion and fun, having our whole clan together enjoying
a day of horseback riding.”
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motorcycles, it was clear to Pricilla and everyone who knew the
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“With Elvis, it was one of the most enjoyable hobbies and loves
that he had at Graceland,” Priscilla said, adding that when she
drives past the pastures of Graceland, she adores her memories
of riding alongside Elvis.
Elvis and Priscilla’s interest in horses was deepened when
they saw a Tennessee Walking Horse World Champion named
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The horse inspired Elvis to buy a black Tennessee Walking Horse
for himself that he named Bear. Priscilla fondly remembers that
Elvis would dress for whichever horse he was riding, wearing
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dressing in a suit to ride the Walking Horse, Bear.
Priscilla recalls that their Walking Horses were shod naturally,
without pads on their front feet like a show horse. Elvis would ride
down to the fence line of Graceland that borders the road, and
people would stop their cars to watch. “He would show the fans
the beautiful gait that he loved; it was so smooth and pleasant,”
she said. “Elvis was an entertainer and he loved to show his
horses to his fans.”
Priscilla explained that although they both fell in love with the
Tennessee Walking Horse breed, they didn’t know much about
them in the show world. “We knew a little bit of the lingo, but we
didn’t know what went on behind the scenes,” she said. “We were
very naive in thinking that’s just the way these horses were. We
were novice horse owners.”
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Tennessee Walking Horse named Ebony’s Double. Horse trainer
Howard Hamilton became aware of the horse and asked to show
him in the Walking Horse industry’s big annual show, the
Horse. He already came with a name: Domino, which I loved. I got
right on him and started riding around and the rest is kind of history.”
Priscilla’s love for Domino was contagious and soon Elvis caught
the horse bug. “Elvis would watch me ride my horse in the mornings
and [when he saw] how much fun I was having, he bought a horse
for himself that he called Rising Sun,” Priscilla said.
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bow or tucked under a tree, but instead haltered and led to the doorstep of Graceland,
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momentous day sparked Elvis and Priscilla’s passion for horses and Priscilla’s eventual
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Priscilla and Max at the
Graceland stables
