The model for Oñate's stallion is Helicon, a five-year-old (15 1/3 hands high) Andalusian from Canutillo, Texas. His name in Greek mythology refers to "Mountain of the Muses", on whose eastern slope was the Fountain of Hippocrene in legend created by the hoof prints of the winged horse, Pegasus. The sculptor is indebted to the consultation of Tom Lea, José Cisneros, Hal Gambrell, Jim Spurrier, Dr. John McKee, Dr. Monceveis - of Andaluz Stables, trainer Atilla Batar and his wife Agnes, and, of course, Helicon.

"In the rearing horse I found my metaphor for the tension and the poised beginning of Onate's journey -- and in the muscular dynamism of Helicon I sense the steel spring of destiny that carried Oñate forward upon a great and tragic venture"

John Sherrill Houser, Sculptor

Limited Edition Bronzes

The XII Travelers Gallery offers limited edition bronzes of the full-scale colossal horse head entitled First Horse of the Camino Real, 1598 and the small  head from the maquette,  "Oñate's Stallion".

Horse Pubications Welcome World's Largest Equestrian Bronze

Sculptor John Sherrill Houser's colossal horse and rider seize the imagination of horse afficionados and others. The sculpture has been featured in many equestrian magaznes: Conquistador - The World of Spanish Horses, Western Horseman, The PRE Horse (Pura Raza Española), Horse of Kings, and Andalsian (Spanish & Portuguese Breeds). The 12-foot plus colossal horse head, ("First Horse of the Camino Real, 1598"), has been exhibited at the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association's National Show in Fort Worth, Texas as well as on the historic Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico.