 Gutzon Borglum had closely followed the events surrounding Ward 's procrastination and firing as the two men had an argumentative past . Borglum was convinced he could do a better job with the design and he also needed the money . He set out to study as much as possible about Sheridan 's life by reading his memoirs and biographies . Borglum was able to secure an invitation to a Washington , D.C. party that Irene attended . He sat next to her and invited Irene to his studio in New York . Borglum set out models of horses throughout the studio before she arrived and surprised Irene by how much he know about her husband . At the behest of Irene , on July 2 , 1907 , Borglum received a contract to sculpt the memorial . He was a Danish American artist who was greatly influenced by French sculptor Auguste Rodin . Borglum is best known for his carvings at Mount Rushmore and Stone Mountain . The Sheridan sculpture is his only equestrian monument in Washington , D.C. Borglum 's other works in Washington , D.C. include Rabboni at Rock Creek Cemetery and several statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol . 
