Career
Wieghorst emigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1918 and lived the rest of his life here. He spent his working career on mounted patrol with the United States. Cavalry, was part of a campaign that chased Pancho Villa back across the border and the New York City Police Department Mounted Division, with occasional interludes as a wrangler on ranches in the western states. Wherever he went, he sketched and painted the Western culture he loved, often selling his work as calendar and magazine illustrations (such as Zane Grey"s Western Magazine and Hoofs and Horns, an honor he shared with other cowboy artists such as Dan Muller).
In 1945, Wieghorst eventually settled in El Cajon, San Diego County, California and spent the rest of his life there working on his art
Wieghorst was a stunt rider (horse) for a Danish circus before migrating to the United States at the age of 19. He appeared in two John Wayne movies in the 60"s, McLintock! and El Dorado.
Some of his art work was used in the open titles sequence in the film El Dorado.