The Equine Artist Who Became My Vision Board: Discover Steve Messenger
- nibs816727
- Nov 24
- 3 min read
If you're searching for a truly unique Christmas gift for the equestrian in your life, skip the generic stable supplies and consider investing in original art.
I'm sharing a personal recommendation today: Steve Messenger, a contemporary equine artist whose work I have personally collected for years. This isn't just decoration—it's art with a deep connection, available at surprisingly reasonable prices. In fact, one of Steve's stunning pieces literally inspired a major shift in my own training journey, leading to my horse, Vino, becoming a USDF Reserve Champion All-Breed winner.
For years, I’ve been an enthusiastic collector of Steve’s work, drawn in by his ability to capture the elegance and power of the horse with beautiful, often contemporary, style.
The Equine Art That Inspired a Champion
One of my favorite pieces is a large canvas dressage horse, which hangs on my primary bedroom wall. While I started my horse, Vino, in the hunter ring, seeing that stunning, powerful dressage horse every single day gradually planted an idea in my head.
When the hunter shows shut down during the COVID pandemic, I decided to make the leap and switch Vino to dressage. Call it fate or a vision board effect, but seeing Steve’s art manifested into reality: Vino excelled, and he went on to become a USDF Reserve Champion All-Breed winner! His art truly became the vision I needed.
Meet the Artist: Steve Messenger
What makes Steve’s work so compelling? Beyond the sheer talent, his background is fascinating and gives him a unique insight into the horses he paints.
Steve first attended the prestigious Maryland Institute College of Art before leaving to pursue a 20-year career as a groom on the A horse show circuit. This hands-on experience gave him a deep understanding of equine anatomy and spirit. He later finished his degree at UARTs and now creates beautiful, contemporary equine art. His work has been recognized and featured in major publications like Sidelines and The Chronicle of the Horse.
Commissions, Variety, and Amazing Value
If you’re looking to commission a custom piece or find a unique gift, Steve is the artist to call. He is incredibly super reasonable and works in several mediums, including watercolors, oils, and ink. When my barnmates unexpectedly lost their horse, I sent Steve a few photos for a commission, and the painting was absolutely beautiful and captured the horse's kind expression.
The best part? His website offers a large selection of artwork in all price ranges, meaning you can find a piece of stunning equine art no matter your budget. You’ll find pieces featuring hunters, jumpers, and dressage horses.
Shopping Tip: His site can be a little tricky to navigate, but be persistent! Make sure to keep clicking the "Load More" button at the bottom of the page to see the full, diverse range of his available work.
If you want a fantastic example of his beautiful, reasonably priced work, check out this piece, "Purple Dressage," which is currently priced at $170.00:
Another example of his work is "Neptune," currently priced at $1400.00:
View "Neptune" here
Do yourself a favor and explore his full collection. You might just find the next beautiful piece for your home, or perhaps, the inspiration for your next equestrian goal!
Shop Steve Messenger’s Equine Art:
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