EC Select Amateur Profile – Christy Lenhart

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226 – July/August, 2026

By Susan Winslow

When horse-crazy Christy Lenhart outgrew her pony at age 11, the Romeo, Michigan native begged her parents for a horse. So her parents made her a deal, probably figuring it was a longshot. If she could sell the old camper in the backyard, she could use the money to buy a horse.

As legions of non-horsey parents have learned the hard way, one should never underestimate the drive and determination of a girl who eats, sleeps, and dreams horses. Lenhart peddled the old camper for $500 and bought herself a Pinto Thoroughbred, starting a lifelong passion that has taken her from 4-H and open shows to Pinto and Paint competition–and eventually into the world of Quarter Horses.

As a successful competitor in her teens and young adulthood specializing in the All-Around, she recalls, “I was a very dedicated competitor as an Amateur and did well. I was so determined to become better, but I didn’t have a trainer until I was an adult. I learned by doing it all myself. My mom was afraid of horses, but she would videotape me and I’d watch the videos. I’d compare myself to the people who were winning and then I would work on those things.”

Christy and her $500 horse she’d worked with so diligently eventually won the Budweiser Champion of Champions English Pleasure as a Youth–competing against adults–at their state fair. “I moved on to a lesson a week with that horse, and I was relentless in practicing everything he taught me. I won a lot of awards in showmanship including a National Championship in showmanship at my first Pinto Nationals. I attribute a lot of it to just the grit and time I put into wanting to become better.”

Click here to read the complete article
226 – July/August, 2026