Young Equestrian Leah Greenstein Aims For Stardom In The Show Ring

By Y.A. Teitelbaum

At first glance, Leah Greenstein is a typical teenager in many ways. She gets up early and goes to school and spends a lot of time on her phone. But the 15-year-old is passionate about horses. And that separates her from many teens.

She is one of the up-and-coming riders to watch during the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival, which is underway at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington. Greenstein, who turns 16 next fall, will be competing in the Children’s Hunter and Children’s Jumper divisions, proving grounds for potential grand prix riders.

The ninth-grader begins her day with three hours at the King’s Academy from 8 to 11 a.m., and then returns home for her daily riding routine that begins around noon under the scrutiny of trainer Steven Gregorio of Aster Hill. She is also watched closely by her dogs — Sophia, a 9-year-old Chihuahua that the family rescued, and Gracie, an 11-year-old Saint Bernard.

Greenstein’s horses include two jumpers and one hunter for the 2017 season. Branson, an 8-year-old, is her hunter. The jumpers are Lorenzo and Quo, both 9. All three are recent additions to Greenstein’s stable, having been purchased in the first quarter of 2016.

“I have a lesson first, then I’ll hack the other two later,” said Greenstein, who frequently rides several of Gregorio’s horses throughout the daily sessions. “I usually ride four horses a day; it depends. It’s six days a week, with Mondays off.”

And her dogs are her constant companions, whether it’s in the practice ring or at home.

“My dogs are always there, sitting in the ring, or on the outside of the ring. They follow me everywhere,” Greenstein said. “Quo — he’s so good to the dogs, so nice to them. Lorenzo and Branson chase them.”

Greenstein is focused on riding, forgoing other sports. At home, she typically declines offers to play basketball at the hoop in the driveway or throw a football around with her younger brother. Like many equestrians, however, she finds time to support a charity. For Greenstein, it’s Place of Hope, which provides a safe, nurturing environment for foster children while they’re in state custody.

“My plan for 2017 is being really competitive in children’s hunters and jumpers,” said Greenstein, who expects to participate in WEF shows almost weekly. And for the first time, she is planning to compete in selected events on the fall indoor circuit at the Capital Challenge in Upper Marlboro, Md., followed by the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg. She also hopes to qualify for the prestigious National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky.

Greenstein has been champion and reserve champion several times and won numerous ribbons in her brief career at major shows in Wellington, Lexington, and Tryon, N.C., on all three of her horses and two of Gregorio’s mounts.

That’s a long way from her start at a local summer riding camp when she was 8.

She and Gregorio acknowledge that Greenstein must continue to improve. They have already seen a large leap of progress over the past year. Part of the improvement is from having better horses, but she is also spending more time in the gym.

“We’re at a horse show almost every week of the year,” Gregorio said. “She has improved tremendously, and she gets tons of mileage; on top of her three horses, she usually shows mine. More time in the ring has made her better and better and better.”

The pair are virtually inseparable and have a special bond and that extends from the barn to their local restaurant choices, including Lutina’s Pizza and PDQ.

“When I don’t see him for one day, it’s kind of weird,” Greenstein said. “Even on Mondays, on our day off, we’re at the barn. Obviously, we’re together so much, we usually get along — not like not get along, but kind of older brother, little sister; sometimes dad, sometimes brother.”

They share one brain cell, according to her father, Alan. “Steven took her to a whole new level,” he said.

“Leah is an extremely outgoing young lady, very talkative, extremely talkative,” said Gregorio, who met Greenstein about five years ago. “She tends to overthink things and be a little bit of an anxious person. But that’s better than being lazy and sitting on the couch.”

Greenstein agreed with Gregorio’s assessment.

“I’ll be telling her to do something and before I can finish, she picks up a canter,” Gregorio added. “She’s just anxious, always wanting to get to the next step too soon.”

Greenstein is able to observe the world-class riders at WEF and other venues, but doesn’t have a favorite or someone she wants to emulate. Her emphasis is on improving at a slow and steady pace.

“I know what I want to show in; I don’t know who I want to be like,” Greenstein said. “I just want to be a good rider, do the junior hunters and some junior jumpers eventually when I’m older.”

There’s no doubt that Greenstein loves what she does. Her favorite part of competing in the epicenter of the winter equestrian world is simple.

“Being around the horses and meeting many people,” she said.