Show jumper Keean White’s riding career was launched as a 17-year-old when he won the Junior/Amateur Championship at the Royal in 2000. He went on to compete at five consecutive North American Young Riders’ Championships, winning team gold and individual silver medals. Keean made his Nations’ Cup debut for Team Canada in 2003 and won his first Canadian Show Jumping Championship in 2008. He also competed at the 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas and in 2018 was a member of the Canadian team that won the Longines Nations’ Cup team in Coapexpan, Mexico.

That competition schedule alone would keep many riders busy enough. Yet Keean took on another role in the sport – that of competition organizer. His creation, Angelstone International Show Jumping Tournaments located at his home base in Rockwood, ON, hosts four Gold level events with some high-profile classes including the CET Regional Medal and Mini-Medal finals, the Young Horse Championships and a FEI World Cup Qualifier held during the International Week. Over the course of the show season the Tournaments offers over a million dollars in prize money. Angelstone Tournaments has recently partnered with Ontario Equestrian to offer a $100,000 Rider Development Cup at their Headwaters Cup event from June 3-7. The concept for the event was developed by John Anderson, who successfully launched the Athlete Development Program at Rocky Mountain Show Jumping in Alberta.

What motivated Keean to plunge into running tournaments of this calibre? “We needed something that was more focused on showcasing the sport by putting on a big event on Saturday night and creating new fans and giving them access to world-class show jumping,” he explains. “We came at it from an entertainment and spectator angle.”

Angelstone does know how to party! Fans can purchase different experiences depending on their budget and taste. There are the usual VIP tables and box seats, but more creatively, for the big Saturday night class under the lights one can enjoy date night sofas and high tops, all with various dinner and wine options at the Cabana Coast Lounge. During the week there is the Struck Lounge which serves lunch and breakfast, as well as a cash bar. Spectators and competitors can purchase “Angel Money” or an “Angel Pass” to access the lounges during the week.

Keean’s strategy has worked; not only has Angelstone attracted new sponsors and fans, the competitors are turning up in droves, with an estimated 4000-5000 horses competing annually at his facility. “In 2011 we had one ring; in 2020 we will have five.”

Foreseeable Future

“It’s Angelstone’s tenth anniversary and as part of the celebrations we’re launching a new silver series targeted at the grass roots level to give athletes and their horses access to the venue.

“In general, I think our sport is progressing well in Canada. We have more five-star events and our development programs continue to go, so we’re in a better place than five years ago. Industry wide, we work too often as individuals when we should be working together to create stronger programs and work for the greater good of the sport.”

Mission Possible

“We’re looking to bring a five-star show to Angelstone in 2021. I have big plans beyond that, but don’t want to show my hand!”