Angelstone Farms steps up efforts to promote horse jumping

by Kris Svela

ERIN – Keean White, a well-known equestrian jumper and part owner of Angelstone Farms northeast of Rockwood, hopes continued events at his facility will heighten public awareness and interest in the sport.

He also hopes it will attract young riders and more sponsors to compete and support competition in Canada, other equestrian horse jumping venues around the world and the Olympics.

At a press conference on Aug. 23 at Angelstone the day before a $100,000 prize jump competition, White was joined by well known equestrian jumpers Ian Millar, Yann Candele, Leslie Howard and Russian Grand Prix rider Ljubov Kochetova.

White has been developing Angelstone as a top competitive venue, with six competitions held each year and a school for aspiring riders and their horses.

The local events this year included Angelstone Spring Phases I and II on two weekends in May, Ottawa Launch Event at Angelstone in early August and Angelstone National Phases I and II in August and Angelstone International from Sept. 25 to Sept. 29. Grand Prix events are held on the Saturday of each event and White has seen a steady stream of spectators taking in the shows.

“It’s amazing how many people come and watch the Grand Prix who don’t know much about the sport,” he said. “We have the top riders, the top horses.”

White has been riding for 20 years and been on the Canadian equestrian team for 10 years. He has wanted a venue to compete and train riders and horses in Canada something that has lacked in the past in the eastern part of the county.

“The only way it was going to change is to do it myself,” he said.

With Angelstone, he believes he has achieved that.

“Anglestone was something we’ve had a vision of for a few years,” White added.

The farm was full of riders and horses for a week-long instructional camp and competition.

“This week we have over 800 horses at this venue,” he said.

White  said purses have also grown.

“We give away one million in purse money every year,” he added.

Millar, known in equestrian circles as Captain Canada, has competed in each Olympic Games since 1972 and garnered a silver at the team event at the Beijing games. He is behind Angelstone and its objective to grow horse jumping in Canada.

Millar pointed out the sport is expensive due to the extensive travel needed to compete outside Canada.

White agrees, but noted Angelstone has received strong sponsorship with some 42 sponsors associated with the show.

Millar credited Angelstone for creating a good track for competition particularly for Grand Prix competitions.

“The footing, as any rider knows, is our biggest concern,” Millar said. “This particular Grand is top of the line.”

Millar said the course requires training by riders and their horses in order to master the pitch and jumps. Angelstone, he says, offers the best facilities to train for national and international competitions.

“When we go to international competitions we just fit in.”

White said the Grand Prix series at Angelstone is growing in quality of competitors it is attracting.

“We came up with this idea of putting up a Champions Grand Prix,” White said. “I want to make it a special class. We’re starting to get some international flavour here. We have a goal of making this one of the biggest shows in the world.”

Howard also credited White and his partners with providing a top notch facility. She believes there are few facilities in the U.S., where she lives, to match it.

“It’s disheartening in my country to see the state of show jumping,” she said. “It’s a delight to come up here and experience Angelstone. Watching how things are going it’s going to get better and better.”

As a trainer, Howard said it is essential to give “younger riders a chance.”

“I like it when you give riders the ability to show,” she added.

At Saturday’s Champions Grand Prix event, Karen Cudmore, of Omaha, picked up a first place, receiving a $30,000 prize and a third place $13,000 prize with her horses Shea and Ceonto.

The competition was presented by equestrian jumper Eric Lamaze who won a gold and silver in the 2008 Olympics.

Kochetova picked up a second place finish with a $22,000 prize.

To get to the jump off, riders must clear, without knocking down a rail, staying under the time allowed, which was set by course designer Michel Vaillancourt. Six horses and ride combinations managed to clear and enter the jump off with Cudmore registering two clear jumps.

Angelstone will be hosting a World Cup Grand Prix on Sept. 28 with another $100,000 purse. Angelstone has also embarked on a “Commitment to Educate” program where a participant will pick up a $7,500 university scholarship.

White said the program is designed to give back to the community.