Wellington, Florida – March 6, 2003 - Canada’s Keean White took honours as the top Canadian in the $7,500 Cosequin 1.45 m Speed competition held March 5 during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida.

From a field of 45 entries, 19-year-old White of Cambridge, ON, placed fifth riding Arriscraft Rocca, his nine-year-old selle francais gelding, amongst a field of United States Equestrian Team veterans.

The top five finish also marked White’s first day competing at the illustrious Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club where the Winter Equestrian Festival takes place. White, who had been competing at the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) circuit in Ocala, Florida, traveled to Wellington in order to be available as the alternate to the Canadian Show Jumping Team that will contest the Samsung Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, on March 7, 2003.

Following the Nations’ Cup, White will return to Ocala to contest the $100,000 Volvo Grand Prix on Sunday, March 9. During the five-week HITS Ocala circuit, White has earned a ribbon in every Sunday Grand Prix, including a fourth place finish in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix on February 9 and an eighth place finish in the $50,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix on February 16, both with Arriscraft Rocca. The following week, February 23, he was sixth in the $50,000 King Shavings Grand Prix with his other grand prix mount, Libidou, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.

“Arriscraft Rocca has been my most consistent horse this winter, he’s been in the money every single week,” said White, who is coached by renowned horseman and FEI course designer, David Ballard of Hornby, ON. “We’ve asked a lot of him and he’s really stepped up and proven that he is a top grand prix horse.”

White, who operates Angelstone Farms and Ridgeview Stables, has been competing on the Florida circuits with a string of five horses. Earlier this season, White won the $25,000 ‘Just Jumping in Jacksonville’ Grand Prix in Jacksonville, FL, on January 12, riding Libidou while Arriscraft Rocca placed fourth. On February 2, White finished eighth and ninth with Libidou and Arriscraft Rocca respectively in the $50,000 Grand Prix in Jacksonville, Florida.

One of Canada’s top up-and-coming riders, White was a member of the silver medal teams at both the 2002 and 2001 North American Young Riders’ Championships, having also won a team bronze medal in 2000. He capped off his 2002 season by winning the National Talent Squad Championship at the 2002 Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, with Arriscraft Rocca.

$7,500 Cosequin 1.45m, CSIO**** Cosequin Wellington Finale