Jessica Springsteen, mounted on Vindicat W, is presented with a $2,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward (left) of Starting Gate Communications, ringmaster Cliff Haines, and Ed James of SSG Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic during week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot
Lauren Tyree and Audi’s Top Secret are presented with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Gloves representative Jennifer Ward (left) and ringmaster Cliff Haines after winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic on February 17 at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot

February 17, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – For the second time this year, Jessica Springsteen rode away with the bonus money in the SSG Riding Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Having already been a winner during week four, Springsteen was again triumphant in week six’s $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.  Wearing her SSG ‘Digitals’, Springsteen picked up a $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves.

From a starting field of 42 entries, 10 advanced to the jump-off.  Of those, nine were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Gloves to be eligible for the bonus money.  Springsteen qualified two horses for the jump-off, Vindicat W and Wish, with Vindicat W posting the winning time of 40.29 seconds.

“I’ve used SSG gloves forever,” said Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, who was cheered on to victory by her parents, Bruce and Patti Springsteen.  “These are the gloves that I always wear.  The promotion is such a great idea.  We were just talking last night at dinner about how exciting it is when the bonus money builds.  It’s so fun!”

While Wish was Springsteen’s winning mount during week four, this time it was Vindicat W’s turn to step into the spotlight.  Part of the 2012 Olympic team gold medal effort for Great Britain under Peter Charles, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding joined Springsteen’s stable last fall.

A junior at Duke University, Springsteen, 21, commutes to Florida each Thursday night, returning to school in Durham, NC, on Sundays.  While she has not yet decided how she will spend her latest $2,000 bonus, she used her SSG bonus money from week four to buy a new puppy, explaining, “For a long time, I’ve wanted a puppy that could travel with me.”  She now has a traveling companion in Bean, a Bichon/Yorkie-cross.

In the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, four of the five riders that advanced to the jump-off were wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ to be eligible for the bonus money.  The first challenger proved to be the best, with Lauren Tyree of Chicago, IL, posting a time of 39.54 seconds that no one else could catch.

“I think it’s awesome!” said Tyree, 17, of the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.  “It’s a great way for the riders to support SSG.  I bought my gloves as soon as I heard about it.”

Tyree began riding her winning mount, Audi’s Top Secret, at the beginning of the 2013 season when she stepped up to the High Junior Jumper division.  By week six, she picked up the Junior Jumper Championship title, along with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Gloves.

“He’s quirky, but he’s very sweet,” said Tyree of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.  “He comes out the same every day, and he knows where all the rails are!”

While Springsteen and Tyree were both winners during week six, the bonus money has continued to build in the WEF Challenge Series.  For week seven’s $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round V, an $18,000 bonus will be on the line!  The bonus money has not been awarded since the first week of competition when Rodrigo Pessoa took home a $3,000 bonus.

SSG Riding Gloves offers a $3,000 bonus in each of the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series events, as well as a $1,000 bonus in the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic and the Junior Jumper High Classic competitions.  If the winning rider in any of these three competitions is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible, they will be presented with a cash bonus during the awards presentation.  If not awarded, the bonus money carries forward to the next event in the series.  A total of $60,000 in bonus money is on offer from SSG Riding Gloves at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.

SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations, including Tackeria, as well as on-site at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at various retailers including Beval Saddlery, Hadfield’s Saddlery, Jods and Running Fox.

Please refer to the 2013 WEF Prize List for complete details.  For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.