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Lillie Keenan and Alise Oken Score SSG Riding Gloves Bonus Money

Jennifer Ward representing SSG Riding Gloves and ringmaster Cliff Haines present Lillie Keenan, mounted on Pumped Up Kicks, with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic on March 3 at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Photo by Sportfot
Jimmy Torano
Alise Oken, mounted, is presented with a $2,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward representing SSG Riding Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on March 2 at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Jack Mancini, www.ManciniPhotos.com
March 4, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – Two familiar faces picked up SSG Riding Gloves bonus money during week eight of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.  Past winners Lillie Keenan and Alise Oken once again found themselves beneficiaries of the SSG “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.

On Sunday, March 3, Lillie Keenan and week seven’s winner, Victoria Colvin, were the only two riders to post clear rounds in the $10,000 Griffis Group High Junior Jumper Classic.  Both were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves, ensuring that the $1,000 bonus would be awarded.  In a very tight finish, it was Keenan who took the win after posting a clear round in a time of 37.44 riding Pumped Up Kicks to narrowly edge out Colvin and Don Juan, who crossed the timers in 37.60 seconds.

“It’s a great opportunity for riders to have the bonus money,” said Keenan, who also claimed a $1,000 bonus during week two of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.  “I love the gloves, and to win money for wearing them is awesome!”

Keenan, 16, of New York, NY, purchased Pumped Up Kicks at the end of last season from Germany’s Heiko Schmidt, through Dutch Olympian Emile Hendrix, and the pair began competing together at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

“He is a real sweetheart,” said Keenan of the 10-year-old grey gelding.  “Every time he goes in the ring, he wants to win.  The course today was difficult but, for my horse, that’s better.  He likes to be challenged and it makes him pay attention.”

As with the $1,000 bonus she won earlier in the season, Keenan plans to put her bonus money towards her horses’ expenses.  Keenan trains with Andre Dignelli and Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY.

Alise Oken had won a $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves at the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show last fall, and again picked up a $2,000 bonus at the Winter Equestrian Festival.  Coached by Laura Kraut, Oken topped a seven-horse jump-off with Kaid du Ry to win the $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic as well as the overall Championship title.  In addition, Oken was wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ to claim the SSG bonus, which had doubled to $2,000.

“I love the gloves; they are my favourite of any gloves that I have ever tried, plus they last forever,” said Oken, 21, of Charlotte, NC.  “I can’t thank SSG enough for sponsoring these classes.”

Oken has been partnered with Kaid du Ry for the past two years, and described her horse by saying, “He’s lazy at the barn, but once you get in the ring, you let him do his thing and he takes you for a ride!  It’s nice to have a horse you can trust.”

While Oken and Keenan both pocketed SSG bonus money, the winner of week eight’s WEF Challenge Cup was not wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves.  Therefore, the $3,000 bonus will be carried forward to week nine, where a $6,000 bonus will be on offer to the winning rider of Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup Round IX.

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 Running Fox and Beval Saddlery.

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.

 


 
Starting Gate Communications is one of the world’s largest full-service public relations companies specializing in equestrian sport, particularly the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and three day eventing. With a wide variety of promotional services offered, Starting Gate Communications can spread the news about everything from horse show results to breeding information to product development. Simply put, if your business includes the horse industry, we will get you the recognition you deserve.
 

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