August 9, 2013 – Petaluma, CA – Two hometown avorites were big winners in the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Roar for Four’ promotion during the HMI Equestrian Classic I at the Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, CA.  Erin Bland claimed $2,500 in bonus money from the Canadian glove manufacturer for her win in the $2,000 LA Saddlery Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, while Simonne Berg earned an extra $500 after taking top spot in the $5,000 Circle Oak Equine Junior/Amateur Modified Jumper Classic.

Running exclusively at Sonoma Horse Park, the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Roar for Four’ promotion sees four different classes selected as eligible events at each horse show, with a $500 bonus on offer to each of the winning riders if they are wearing one of four styles of SSG riding gloves.

Bland earned the bonus aboard Weatherly, her 10-year-old grey Warmblood gelding, after putting in an exceptional round, topping a highly competitive starting field of 21 entries in the $2,000 LA Saddlery Junior/Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic on Sunday, July 28.  As there were no ‘Roar for Four’ winners earlier in the week or during the HMI June Classic in the hunter divisions, the bonus money had climbed to $2,500.

“I told all of my riders to purchase one of the SSG qualifying styles of gloves!” said Bland’s trainer, Ned Glynn, of Sonoma Valley Stables.  “I’m glad Erin listened.  The SSG bonus money is a great added incentive for riders to go out and give it their best.”

Berg, meanwhile, rode away with a $500 bonus after winning the $5,000 Circle Oak Equine Junior/Amateur Modified Jumper Classic on July 28 with her partner, Limerick.  The win was bittersweet for Berg, who trains with Meredith Herman of Burgundy Farms, as Limerick is now up for lease as she focuses on her new mount, Sancerre.

“I’m hoping that a young rider in northern California who’s looking to step into the jumper ring will decide to lease Limerick,” explained Berg.  “He’s a great teacher and I’m really hoping to find someone who will love him as much as I do.”

The 11-year-old Connemara gelding has been Berg’s longtime partner and has helped her win more than one SSG bonus.  In 2012, the pair won back-to-back victories in the $1,500 Children/Adult-Amateur Classic at the HMI August Classic and Strides & Tides competition at the Sonoma Horse Park.  For each of those blue ribbons Berg was awarded an additional $1,000 bonus from SSG Gloves, bringing her total amount accumulated from SSG promotions to $2,500 over the past two seasons.

SSG Gloves is offering a total of $12,000 in bonus money to competitors during the 2013 show season at the Sonoma Horse Park.  In the new ‘Roar for Four’ promotion, riders must be wearing one of four styles of SSG gloves in order to be eligible for the bonus: Digital, Hybrid, Technical, or All-Weather.

Designed to reward competitors for their loyalty to the SSG Riding Gloves brand, a $500 bonus is on offer to the winning rider in designated events at Sonoma Horse Park if they are wearing eligible styles of SSG Riding Gloves with the horse head logo clearly visible in all rounds of competition.  If the winning rider is not wearing SSG Riding Gloves, the bonus money is carried forward to the next event, increasing from $500 to $1,000, etc.

The following events are still to come in the 2013 SSG Riding Gloves ‘Roar for Four’ bonus promotion at Sonoma Horse Park:

Strides & Tides - September 11 - 15, 2013

SHP Season Finale - September 18 - 22, 2013

SSG Riding Gloves are available for purchase on-site at Sonoma Horse Park at Cross Creek Tack Shop and The Equestrian's Concierge.

For more information on the SSG Gloves promotion, please visit www.ssgridinggloves.com or contact program manager Jennifer Ward of Starting Gate Communications at contactus@startinggate.ca.

For more information on Sonoma Horse Park and its competitions, please visit Sonoma Horse Park or contact Sally Hudson at 831.594.1719.