Canada’s Vanessa Mannix, riding Valerie F.S., is presented with a $1,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward on behalf of SSG Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Starting Gate Communications
For the second week in a row, Victoria Colvin riding Don Juan claimed the SSG Gloves bonus money for her win in the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic. Photo by Sportfot

January 25, 2015 – Wellington, FL – Victoria Colvin went two-for-two in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion while Vanessa Mannix claimed her first-ever win during week three of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Both riders were awarded a $1,000 bonus from the Canadian riding gloves manufacturer in recognition of their loyalty to the SSG Gloves brand.

On Sunday morning, January 25, Colvin faced off against nine other jump-off contenders in the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic. Riding Don Juan, Colvin claimed her second High Classic win in a row, having posted an unbeatable jump-off time of 27.56 seconds to overtake Daisy Farish, who had stopped the timers in 28.32 seconds riding Triviant.

“I knew that I had to go fast,” said Colvin of her jump-off strategy with Don Juan, owned by Karen Long Dwight. “He didn’t show at all this week, this was his only class, so he felt ready, he jumped amazing, and we went for it!”

As always, Colvin was wearing her SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves on her way to victory, netting her a $1,000 bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion for the second week in a row.

“They are very lucky; they are definitely my lucky gloves now!” said Colvin.

Colvin has been a past winner on multiple occasions in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion, and has now won an additional $2,000 this season alone. Of how she plans to spend her bonus money, Colvin laughed and said, “Soon I am going to invest in a horse or something!”

On Saturday, Canada’s Vanessa Mannix scored her first-ever win in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion, having worn ‘Digital’s on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

Six entries from the original 33-horse starting field found their way to a clear round over the testing track set by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Coming back third in the jump-off order, Mannix posted a time of 44.01 to narrowly better the target of 44.03 set by Katie Dinan and Bijou de Balou.

“My goal this season was to win one of the High Classics, so that’s exciting!” said Mannix, 25, of Calgary, AB, following her victory. “I went in third and I knew that Katie had gone around quite nicely. My horse is super careful and you can always trust that she is going to try for you. We had quite a fast plan. I had a really good shot to fence nine across the middle, so my big gallop there is where I made up a bit of time.”

In describing Valerie F.S., her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Mannix said, “She is the ultimate professional. She is such a winner in the ring. She is very much a chestnut mare, she has her own style, but she is such a winner. She knows her job, and she helps me out all the time.”

The victory also marked Mannix’s first win in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.

“I never ride without gloves; I always have them on,” said Mannix. “I know that SSG is so generous and does such a good job of sponsoring here at WEF, so anytime that I am showing here, I always make sure to have them on. Valerie actually sweats really badly, and the reins get quite sticky. I find with wearing the SSG Gloves, the reins don’t slip as much.”

SSG Gloves will continue to offer a $3,000 bonus in each of the weekly Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series events, as well as a $1,000 bonus in the High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper 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 the SSG Gloves bonus during the awards presentation. A total of $60,000 in bonus money is on offer from SSG Gloves at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival.

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

Please refer to the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival Prize List for complete promotion details on the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. For further information, please contact promotion manager Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications Inc., at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.