Sophie Coppedge riding Whiskey is awarded a $2,000 bonus for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves while winning the $15,000 Amateur-Owner High Classic on Saturday, February 12. Photo by Sportfot

February 14, 2011 – Wellington, FL – Sophie Coppedge claimed a $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves for winning the $15,000 Amateur-Owner High Classic on Saturday, February 12, while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Gloves. The SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion is being held throughout the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

As the $1,000 bonus had not been awarded the previous week, the bonus increased to $2,000 for Saturday’s competition. Only two horses advanced to the jump-off in the $15,000 Amateur-Owner High Classic and it was Coppedge riding Whiskey who stopped the clock in the fastest time. Competing in both the first round as well as the jump-off wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves earned Coppedge the $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves.

“I already had the gloves before because they match my hat,” explained the fashionable Coppedge, who competes wearing a chocolate brown riding helmet with complementing brown SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. “When the promotion started, I got a second pair so that I would always have them.”

While Coppedge was wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves during the fifth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the winner of Sunday’s $10,000 Amateur-Owner Low Classic was not. That means a $2,000 bonus will be offered in the Amateur-Owner Low Classic on Sunday, February 20.

SSG Riding Gloves is offering a total of $57,000 in cash bonuses for riders competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival running January 12 through April 3 in Wellington, FL. The SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion is offered in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series, the Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, and the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic competitions.

Cash bonuses are given directly to the rider during the award presentations in front of the SSG Riding Gloves signature jump by either Ed James of SSG Riding Gloves or Jennifer Ward of Starting Gate Communications, who manages and handles publicity for the ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

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 Beval Saddlery, Collierville, Hadfield’s, Jod’s, Kocher, and Running Fox.

Please refer to the 2011 WEF Prize List for complete details. For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.