January 13, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – Michael Hughes of Allendale, NJ, scored his first bonus in the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion by winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic on Sunday, January 13, at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Of the 21 entries in Sunday’s $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, 17 were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves to be eligible for the $1,000 cash bonus.  Nine horses qualified for the jump-off, including Hughes who posted a clear round in the winning time of 32.25 seconds riding MacArthur.

“It’s a great way to get people to wear the gloves,” said Hughes, 17, of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.  “They are great gloves.  They never seem to wear down.  Even after lots of wear, they are still totally fine.”

Coached by his father, Eamonn Hughes, Hughes is a veteran of the Junior Jumper division.  He has been riding MacArthur for the past year and, in September, competed with him in the $1 million Grand Prix in Saugerties, NY.

“I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to ride him,” said Hughes, noting that owner Christina Fried purchased the horse one year ago.  “He’s a funny horse, and he’s so sweet all the time; every day he’s the same.  He’s fun to play with in his stall, and he’s fun to trail ride.”

While Hughes took home the $1,000 bonus for winning the Junior Jumper Classic during week one, the $1,000 bonus went unclaimed in the High Amateur-Owner Classic on Saturday.  That means the bonus money doubles for week two, with $2,000 on offer to the winner of the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Classic if they are wearing SSG ‘Digitals’.

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.