For Immediate Release
Wellington, FL – February 27, 2015 – Kingsland Equestrian, designer and manufacturer of Kingsland Equestrian apparel and horse gear, is proud to welcome Spencer Smith and Sophie Simpson to its family of sponsored riders. Since Kingsland’s celebrated expansion to North America in the fall, Smith and Simpson join the likes of sponsored riders including Reed Kessler (USA), Marcus Ehning (GER) and Julia Tops (CAN) to name a few.
Smith, who is 18 years old and from Wellington, FL, won the prestigious 2014 Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals at the end of a successful junior career. He currently rides for his parents, Ken and Emily Smith, and their Ashland Farm. He is moving into upper-lever grand prix and FEI competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and has been successful this winter in the competitive Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series. He was recently named to the USEF Young Rider Nations Cup Team in Wellington.
Spencer Smith
Smith was flattered by the prospect of becoming a Kingsland Equestrian rider. “Kingsland built a huge empire in Europe – you see their clothing in the barns, on the spectators and in the ring,” he said. “To be a part of that, along with their other really good sponsored riders, is an honor for me.”
A Kingsland customer before the sponsorship, Smith feels the brand aligns well with his own style. “I am attracted to anything classic while showing – dark coats, tan breeches – and Kingsland works well with that look,” he said. “The fit is perfect, and I can’t wait to show it off.”
According to Kingsland CEO Carsten Mikkelsen, the new sponsorships are proof that the expansion to North America is an ever-growing one. “The North American transition has been very successful, and these two riders coming on board is evidence of that. We foresee the American market experiencing the same level of popularity, brand-recognition and demand as we have seen in Europe – the coming months promise to be exciting ones,” he said.
Sophie Simpson
Seventeen-year old Simpson signed the first official sponsorship of her career with Kingsland and is excited about the quality of her first partner. “This is going to be my career, so to have a major brand like Kingsland support me at such a young age is huge,” she said. “I have always liked the products and they align well with my style – I like to stick to the traditional, but add a little color where I can to make me stand out.”
With help from North Run’s Missy Clark and John Brennan in the equitation ring and her mother Nicole Shahinian-Simpson on jumpers, Simpson has a storied riding career already. In exciting 2013 and 2014 seasons, she boasted top placings at the indoor equitation finals both years, an individual bronze medal at the FEI North American Young Rider Championships in 2013 and a team bronze in 2014. Representing the U.S. in last year’s CSIO Junior Nations Cup Team in Wellington, Simpson’s team placed second. “That was my first time ever riding on a team,” she said. “To represent my country is special because my parents both did for such a long time.”
Most recently, Simpson took top honors in the $5,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Speed Class at the Trump Invitational, presented by Rolex, earlier this year.
Smith and Simpson’s alignment with Kingsland Equestrian furthers an aim to support up-and-coming talent in horse sport. “North America is rich with young riders who have unending potential,” said Gianluca Caron, Kingsland North American Manager. “We want to promote that to the world and have them take Kingsland with them to the top.”
Caron also hinted that Smith and Simpson will not be the last North American representatives to find a home with Kingsland. “The reception of our North American launch has been overwhelming, and they are the first of the young North American riders that we hope to partner with in the future,” he added.
Following WEF, Smith will show at Tryon International Equestrian Center and return to Europe for summer competition before the indoor season kicks off in the U.S. For Simpson, the rest of 2014 will center around success at indoor finals and the FEI North American Young Rider Championships in her last year as a junior.
Kingsland Equestrian apparel and horse gear is available all season at WEF in their booth by the International Arena bridge and in the WEF Boutiques. Their spring, summer, and fall schedule of new pop-up stores at upcoming horse shows across the country will be announced soon.
For any further information or questions, please contact Mr. Gianluca Caron: gc@kingslandequestrian.com, (561) 324 8966.
Kingsland Equestrian Inc.
12300 Southshore Blvd, Suite 101
33414 Wellington, Florida, USA
About Kingsland
Kingsland is a Norwegian brand, which has since its creation in 1999, grown to become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of equestrian wear and horse gear. Kingsland has a reputation for its subtle blend of classic equestrian fashion and contemporary design. This combination, together with the use of top quality materials, has made Kingsland the favorite brand of many leading riders and equestrian professionals across all disciplines worldwide.
As a brand born from-, and daily run by, avid equestrians, Kingsland’s vision is to maintain the stylish look of rider and horse, although improving the fit and innovating the materials of the garments. This way a Kingsland product can stand the hardest conditions and still make you look fabulous.
Today, fifteen years later, Kingsland is a major sponsor of top ranked riders and prestigious international shows. The brands increasing popularity has led to the development of a whole new range of products, presenting numerous collections a year including an exclusive dressage line and also a wide range of quality casual wear. For more information, please visit www.kingslandequestrian.com.