Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 17, 2016 – With the 2016 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at HITS Ocala just a week away, Australia’s Matt Williams traveled with Wyndmont, Inc. to Post Time Farm to prepare his mounts for the world-class competition.

Williams navigated his way to the top of the leaderboard in two of the highlight events. Riding Zephyr, a Dutch Warmblood gelding, Williams placed third in Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, and he also placed fifth aboard Valinski S. Earlier in the week, Valinski S and Williams placed third in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.

“Zephyr really came together on the day,” noted Williams. “It was our first grand prix together for awhile and he tried really hard, so I was really happy with him. The course was pretty strong for a $50,000 Grand Prix. I was really happy with Valinski S when we jumped clear. He is jumping better and better with every class that we go in.”

Williams and Cuchica continued to build their partnership, showing in the $10,000 1.45m Open Prix where they placed fifth, and the $2,500 1.40m Brook Ledge Open Welcome where they placed sixth.

“Cuchina jumped great all week,” noted Williams. “I started showing him at Del Mar. He’s taken a little more time to build a consistent partnership with, but I really feel like I know him now and it’s all come together.”

Rounding out his successful week at HITS, Williams competed in two of the $1,500 1.40m Enviro Equine Jumper events aboard Cas, for fifth place finish in both.

“This was the first time that Cas has done two 1.40m classes back-to-back, so it was a step up for him, but he seems to jump the bigger jumps a lot better,” explained Williams. “He’s very careful and very quick, so he’s a nice horse to have on the team for the future.”

Williams and the team at Wyndmont, Inc. will now be focused on the CSIO Nations Cup Week at HITS Ocala, representing Australia during the international event.

Founded by Ronnie Beard and Michael Dorman, Wyndmont, Inc. is known for producing highly competitive hunter and jumper riders and horses under Beard and Dorman’s guidance, developing programs that benefit both human and equine athletes. For more information, visit Wyndmont.com or find them on Facebook!

Source: Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group