Matt Williams and Cuchica
For Matt Williams and the team at Wyndmont, Inc., the summer season has been both busy and successful. After making the Australian short list for the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Williams and the Wyndmont team planned to compete at several events to prepare for the Games, most recently the HITS-On-The-Hudson series in Saugerties, New York.
Williams had a busy two weeks, riding five of Wyndmont’s top horses during HITS on the Hudson I & II. In that time, Williams secured 11 top-six finishes, including a blue ribbon aboard Amai du Bourgeonet and two second-place finishes with Cuchica.
Amai du Bourgeonet is a 6-year-old Selle Francais. The grey gelding has had success competing in his age group this year, including the first-place finish with Williams in the YJC 6-Year-Old 1.20m class during HITS on the Hudson I.
“Amai du Bourgeonet is a still a new horse, but he continues to improve every time he goes in the ring,” said Williams. “He is consistently putting all of the pieces together and proving that is going to be very special in the years to come.
“Amai du Bourgeonet is a still a new horse, but he continues to improve every time he goes in the ring.”
Wyndmont’s up-and-coming champion Cuchica displayed his incredible potential and also foreshadowed his successful future throughout the stint of competition. The Dutch Warmblood secured second place finishes in the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper Speed and $10,000 1.40m Brooke Ledge Open Welcome. The bay gelding also locked in a fourth-place finish in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix during the first week of competition.
“Cuchica is still new to this level, but he is brave and careful and has stepped up quite nicely,” commented Williams. “He has a lot of heart and he really wants to win. When the courses get harder he only gets better, and that is very exciting.”
Earning the fourth place ribbon in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix the second week was Zephyr, a veteran grand prix mount for Williams, who also placed second in the 1.40m Open Jumpers earlier in the week. Placing fourth in the 1.40m Open Jumpers was Cas, who stepped up after placing fourth in the 1.30m Open Jumpers did the first week of the horse show.
Williams was not the only Wyndmont competitor that locked in victories in the HITS Saugerties Show Series. Nicole Loochtan competed aboard three of her horses and secured multiple top-six finishes, including second place finishes aboard Memory Lane in the $5,000 1.30m NAL Junior Jumper Classic and Carla de Kalvarie Z in the $1000 1.30m Wild Gold Jumper.
Although there is one week left in the HITS Saugerties Show Series, Williams and trainer Ronnie Beard have traveled to Poland to compete in the FEI CSIO5* Sopot Nations Cup, which will take place June 9-12. Go here to see the full riders list for CSIO5* Sopot.
While Beard travels with Williams to Europe, Michael Dorman will remain stateside preparing the team’s young horses and training clients. Dorman holds an integral and valuable role within the Wyndmont team. It is with his extensive equestrian knowledge and experience that he prepares the horses and keeps the team moving forward, collectively.
Founded by Beard with Michael Dorman, Wyndmont Inc. provides classical horsemanship to annual and seasonal equestrian clientele. For more information, visit Wyndmont.com or find them on Facebook!
-Source: Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group