OUR home and yard is based at PARC Stables, Co Clare and was established in 2004. The name is an acronym for our family of five: my wife Paula, myself and our family, Rhys, Coen and Scarlett. Here, just outside Ennis, we train and produce show jumping horses.

We have had a lot of success over the years producing, buying, selling and competing horses, which I suppose all began in my youth, when I won the Dublin 148cm B/C championship with a pony named Cheddar Billy. He was a good pony, but my dad PJ always had a nice pony.

One of the first horses I rode was Heather Day, a Clover Hill son of the great Heather Honey. He was owned by Jimmy Flynn. Other good horses I had were Diamond Heather (Diamond Lad), another of Jimmy’s horses and then dad’s Multi Clover, also by Clover Hill, and Gallow Bay.

I won my first national Grand Prix on Multi Clover at Newcastle West Show. That first big win always stays with you.

My dad – PJ – was great to me growing up, he could have sold Multi Clover and Gallow Bay several times over, but kept them for me.

I wanted to experience working abroad with horses and decided to fly the nest to get more training. Michael Quirke recommended a good place to go, which was Belgian chef d’equipe Jean Paul Musette’s yard in Hoilaart.

I was there for 14 months and they were very, very good to me. You were going to shows and I think every young person should move abroad to gain experience if they want to.

Everyone has to learn a trade, if you’re an electrician or a show jumper. And now, we’ve both our sons doing the same in Belgium!

Collectively, Rhys and Coen have won eight European medals and have over 30 Nations Cup wins in pony and young rider categories.

They are on the road, travelling to shows a lot and learning all the time.

Rhys is with the Young Riders’ Academy (YRA) on a full scholarship, training with Jos Lansink and Coen is training and competing with Kilkenny show jumper Ivan Dalton at his Butler Court Stables yard in Antwerp.

1. A busy year for the Williams family, tell us about it.

The show jumping season in 2024 started off in Spain at the Sunshine Tour: Andalucia for the first two months and then we travelled to Paris, Belgium, South Africa, Hagen, Northern Ireland, Holland and, of course, as many national shows as we could fit in.

The breeding season started with our first foal on the ground in the last week of March. It was a beautiful filly foal by My Lord Carthago, out of an Untouchable mare and then we had another 18 foals born – all thriving, thankfully.

2. Tell us about your breeding programme.

The planning of our programme takes place in our house at every meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. Although the conversations are like nectar to all the boys, it’s much to the dismay of both girls in the house, who would much rather listen to anything else!

All our mares have competed in the sport or are related to top show jumpers. For example, our Angel Eyes Z is a sister to the Zangersheide stallion Take A Chance On Me Z.

Our younger mares are purchased with a purpose, like Enola KPCM Z, our two-year-old filly by Emerald off Sancha LS (Chin Chin), who jumped at 1.60m level with Daniel Bluman at Spruce Meadows, Wellingon etc. Enola’s grandmother, Sonora La Silla (Polydor), also jumped at World Cup level with Jan Tops.

The straws are selected after a lot of thought and discussions by Rhys, who is computable in his selection.

3. “Fools breed foals for wise men to buy.” Agree/disagree with this saying?

Well, if we are honest, we are on the fence with that statement as we enjoy breeding, but we also like to purchase well-bred foals.

The foal that you like costs plenty of money and the foals you try to breed are not easy to buy, but there is huge satisfaction in starting from zero and watching the horse grow and develop.

4. What’s your aim as a breeder?

My main aim is to produce types that are straight, sound, correct with good pedigree, with a vision for it to become a top show jumper that we can use in the sport ourselves.

5. How many broodmares do you have?

At the moment, we have 12 broodmares altogether and we also have recipient embryo transfer mares.

6. Favourite bloodlines?

I would have to say Aganix du Seigneur Z, Chacco Blue and Carthago Z.

7. Prefixes - PARC is yours, your thoughts on the issue?

No issue with prefixes, I believe the breeder is entitled to be recognised.

8. If you could have bred any famous horse, which one?

Carthago Z and Chacco Blue because they were a modern type of horse that were both very good in the sport and, after their jumping career was over, they went on to breed top competition horses.

9. “It takes a team” - who’s on yours?

We have great staff at home that keep the yard going, while we are at home and away.

We also have a breeding partnership with Gareth Cassidy from Northern Ireland, who has a vested interest in our breeding project. His contribution and trust with safeguarding the mares and foals is a huge asset. He also has the same passionate vision to breed top show jumpers.

We are very fortunate to have Paula looking after all the financial side and administration of the company. She runs a tight ship, which is very important for the smooth running of our business and my father PJ is always there at the drop of a hat, no matter the task, which I am very thankful for.

There are so many that help, from a team of exceptional vets, farriers and suppliers, to yard staff, all wonderful people who have an equal love for the sport.

10. Favourite holiday destination?

After travelling around so much this year with shows and everyone going in different directions, it will be really lovely to spend Christmas together. Although right now, the jury is out whether it will be in Ireland or abroad!

Favourite family holiday destination would have to be Cannes.

We have some amazing memories from when the kids were small, with their buckets and shovels and, as they got older, going to watch the Global Champions Tour, while the girls stayed on the beach.

Who knows, some day if we’re fortunate enough, the boys might jump there in the future.