Diamond B Farm has bred many famous showjumpers throughout Australia and globally. Diamond B has a reputation of not only breeding top class performance horses, but also training and producing them to the highest level.
“It was amazing to travel
with the horses, such a great
learning experience.”
Helen Chugg now runs the farm with top rider Amanda Madigan. The team is really coming to the fore with some fabulous homebred horses promising an exciting and upcoming season. Helen’s story is full of amazing experiences from which she has amassed an incredible wealth of knowledge. Down to earth and always positive in life, her enthusiasm for making the most of each day is infectious. She is ever encouraging and respectful and her horses are always in the peak of condition and sensibility. She is logical, honest and loyal with an eye for aptness and is one who always has a kind and positive word in an industry that is often fraught with difficult and trying situations. With people in the industry such as Helen Chugg, it’s reassuring and refreshing
Helen was born in Sydney and lived in the eastern suburbs. Neither of her parents, Eileen and Preston Crothers, had any interest in horses, but when Helen was 13, her father organised a holiday for her at Tony McAleer’s property at Three Springs in Western Australia. “Dad was a Geraldton boy and had many connections to WA,” says Helen. The McAleers had a huge property and many horses, as they played polocrosse. Helen learnt to ride during that holiday and was hooked.
On her return she took lessons at a riding school in Randwick with Bruce and Sonny Carnes. It wasn’t long before it was obvious that her passion was not going to wane, so her first horse was purchased. Sonny, a palomino gelding, was a great all-rounder and quickly became the love of Helen’s life. Helen attended the Eastern Suburbs Pony Club to better her skills with instructor Rose Gough. After Sonny, along came the first of many thoroughbreds, Renegade. “A bit of a silly one, but he loved to jump and was brave and honest,” says Helen. “Heaven only knows how he put up with those early learning days with no jumping instruction at all!”
Uni and TAFE followed school, but horses were to become the focus of Helen’s life.
“In those days the main source of competition horses was in the off-the-track thoroughbreds and that’s what so many riders had to train and jump.” says Helen. “It was during this time that I took an interest in bloodlines of the thoroughbreds that had jumping talent, which turned out to be beneficial later.”
Helen married Chris Chugg in 1985 and Helen’s parents bought a property at Freemans Reach in the Hawkesbury area north-west of Sydney, where they built a new house at one end of the property while Helen and Chris moved into the original house. “When I met Chris he was apprenticed to my farrier, Ian Dix, and Sky High was a D grader. In those early days there were so few warmbloods. He was extraordinary, I still remember being amazed by his amount of bone. He was such a delightful horse in nature and the most amazing horse for Chris; they learnt the ropes together all the way to National Champion and the World Cup finals,” recalls Helen.
In 1987, Sky High was the Pacific League winner of the World Cup series and Helen and Chris took him to Paris for the final — the first of many overseas trips with horses.“Our next Grand Prix star was the thoroughbred Mr Currency, who won the World Cup league as well, before heading to Gothenburg for the finals. It was amazing to travel with the horses, such a great learning experience. Mr Currency went the long way due to trouble in the Middle East — via New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Ireland and finally the UK. We led horses up a long, narrow ramp into the plane and built the stalls around them. I’ve taken horses on flights to Korea, on combi flights that were half-people, half-cargo. I think people would be amazed that we were taking care of horses when we disappeared through the door at the back of the plane!”
Helen and Chris lived through the exciting era in WA when Alan Bond and Laurie Connell boosted the prize money and generated enormous interest in showjumping. Helen and Chris crossed the Nullarbor four times to compete with a team of horses including Sky High and Stretch, another thoroughbred that was ultimately sold to Laurie.
“I guess you dream when you
are thinking of putting a mare
and stallion together.”
Helen recalls a funny story about Sky High. “He was such a trier and I loved the partnership we had all came to have with him. This was heightened by so much travelling and competing. I always wanted to see him win a World Cup as he so deserved one more. Over there the rugs, garlands of real flowers, rosettes and accompanying prizes, like gold pens and watches and crystal and fancy wares, were so exciting and a girl’s dream. Sky High ran second several times and then at Perth Royal Show he won the World Cup.” Helen was so excited that at last the wonderful Sky High was going to be adorned with some fabulous prizes. However, “He was sashed with a narrow felt ribbon and we were presented with a radio clock!” Helen laughs now but was heartbroken at the time — but after all, a World Cup win is no mean feat and was exciting in itself and she really was grateful, if not a little deflated!
Diamond B saw many thoroughbred horses being trained and Helen put much time into their training on the flat. She was always out riding and working, whether it was with the schooling of the horses or the stud and breeding work. She also competed in showjumping and loved it, though Chris became the serious rider (that he still is today) with the tireless help from Helen in schooling and being the eyes on the ground. She organised all the show entries and travel, as well as the bookwork and associated vet attention and breeding. It was a seriously progressive time. The likes of Mr Currency, Navy Seal and WS Scandal were all international horses that started as horses off the track.
Of course, it was always the case that the good horses were sold on, which was just the way it had to be to keep progressing. With the breeding, it was now where Helen’s interest in thoroughbred bloodlines was to pay off. There were many wonderful thoroughbred mares after finishing racing, and Helen particularly liked the progeny of the likes of Imperial Seal, McGinty, Grosvenor and Sir Tristram.
It was the cross with Valeur (Ulrich Klatte’s imported Oldenburg stallion) over a New Balance mare that produced the stallion Voodoo, who was a big, scopey, talented jumper. He showed great potential as a dressage stallion and went on to not only be seriously successful to International FEI level, but also carried Georgia Bruce at the Athens Paralympics. This stallion was then put over the mare Bundarra, who was a Grand Prix jumper produced by Tony Norman. The result was Ego, who went on to be a fantastic horse. Along with Sky High II, another one bred and trained by Diamond B, they were both long-listed for the Sydney Olympics!
On asking Helen about the feeling of choosing a mare and stallion, then seeing not one but two be completely produced from conception to Olympic status, she says: “It’s just affirmation and a special feeling that what you wanted to do on a very small scale was so successful in the bigger picture. I guess you dream when you are thinking of putting a mare and stallion together and you dream of producing a good horse… but to produce two at the same time from such a small, small band of mares in hindsight was pretty remarkable. Don’t worry, there is a good deal of luck and how the cards fall, but by the same token there was a lot of careful management. That is applied to all my horses to see them reach their potential. There are a lot of hurdles to get over along the way and of course you need good riding and funding!”
“It was on that buying trip
that the famous stallion
Vivant was found in Belgium.”
In 1998, Michelle Barrera came to Diamond B to train with Helen and Chris, and they travelled overseas to find her a horse. Kayak was purchased and so started a great relationship in showjumping with the Barrera and Cojuango families. The families decided to start ASB, and went overseas again to find some good broodmares and a colt. The two mares they bought were Isis and Quintana. Quintana is now retired in the lap of luxury at Diamond B, having produced many good foals. “What an extraordinary mare she is, by Heartbreaker and the dam of two five-star jumping stallions and many other very useful horses,” says Helen. “All the progeny have heart, good looks and huge attitude.”
It was on that buying trip that the famous stallion Vivant was found in Belgium. Helen recalls looking at many, many colts and none really fitting what she wanted until she saw Vivant: “I saw him and instantly I literally fell in love with him. He was everything and more and, as a three-year-old, I could truly not pass him by. It was strange but it was like someone turning on a light switch… it was that easy and obvious to me.”
This was the beginning of a huge story! Vivant was by the Jalisco stallion, Fuego Du Prelet. He was an athletic, modern type thoroughbred with a stunning topline and a “look at me” attitude. Helen always liked to put like-to-like types together as you have a better chance of knowing the result, and Vivant would so suit the thoroughbred mares that so many Australian breeders had. When he was purchased there was an outbreak of foot and mouth, so it wasn’t so easy to get him home. He had to go by boat to Ireland and quarantine there before flying to Australia. He was greeted with great excitement as back then there was limited frozen semen available, and having Vivant standing in NSW was good timing and management. The first season he served three mares and they were all in foal. The three foals were Vigo, Vermont and Maximus — all of which jumped World Cups and are all still competing today. What an amazing start!
“Amanda Madigan started work
with Helen in 2002 and quickly
became an invaluable asset.”
Of course, Vivant’s jumping career was on its way; with Helen’s love and care and Chris in the saddle, he went from strength to strength. But he was always a stallion to play in the paddock and was so athletic, and somehow fractured his pelvis in a paddock mishap. He was nine months out of work (stabled) undergoing slow rehab in Helen’s methodical and meticulous care. He was a gentleman, but every inch a stallion and always let people know when he was around. He was not a horse to be ignored!
Amanda Madigan started work with Helen in 2002 and quickly became an invaluable asset. A passionate rider with an incredible work ethic, she became the mainstay of the young horse production at the farm. During the 2000s, ASB continued to import mares and breed successfully, including the likes of Alondra (Indorado/Emilion), also a World Cup winner here, and Colthaga (Colman/Barnaul xx), also World Cup level and dam of the lovely National Champion and five-star international stallion, Caracas. They also imported a second colt, ASB Conquistador, who also jumped World Cup here and is a very influential sire.
“In one of our trips to source breeding stock we also sourced stock for Alice Cameron and Oaks Sport Horses,” explains Helen. “Some of these mares have also been hugely influential, producing horses such as Oaks Yandoo Constellation, Oaks Milky Way and Oaks Redwood, who are all successful international five-star horses.”
Vivant continued to dominate on the domestic circuit and was three times National Champion and winner of the Pacific World Cup League. He was seventh in the World Cup final at Geneva in 2010 and part of the seventh-placed team in the Nations Cup at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. A fantastic year with a truly brave and careful international horse who loved his job. He was then sold to Ukraine and competed in the London Olympics, two European Championships and another World Championship before retiring to stud at 18. Paul Schockemöhle used him extensively for two seasons and those horses are coming through the sales now. “Today Vivant is owed by Coolballyshan Stud in Ireland with the Kennedy family. They love him almost as much as I do!” says Helen.
“At the age of 10 Amanda’s
parents caved in and Trigger the
sporting pony was procured.”
In between all this, Helen became an avid dressage enthusiast, and as with everything she does, she did it to the best of her ability. She competed the stallion Aachimedes successfully, then there was an Anglo Arab she trained to Grand Prix, and Bolinger, Accomplice and Speculation, who were all fabulous horses to Medium/Advanced, plus False Alarm to Small Tour and Nevada to Grand Prix. A hip injury for Helen was a minor setback; she has now had a total hip replacement and is back in the saddle riding Baluga towards Prix St Georges!
“Baluga joined us in 2012 and is a charming lad with lots to offer. He perfectly suits our breeding program here with largely Vivant and Conquistador mares, who go back to the original thoroughbred lines from the early days. Our top horses at the moment are Vivienne (Vivant/Conquistador/Imperial Seal), and she has a Baluga daughter, Beyoncé, who is really showing huge talent in the young horse classes. I know exactly what to expect from her as I know all her relations several generations back.”
Amanda Madigan is now a crucial cog in the farm’s wheel, a quiet achiever who gets about a huge workload every day with consummate ease. She simply loves her life with horses and competing. As a rider she is bold and positive, with a steely edge that wants to win — but never pushing her horses beyond what they are confident in. She is patient and prepared to do the hard yards — and not until the hard yards are done and dusted would she continue. With Helen in the arena videoing and helping, it’s no wonder no stone is left unturned. It’s a real team effort and especially with Amanda having ridden the parents and grandparents of the horses. It’s a real team and a real journey that each horse at Diamond B Farm takes.
One of three children, Amanda was born in Gosford NSW before the family relocated to Albany in WA when she was six. They lived in the suburbs and Amanda’s parents had no interest in horses and had never ridden. Amanda blames her obsession on her Nanna, who took her to the races as a very young girl and from that moment on all she wanted was a horse. For her eighth birthday her mother gave her a card with a note to say they could not afford a pony, but there was a lesson every Saturday at the local riding school. For Amanda there was only one important day in the week and that was the Saturday! After two years, and her sister Janelle also starting to ride, it was very evident that this obsession was not a fad.
At the age of 10 Amanda’s parents caved in and Trigger the sporting pony was procured. Amanda attended Albany Senior High where she was a good student — but a better one at King River Pony Club where Trigger did all phases of equestrian sports! Her solid grounding in horsemanship and riding was through Pony Club where Amanda says the instruction was structured and of a good standard.
“Between Amanda and Helen
they certainly have a special
affinity with the progeny
at Diamond B.”
After Trigger it was Topolino, a thoroughbred racehorse stallion from a friend of a friend. He had been isolated on a paddock for two years and was eight years old. Having no clues, they thought they would have a go but the agistment centre would not take stallions, so they gelded him! After bolting several times on Amanda’s brother, she took him on. They went on to advanced dressage competition and he also jumped well. They trained with Anne Battley with regular dressage lessons and the family and friends started the Greater Southern Young Riders Squad.
The obvious direction that Janelle and Amanda were heading led to a 17-acre farm being purchased where the horse activities continued to flourish. On leaving school, Amanda would do some accounting work for local businesses and spend the rest of her time working on the farm and with the horses.
Through the Young Riders Squad she met Fiona John, who was down in Albany teaching the squad. Fiona was a top rider, coach and competitor who had spent some time working and riding for the Queen and actually has a character reference from HRH! Amanda was enthralled with learning all facets of equestrian sports and it was at this time that she had another thoroughbred that was acquired from the same lady who gave her Topolino; this was Imperial Beau.
He was a great horse and a very competitive eventer and Amanda decided to take him to Gawler in South Australia for their very first interstate competition. On the eve of leaving, Amanda was concerned that he wasn’t so keen in his final fast work. After she got off to get a rug to cool him down, he had an aneurism and died! Devastating to say the least. Needless to say, Amanda managed to put that terrible moment behind her and moved on. She then had a warmblood from Anne Battley called Spenser, who she evented, but he was a bit heavy and slow to be seriously competitive and so the showjumping came to the fore.
It was time for a move and Amanda was offered a position with Wayne Keilly of Combined Horse Transport at Twin Brooks in WA, She joined the eventing team he had, working with Wayne, Matt Bates and Christine McLeod (now Bates) with a strong team of eventers. She also had Philadelphia, a thoroughbred that was showing talent as a jumper.
Another change after about 12 months and it was to Fiona John. Amanda and Fiona would take a team of horses to the eastern states and do a run of shows and then return over the hot summer. After a few trips and having two horses, now Philadelphia and Havati, Amanda realised — being a bookkeeper and all — that winning $18.75 in prize money over the trip was not really viable. So, in the summer, while showjumping would be having downtime, Amanda found work helping on Anne Battley’s farm, which included hay carting, rouseabout work for the shearing team and help with their farmstay. Other times she would work running the books for local businesses in Albany.
It was time to bite the bullet and Amanda took up a position with Vanessa Hawkins working with Irish Sport Horses in Victoria; the workload was huge, with around 100 horses on the farm. She enjoyed her time with ESB but her real passion was showjumping, and ESB were more eventers, so after 12 months there she found a position through Fiona with Chris and Helen Chugg. Her two thoroughbred jumpers both went on to be World Cup horses, and Havarti won two qualifiers. All the time, other than working as a groom and around the property, Amanda rode the young horses and took them to shows. She has seen the many generations of young horses and knows the breeding and characters of them inside out. It is her life, a life that she simply adores.
Between Amanda and Helen they certainly have a special affinity with the progeny at Diamond B. It really works and they know how to get the best out of every horse. It isn’t just about the physical work; it’s also knowing the mentality and the genetic traits and ways around them from experience with the families that enables the best for these up-and-coming competitive horses.
Diamond B Farm also has several agistees and competitive riders who Helen and Amanda coach, of which some are on Diamond B-bred horses. Helen and Amanda have both shown horses at many royal shows around the country. They have shown hacks, hunters and of course showjumpers! Both have done some judging as well.
Amanda’s simplistic love is jumping, and at the moment that revolves around Vivienne!
On why Vivienne is special to her, she says: “Vivienne is Vivant x Conquistador and Imperial Seal, and I have an affinity and knowledge of all these horses, having worked with the two stallions from here and knowing the traits they throw in the progeny. I rode her mother, Conseal, up to 1.25m, and loved her, before selling her on to a fabulous young rider home. Viv is a real athlete and a great jumper who doesn’t want to touch a rail. She is streetwise and careful. She always tries her heart out.
“I love to be competitive, but always look to the future and not the present. Seeing the horses from the very beginning, and enjoying the journey with them is what I enjoy the most. There are highs and lows and the work isn’t always easy, but in the long run it’s a journey and a journey I love.”
It is a pretty unique story and there are more generations of good horses to follow. You can’t beat good breeding. You can’t get experience overnight. It takes years and many generations to get the type you want. And always forever being optimistic that the next foal you breed will be a superstar!
Since Roger wrote this article, Diamond B have again starred in the competition arena! Chloe Versteegen won the WA State Young Rider Championship title with Diamond B Vigo, who as Roger mentions is from Vivant’s first crop of foals and previously competed to World Cup level. Now 17, she’s still winning! EQ
