In Australian Jumping, few names resonate as powerfully as Vivant van de Heffinck (Fuego du Prelet x Landino). This remarkable stallion has left an indelible mark on the sport and breeding scene in Australia, thanks to the vision and dedication of Helen and Chris Chugg.

Their journey to discover Vivant began with a mission to establish a breeding operation in Australia for their Filipino clients, Mike Barrera and his family. In 2001, this quest took them across Europe, where they encountered various young stallions, but none captivated them quite like Vivant. Helen recounts their first encounter with Vivant, “As it turns out, the first colt that we saw was the one. He was not quite three, and he was everything in my mind that I thought we needed.”

Helen and Chris sought a modern horse that could blend with the established bloodlines in Australia, which were predominantly thoroughbred. Vivant embodied that ideal, showcasing a balance of athleticism, temperament, and pedigree that was hard to resist, Helen saying, “We always had in our mind that we needed a modern horse, and that’s exactly what he was… He was a standout.”

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The decision to buy Vivant was timely, as the global equestrian scene faced disruptions due to the Foot and Mouth pandemic which meant that there were no Americans coming over to Europe to buy at the time. Vivant had to travel by boat to quarantine in Ireland (as no horses were allowed into England) before heading out to Australia.

After allowing the stallion time for acclimatisation after his travels, he quickly began to make his mark in the competition arena with Chris at the helm, debuting as a four-year-old. From then on, Vivant’s Jumping career was nothing short of stellar. Known for his bravery and carefulness, his ability to excel under pressure was evident early on, and he competed at numerous prestigious shows. Chris says, “I probably haven’t since worked with a horse of such high intelligence and wanted to be busy as much as Vivant. I had to find things that kept his mind on his job. He was just inquisitive and in to everything.”

Chris goes on to say, “He was a very easy horse to teach to jump. For me, it was just like someone giving me something with the whole package that I just had to produce. It wasn’t hard, because he produced himself. So it was just a lovely ride.”

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Crowned Australian Jumping Senior Champion for three consecutive years (2007-2009), Chris and Vivant were also travelling reserves for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Following their return to Australia from Hong Kong, Chris and Helen decided that it was time to test him out back in Europe. In 2010 Chris and Vivant competed in a number of shows across Europe, and excelled, Helen saying, “As good as we thought he was, taking him back overseas showed us just how good he was.“

Vivant’s international journey included a significant appearance at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, where the Australian team achieved a commendable seventh place, with Vivant delivering the highest score for Australia in the Nations Cup, showcasing his ability to perform reliably under pressure.

One of his most notable achievements was at the 2010 World Cup Finals in Geneva, where he finished fourth in the 3rd Qualifier and seventh in the Final. His impressive results opened doors, allowing him to compete in major events across Europe, further solidifying his legacy.

There is an interesting story with this event because two days before the trot-up he actually jumped out of his stable. Chris says “At two in the morning we were woken up with him causing havoc in the stallion barn!” After having American team vets and physio’s look at him, they thought he was fine with just a bit of swelling and bruising but Chris says, “we actually just went to the trot-up to eliminate ourselves, because if we were there at the trot-up, we would get our flight money back”.  Needless to say, Vivant passed the trot-up and the rest is history!

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After his time competing with Chris in Europe, Vivant was sold to Aleksandr Onishcjhenko, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. Competing for Ukraine at the 2012 London Olympics with rider Katharina Offel (who trained with Aleksandr Onishcjhenko), Vivant demonstrated remarkable versatility and athleticism on the world stage. Chris says “It was hard to say goodbye. We had kept him for the World Championships, and then it was time to find him a nice home because bringing him back to Australia wasn’t really an option.”

At the age of 15, Vivant formed a formidable partnership with Brazilian rider Cassio Rivetti. Together, they made waves at prestigious events, including the World Championships in Caen in 2014 and the European Championships in Aachen in 2015.

Above: Vivant competing with Cassio Rivetti.

Vivant’s influence extends beyond his own competitive success. Helen emphasises his significant contribution to Australian breeding, noting that his offspring have consistently performed well in various disciplines, including show jumping and eventing. “The number of quality horses produced from his bloodlines is exceptionally high,” she states.

Chris says “He was a unique athlete out of that bloodline and he threw some very nice horses. Some of his progeny are getting around and jumping at a high level.” Notably in Australia we have Virgil who competed very successfully with Shane Rose for many years in Eventing and recently we have seen two Vivant geldings doing very well on the Jumping World Cup circuit, Jaybee Vibrant and Jaybee Vigilante.

Above: Vivant in his retirement to stud in Ireland.

The passing of Vivant at the age of 26 marked the end of an era for those who cherished him. Helen recalls her emotional farewell, “It was hard to say goodbye to a horse that was not only admired but deeply loved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” she reflects. “We knew he was towards the end of a great lifetime, but it’s still hard to lose a horse you admire and love so much.”

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Vivant’s vibrant personality and larger-than-life spirit left a lasting impression on all who encountered him and today, his legacy lives on in the hearts of riders, breeders, and fans alike. As a breeding stallion, Vivant has left a legacy of heart, intelligence, and athleticism in his progeny. Even years after his retirement, his descendants continue to excel in the sport, embodying the characteristics that made him a standout performer.

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