Born and raised in the Groningen countryside, farmer’s son Sjaak van der Lei grew up with horses. Horses were used on the farm in Houwerzijl from early on and even the progressive mechanisation could not deter the Van der Lei family’s passion for horses. Sjaak’s father bred using a few mares and older sister Agaat actively rode in the sport and later became a credible dressage rider. Sjaak himself combined his father’s and sister’s preferences. The interest in breeding was ever-present. From an early age stallion books and licensing catalogues were sifted through, and on TV stallions in the sport were watched more attentively.

Sjaak earned his living as a show jumper. At the age of nineteen, via contact with Kees van den Oetelaar, he was given the opportunity to replace Eric Van der Vleuten’s stable rider for a couple of weeks. It clicked with Van der Vleuten and the opportunity to stay longer was seized with both hands. Sjaak swapped his jumping yard in Groningen for Stal Van der Vleuten in Noord-Brabant and enjoyed several wonderful (learning) years. “I learned an unprecedented amount from Eric. I have tremendous admiration for his knowledge and know-how. He is also a super person and you could not wish for a better boss.”

During the period with Van der Vleuten, Sjaak followed the Masterclass in Deurne after which new challenges beckoned. After having ridden for the late Bert Goossens for a while, the next logical step followed which was to work for himself. Sjaak remained loyal to Noord-Brabant and tasted international show jumping.

Via his network, Sjaak succeeded in acquiring the exclusive covering rights for Cornet Obolensky for the Netherlands and part of Belgium. That was the start of a new branch, in addition to training and competing show jumping horses. Other stallions such as Comme Il Faut followed and the step to share the semen of these exclusive stallions reignited his passion for breeding. Interesting mares with a genetically strong background were purchased and inseminated with stallions from his own collection. And so Sjaak became breeder as well as show jumper and the circle was complete.

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Sjaak van der Lei travelled a bit and rode horses for others for many years. This background provided him with a wealth of experience and developed in him a vision of the type of (jumping) horse required in the sport and in breeding. He says: “In the past I was criticised by others for results achieved. As a result you also learn to look critically at a horse. What type of horse do you want to ride? How should that feel? Firstly you want to have a good ride. Enjoyable riding is so important! Whether it be at 1.30m-level or 1.60m-level. A horse must want to reach the other side and want to do it for you, so that you can progress further together. He must therefore have that willingness to work but stay cool-headed and maintain an overview. A horse must certainly have blood, but blood in the body is different from blood in the upstairs department. If you go around the corner at top speed during a jump-off, a horse must stay cool-headed. A good horse thinks with you and always thinks the right way. As well as the pure will, the horse must of course be capable of doing it. His genetic background must be good as well as his exterior build. The better a horse is built and has natural balance, the more ease you have with ridden work.”

Nowadays, Sjaak can apply his vision not only to the trading business but also to his own stud. Getting started with his own breeding material has always been at the back of his mind. “I find the breeding fantastic. I want to use specific bloodlines that can add something to breeding and which people in the sport can enjoy. In my eyes you need to have horses that any amateur rider can enjoy. That is the basis. And if they can also compete at 1.60m-level then that is a bonus. That is the ultimate goal.”