The unlikely beginnings of a Grand Prix winner

Long before Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde was competing under the Californian sun, his story began with a mare purchased in the Netherlands by Belgian breeder Cleo Laenen, who runs Stal Stapelheyde in Vosselaar.

At the time, Laenen was primarily focused on riding rather than breeding. The mare had already competed successfully at 1.40m level before joining her stable, where she continued her sporting career for several more years.

"I bought his dam when she was around twelve years old. She had already achieved some good results at 1.40m in the Netherlands, and I competed with her for another two or three years, mainly at 1.25m," Laenen recalls. "Unfortunately, she suffered an injury that meant she could no longer compete."

What initially seemed like the end of the mare's sporting career eventually opened the door to something entirely different.

Breeding was still a relatively modest activity at Stal Stapelheyde, with usually no more than one foal born each year. Laenen had never developed an extensive breeding programme or placed particular emphasis on researching damlines.

It was her veterinarian who recognised the mare's potential beyond the competition arena.

"We weren't particularly focused on pedigrees or maternal bloodlines back then. We simply bred a foal occasionally from one of our own mares. Our vet pointed out that she actually came from a very good German damline and suggested we should give breeding a try. He recommended Vannan as the stallion."

That decision eventually produced Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde, a son of Vannan who would go on to become the family's most successful homebred horse.

Replay's journey from Belgium to Kyle King's stable

Replay's early education took place in Belgium, although Laenen was unable to produce him herself. A serious back injury forced her to give up riding approximately six and a half years ago.

Instead, the young horse was entrusted to Belgian rider Jan Stoffelen, who introduced him to competition through the national young horse circuit.

"He was still a stallion at the time, and he could be quite difficult to manage because of his stallion behaviour," Laenen explains. "Eventually, we decided to have him gelded."

Replay was subsequently sold at the age of five, with Belgian rider Kirsten Rombouts continuing his development during his six- and seven-year-old seasons.

Those early connections have remained important throughout his career.

"Kirsten and I are still in regular contact. She often sends me videos and keeps me informed about how he's doing. Kyle is also a very close friend of Kirsten and Michael, so we've always been able to follow his progress."

Today, Replay has established himself as a competitive partner for King in the United States. Their recent $100,000 Grand Prix triumph in Thermal represents another significant achievement in the gelding's developing international career.

For his breeder, following those performances from Belgium has become something of a routine, even if the time difference occasionally makes watching live rather challenging.

"We usually know when he's going to compete, but with the competitions taking place in America, it's often during the night for us. Sometimes I wake up in the morning, check Kyle's Facebook or Instagram, and discover that they've won. That's always a wonderful feeling."

"Replay is Kyle's absolute favourite"

Beyond the impressive results, one aspect of Replay's American career stands out particularly strongly to Laenen: the close relationship he has developed with his rider.

That affection has apparently become well known around the American showjumping circuit.

Laenen regularly hears commentators discussing the partnership during ClipMyHorse broadcasts, often referring to Replay as King's favourite horse in the stable.

"They sometimes mention that Replay is the first horse Kyle goes to see when he arrives at the stables in the morning, and the first one he wants to ride. Hearing something like that as a breeder is incredibly special."

For Laenen, knowing that a horse she bred is not only succeeding at Grand Prix level but is also so highly valued by his rider makes the achievement even more rewarding.

There may also be an opportunity for a reunion in the near future.

"Kyle has mentioned that he'd like to bring Replay back to Europe at some point. I'd absolutely love to see him again, so hopefully that will happen."

Five young offspring carrying Replay's bloodlines

Although Replay is now a gelding, his contribution to the breeding programme at Stal Stapelheyde began before his sporting career truly took off.

While he was still a stallion, Laenen bred five foals by him, all of which are now five years old.

Three remain at her stable, while the other two have been sold.

According to Laenen, the young horses share many of the qualities that make Replay such an interesting athlete.

"They look remarkably similar to him. They're elegant, modern horses with plenty of blood and very attractive types," she explains.

Their early performances have also given her reason for optimism.

"They're doing very well in the five-year-old classes. We have one here that competed in the young horse circuit this season and was clear almost every time."

Meanwhile, the breeding operation itself has gradually expanded. What began with an occasional foal has developed into a programme producing approximately four or five foals annually.

"This year we had five foals, and interestingly, every single one was a colt," Laenen says.

She has also invested in two additional mares from established maternal lines, hoping to further strengthen the quality of her future breeding stock.

Selling through auctions may become part of that strategy.

"We tried selling a foal at auction for the first time a few years ago, and it worked out quite well. We're considering doing it again next year, particularly with foals from the two mares we purchased."

Life beyond breeding: Running a riding stable in Belgium

Despite the international recognition brought by Replay's success, daily life at Stal Stapelheyde remains firmly rooted in the local equestrian community.

Alongside breeding and producing young horses, Laenen operates a riding school and provides instruction to a wide range of riders.

The facility accommodates approximately fifty clients, many of whom ride recreationally.

"We have a few showjumping riders who take lessons, generally competing up to around one metre, but most of our clients are recreational riders. We also teach a lot of children, some as young as four years old."

Lessons range from dressage and jumping to general riding instruction, with a strong emphasis on making equestrian sport accessible to people of different ages and abilities.

For Laenen, teaching young riders remains one of the most satisfying aspects of her work.

"I really enjoy working with children. You can see how eager they are to learn, and watching them improve is incredibly rewarding."

The stable also organises three or four pony camps each year, welcoming approximately fifty children per camp.

However, operating a riding school has become increasingly challenging in recent years.

Laenen has noticed a significant change in client behaviour since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as the rising cost of keeping horses and taking lessons puts additional pressure on families.

"Things have changed quite a lot since COVID. In the past, people would stay around after their lessons, spend time in the bar and socialise. That happens much less now."

Higher operating expenses have also forced the stable to increase both boarding and lesson fees.

"We've had to raise our prices, and you can definitely see that people have become more cautious about spending money."

Nevertheless, the satisfaction of introducing new generations to horses continues to motivate her.

A special achievement for everyone behind Replay

After several years away from riding because of her back injury, Laenen has recently started spending some time in the saddle again.

"I've been riding a little at home for the past two months, but I still have to be careful with my back. I'm taking things slowly."

While her own return to riding is progressing cautiously, Replay's achievements in the United States continue to provide plenty of excitement.

He is the first horse bred at Stal Stapelheyde to reach this level of international competition, making King's recent Grand Prix victory particularly meaningful for everyone involved in his early development.

From a mare whose sporting career ended prematurely to a young stallion produced in Belgium, Replay's journey has been anything but conventional.

Today, he is winning major classes with Kyle King on the American circuit, while his first offspring are already beginning to demonstrate their potential in young horse competitions.

For Laenen, the greatest satisfaction lies not simply in seeing her breeding programme represented at the highest level, but in knowing that Replay has found a rider who believes in him so strongly.

And as King and Replay Touch v/d Stapelheyde continue their partnership, the story that began in a small Belgian breeding stable may still have many chapters left to write.