January 21, 2024 
If 2023 ended on a high note for Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, 2024 is starting with one.
Last year, the 29-year-old logged his most successful year to date, jumping to 50 podium finishes, highlighted by twelve 1.60m victories, and €1,224,100 in career earnings, according to Jumpr App.
Three weeks into 2024 and all signs point to the legacy continuing.
Coyle and his World Championship mount Legacy topped the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Leipzig on Sunday, just one month after their five star Grand Prix win in London in December.
Fifth of 13 to return for the short course, Coyle threw caution to the wind, slicing turns and dropping a stride on the final line to set the time to beat in a blistering 31.70 seconds.
Twelve more pairs contested the Frank Rothenberger’s jump off. Sweden’s Peder Fredricson (SV Vroom de la Pomme Z) and Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (Vestmalle des Cotis) had the times at 31.29 and 31.45, respectively, but lowered a rail each. Only Coyle and Legacy managed to jump clear under the 32 second mark.
“Legacy is like no other horse I’ve ever ridden. Once you ask her to do something, ifs it’s actually possible she will do it!” Coyle said.
Bred by Romain Torry, the 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami) has a 50% top ten finish average at 1.60m (Jumpr App) and averages 3.50 faults at the height.
Now with 43 points in the North American League standings, Legacy has assured Coyle of a spot at the 2024 World Cup Final in Riyadh (KSA) in April. It’ll be his fourth championship appearance in as many years—all with Legacy and under the Irishman’s coach of eight years, Dutch Olympic gold medalist Jeroen Dubbeldam, and longtime owner, Canada’s Ariel Grange.
“Ariel bought the mare when she was just turned eight, and Jeroen had her before so he could tell me immediately what she liked and what she didn’t like and what was the best way to go forward with her. She took me to my first championships and I owe so much to her in every way,” said Coyle, noting that the mare is “not as simple as some people seem to think she is!”
“I’m delighted for Jeroen Dubbeldam who found her, delighted that Ariel [Grange] bought her for me, I’m over the moon—if I wasn’t good enough to steer her then it would be such a shame because she is so good!”
Three legs remain in the Western European League. Next stop: Amsterdam (NED) January 28.
