March 17, 2025 
This week in Ocala, the Coyle clan came to play.
On Saturday during the $125,000 IDA Development Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Center (WEC), it was Jordan Coyle’s turn to lead the way aboard the 10-year-old mare, Keep Me With You N.c.
Course Designer Eric Hasbrouck’s (USA) first round track under the lights proved more difficult than expected, with a spooky American flag jump going away from the in-gate proving to be especially difficult for a number of the the 30-horse field. (Four riders ultimately retired; five were eliminated).
Only five combinations moved on to the shortened course. And, as would become a feature of the weekend in Ocala, 40% of them were Coyles.
Returning third aboard his long-time partner and Olympic mount, Legacy, Daniel Coyle (IRL) pulled an unfortunate rail in the jump-off—a fate that also befell his countryman, Robert Blanchette and Chardonnay. Daniel’s brother Jordan, however, had better luck aboard partner of two years, Keep Me With You N.c.
Stopping the clock at 75.351 seconds, the latter Coyle just pipped Australia’s Lauren Balcomb and Verdini D’Houtveld Z by less than four tenths of a second. Richard Spooner (USA) was third with Lyjanair.
“I didn’t really feel like I had to let her go in the jump-off. She’s just that fast, and you can turn her into the jumps, and she isn’t going to touch them, so that’s a big bonus when you know that,” said Coyle, who purchased Keep Me With You N.c. in Mexico with his friend, show jumper, Darrah Kerrins.
“I really believe she is something that I’ve never had before.”
But the Coyles weren’t finished yet.
One day later, as storm clouds gathered above Live Oak International’s grass field during Sunday’s $190,000 Grand Prix—which began an hour early due to weather concerns—the class was forced to pause competition in Round 1 with five riders still remaining in the order.
Thankfully, the skies eventually cleared, just in time for another Coyle-fied jump-off.
This time, Daniel Coyle and Farrel slid into second place behind cousin Christian Coyle and Extravaganza Semilly on Course Designer’s Olaf Petersen’s (GER) 9-effort, second-round track. The USA’s Will Simpson finished third with Imar.
“When the weather broke today, I wasn’t sure it was going to be my day,” Daniel Coyle said. “At one point, it seemed impossible to jump. I walked into the arena a few times and thought, ‘This class can’t go.’ But I have to say, the arena was incredible—it was underwater, and an hour later, we were jumping again.”
Indeed, a bit of Irish weather proved no obstacle for Christian Coyle and the 11-year-old Selle Français mare, who earned their first international Grand Prix victory to date. “I was lucky enough to go just before the weather broke in round one, and jumped clear,” Coyle explained. “[Extravaganza] gave a great effort. I’ve always believed in this mare.”
Despite another rail down in the jump-off, this time with the 15-year-old KWPN gelding Farrel, even cousin Daniel could find little to complain about. “I’m happy to have jumped clear in Round 1,” he said, “and with just one down in the the jump-off, well, if I can’t win, it might as well be another Coyle.”
