Ireland's Daniel Coyle was the rider to beat at last week鈥檚 Canadian Premier CSI4* at Thunderbird Show Park.
Now, he鈥檚 proving to be yet again at tbird, at the Odlum Brown BC Open, emerging victorious on the aptly named Incredible in Wednesday鈥檚 CSIO4* $31,100USD Nations Welcome Qualifier 1.50m.
The class welcomed top contenders on their experienced horses.
Second in the order, Coyle and the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Clinton x Heartbreaker) put it all on the line, coming home in 63.10 seconds, leaving the rest of the class to chase him.
Twenty-five rounds later, they still sat at the top, winning by a margin of three seconds.
New Zealand Olympian Uma O鈥橬eill took second with Luigi D鈥橢clipse in 66.16, and in third was Kyle King (USA) and Kayenne Z (68.09).
鈥淚ncredible is hard sometimes to go fast on because he鈥檚 a bit of a slower mover and a slower jumper compared to [my other horses],鈥� Coyle said.
鈥淭here were a few [places to] leave out [strides]. I know from the second to third jump, most people did seven [strides] there, and I did six. I knew if I did [the leave-outs], I wouldn鈥檛 be far away.鈥�
Coyle and Incredible have been partnered for almost a year and a half. In that short time Incredible has helped propel Coyle to number 14 in the world, and accompanied the Irishman to the 2025 FEI World Cup Finals in Basel 鈥� where they finished top 12.
鈥淛eroen Dubbeldam called me and Ariel [Grange] and said, 鈥業鈥檝e seen a horse and I think it would fit into your string really well. Maybe you should try it',鈥� Coyle elaborated on how Incredible ended up in his stable.
鈥淪o we went and tried the horse. And in the last year he has had some incredible results. I鈥檓 very lucky to have him.鈥�
Coyle often produces his own horses to compete at the higher levels, but with Incredible, Eric Ten Cate (NED) had already laid the groundwork for a winning mindset.
鈥淎 lot of people spend a lot of time getting horses going nicely and getting them riding nicely for the next person,鈥� Coyle explained.
鈥淓ric taught him how to be competitive. So that鈥檚 one side of him I didn鈥檛 really have to do. I just had to learn how to ride him basically.鈥�
This week, three Coyles will ride on team Ireland in the $75,000 CSIO4* Nations Cup 1.55m. With his brother, Jordan, and cousin Christian, along with Conor Swail, Daniel hopes to reproduce their 2023 win.
鈥淚 think we have a good chance,鈥� he said of Sunday鈥檚 events.
鈥淐onor has been on every team with me here. I know there鈥檚 three Coyles, but there鈥檚 also a very good fourth man in Conor, so I feel confident.鈥�
Prior to Sunday鈥檚 action, there is still plenty of FEI action to unfold in the Fort Grand Prix Arena, beginning with Thursday鈥檚 CSI4* $31,100USD Fobi 1.45m and CSI2* $31,100USD Friends of tbird 1.45m.
Following Thursday's CSI2* Friends of tbird Qualifier 1.45m, there will be the CSIO4* Grand Prix 1.55m on Friday, starting at 3 p.m. On Saturday, there's the CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m at 1 p.m., and the CSIO4* Uyradis Village 1.50m at 4 p.m.
Sunday is CSIO4* Nations Cup 1.55m is expected to get underway at 2 p.m.
