Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Legacy danced across the Tryon Stadium to a victory in the $137,000 ESI Footing Grand Prix CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC). Following close behind in second place with a jump-off time of 35.676 seconds was Ali Wolff (USA) and Casall, the 2005 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Capitol l) owned by Blacklick Bend Farm. Santiago Lambre (BRA) and Comtess 202, his own 2011 Westphalian mare (Comme II Faut 5 x Pilot), finished with third place honors with a clear round and a time of 35.956 seconds in the second round.

Thirty-nine riders tackled the Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) course design, with 11 riders qualifying for the shortened second round. Coyle and the 2010 Zangersheide mare (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami) co-owned by Coyle and Ariel Grange stopped the second-round clock at 34.684 seconds to earn their win. As one of the last riders to compete in the jump-off, Coyle knew he had to be speedy to top Wolff’s leading time.

He noted, “Ali was fast, and when I saw Santiago didn’t beat her, I thought, ‘She’s very fast!’ My plan was to try and do all the numbers correctly without going wild. From the first line, everything showed up really well for me. If there was a big risk tonight [to win], I wasn’t going to take it, so thankfully everything came up smoothly for me.”

Advertisement