Daniel Coyle's showjumping journey began with a horse named Uptown Girl.
It's over a decade since they started making waves and racking up victories. Coyle's stock rose with that of his companion, and now the Derryman is dreaming of glory at the Paris Games to cap what's been a remarkable success story.
Coyle looks certain to be included in Ireland's showjumping team at this summer's Olympic.
In August 2022, Coyle, Denis Lynch, Bertram Allen and Cian O’Connor finished fourth at the World Championships in Denmark to secure the country's berth at the Games.
Coyle has since nurtured a very fruitful partnership with the 14-year-old mare Legacy, and they will be fancied to get among the medals at the Palace of Versailles.
"It all started with Uptown Girl," he said. "She really started me learning how to win I guess. Now she's breeding here at home which is quite special for everybody.
"Showjumping is unlike a lot of other sports. There's two minds there which is pretty hard to control. If you can make that happen it feels good for you as well as the horse and leaves a really good feeling for everybody involved also."
Coyle reached a crossroads a few years ago that took him to the USA. There, he struck up a partnership that would change his life.
"You need backers, you need people looking after you..."
"From Uptown Girl in the very beginning, everything was going so well," he recalled. "Then when she retired form the sport I hadn't really got any more horses. I had to look for a new path.
"I went to America as a way of trying to see a new way and to keep moving forward. Luckily I fell in with Sue Grange and now her daughter (Ariel) has taken over who is a huge influence for me. Without her I wouldn't be able to do it.
"You need backers, you need people looking after you, you need the right people behind you and you also need support financially as well. For me she's doing it so I owe a lot to her.
"There's a lot of ups and downs. We lose a lot more in this game than we win. I think that's what makes it good when you do win, it's a little bit more special."
Coyle is a grounded and ultra focused competitor. He refuses to rest on his laurels, instead taking each challenge in his stride as he looks to scale new heights with the imperious Legacy.
"Legacy is an amazing story," he added. "She's like Seabiscuit I guess. She's very good to work with and everybody just likes to be involved, her included. A lot of horses aren't up for that or don't like that but she really does.
"The more you win the more you want to win. I don't really get enough time to think about it and I try not to think about it. I just try to move forward. The next show is the most important one.
"There's been a lot of success. When my career is over I'll look back and say 'that was great', but right now it's the next show."
And the Olympics? Coyle is measured, but he can't help but admit the prospect of representing Ireland on the grandest stage of all is a tantalising one.
"Legacy is more ready than ever," he said. "I really hope I get selected. Obviously you're never there unless you're going into the ring but I for sure plan to be there and if I'm good enough and they want me, I will be there to do the best job possible.
"It would mean everything to me to be there. There's been nobody from my home town there in over 30 years. I think that would be a huge achievement for me, but not only that, for the horse and the whole team including my owners. It would mean the world."
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