Press release from Thunderbird Show Park

Daniel Coyle doesn’t ride for second place, as is evident this week at the 2025 Canadian Premier. The Irish Olympian has now taken two international victories with Farrel, owned by Ariel Grange. The duo snagged both Wednesday’s CSI4* 1.45m speed and Friday’s CSI4* 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier at Thunderbird Show Park.

“He was great today,” Coyle, ranked 14th in the world, reflected on his horse’s performance. The Irish Olympian qualified both his mounts for course designer Gregory Bodo’s short course.

“I was a little bit unlucky and disappointed with Incredible; I had one down. He actually was faster in the jump-off, but I knew I had Farrel later in the class, so I could concentrate a bit more on having a more correct round,” he continued.

“With Farrel, generally speaking, if you ride it correctly, he’s going to jump it correctly. And he really loves the grass here, so I knew I had a good chance. If I could just do everything right it would all pay off.”

Coyle clocked in at 34.96 seconds with only one pair remaining, and he was fairly confident he’d done enough in the 14-horse jump-off. One round later, it was confirmed. Coyle took the win. Kara Chad (CAN) finished second with Igor GPH (Harley VDL x Crawford), and Kyle King (USA) slotted into third with Odysseus (Osilvis x Riverman), owned by Patricia Vasey.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Coyle beamed of the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Stakkato). “He’s one of my top horses at the moment, and he’s for sure one of the most [special] of all my horses. I’m lucky to have him. I’d lost him [due to injury] for a few years and didn’t think he was coming back, but it’s great to have him back.” 

With a later draw, Coyle got to examine the short course and see where he could make up time. A late decision leave out clinched the winning time.

“I think the first line everybody was doing the same strides,” he explained. “The second line, there was a risk to be taken there, whether it was eight or nine [strides], but on Farrel I thought he can be handy enough that I didn’t need to do anything crazy. But then, at the end of the course, I thought, ‘Maybe I’m not quick enough,’ so after the vertical at number 11, I did seven strides around the corner. I, for sure, was the only person to do it and was a bit of a risk, and it paid off. I’m pretty sure that’s where I won my class.”

The week isn’t over just yet for Farrel. Coyle plans to pilot the speedy bay in Sunday’s CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix. Farrel will also step into Nations Cup action during the Odlum Brown BC Open.

“He goes to Spruce Meadows after this, and then we’ll see,” Coyle shared about his plans for the horse. “If he’s performing like this, he’ll probably go to Europe after Spruce Meadows and then come back and do some of the Major League shows at the end of the year.” 

Winning aside, Coyle is thrilled to be back in Langley, where he feels like he’s part of the tight-knit community.

“It’s been very lucky for me every time I come,” he said of tbird. “It’s a lovely show, and the people are very welcoming. Ariel and I have a very good relationship with everybody here, so it’s nice. It’s like a home show for us, and it’s been very lucky too, so we really like it here.”

International jumping resumes Saturday with the $31,100 CSI4* 1.45m Winning Round ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.