Jordan Coyle wins in Florida as brother Daniel’s ‘Legacy’ retires

Show jumping paid tribute to a legendary mare, as owner Ariel Grange announced the retirement of Legacy, who represented Ireland at Olympic Games, World Championships and two European Championships.

In the process, she helped catapult Derry athlete, Daniel Coyle into the world’s top 10 riders, making him a mainstay of Green Jacket teams in the process.

Now 16, the Zangersheide mare played a vital role in cementing the relationship between Daniel Coyle and Grange, who had taken over the reins of the Lothlorien Farm string from her mother Susan, who had passed away in October 2017 after enjoying some good success with the Ardmore equestrian.

Legacy came along the following year and won a multitude of World Cups and Grands Prix, from Amsterdam, Leipzig and London to Toronto, Fort Worth and Thermal.

She jumped two clear rounds in Paris in 2024 and last year, won the first individual class at the European Championships.

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“In the Spring of 2018, Daniel and I were kids, scared of having to rebuild, grow and honour the history of Lothlorien by ourselves,” Grange wrote online. 

“It seems so long ago now, years on into the success and feats that we didn’t know we would achieve. Little did we know back then, that when we most needed it, help would come. 

“The story has been told, the awards given and articles written, the ribbons are on the wall and the trophies are in the case. Legacy’s career and fame has spanned the world, but only two of us truly know the life-altering, incredible magic that is Legacy, because for Daniel and I, she changed our lives in every way.

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“Although we are sad at the end of a journey, we feel like we have lived all our lives, we are so happy to give back a life that she laid on the line for us time and time again.

“Legacy will reign over Lothlorien with her head held high, reminding us all that greatness is achievable.

“Thank you Legacy… you have been everything and we are honoured to give you the future you deserve filled with green grass, lazy days and maybe a few babies.”

Daniel Coyle posted: “The time came for Legacy to hang up her boots, incredibly grateful for what she has done for us. Thank you for everything, from double clear for team Ireland in the Paris Olympics to back to back World Cup wins in Leipzig and Amsterdam. You will live on in our hearts forever.”

In the arena, at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Ocala, Jordan Coyle made a triumphant return to the venue with Ariso.

Jordan Coyle and Ariso demonstrated why they have had so much success together, and were unstoppable in the $60,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix at HITS Ocala. Coyle and Ariso crossed the finish line in style, claiming a well-deserved victory against a competitive field.

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Jordan Coyle kept the green flag flying when fifth with For Gold in a very hot five-star speed class, just 1.21 seconds off the winning mark set by Maher and Ginger-Blue

The feature event of the week at Ocala was the aforementioned $300,000 World Cup and it was a good one for Irish athletes, with O’Connor finishing third and Swail the leading qualifier from the North American League.

Jordan Coyle and Ariso were unstoppable in the $60,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

Swail, held that pole position despite not even participating in this concluding leg, have done enough to this point and instead, competing at Desert Oak where he finished fifth in the three-star Grand Prix after ironically incurring a time fault in Round 1 on speed class king Theo 160.

Apart from Conor Swail, the Down pilot’s fellow Ulsterman and former protegee, Daniel Coyle also had his place in the Fort Worth World Cup final confirmed thanks to his previous strong results in North American qualifiers.