May 23, 2025 
A lot can happen in six years. Six years ago, in 2019, for instance, ChatGPT hadn’t yet been invented, Ben and Jen hadn’t reunited for a second time (or broken up, again), and Daniel Coyle’s Farrel was still a youthful 9-year-old, making a name for himself at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, B.C.
That summer, Coyle and Farrel earned their first CSI4*-W 1.60m win at the venue, finishing second in a 1.50m class that same week. The following March, they took another career-high 3* 1.60m win at Live Oak International in Ocala.
Then, Farrel got hurt—badly.
“He had an injury that put him out of the sport, and it didn’t look like he was coming back,” Coyle explained. “He had four years out, which was crazy, and we didn’t really believe he would come back.
“[His owner Ariel Grange] had found somebody who could do a surgery to make him better, just so he could have a better life as a retired horse.”
The surgery went off without a hitch, and after his rehab, the KWPN gelding looked as good as before. So good, in fact, that according to Coyle, the vet who examined Farrel said that not only was he ready for a safe retirement, he was ready to go back to the Grand Prix ring, if they so chose.
“If there’s one thing about this little horse, it’s that he loves doing what he does,” Coyle said. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t do it. He’s smaller than any other horse out there, but he doesn’t believe that.”
Farrel certainly didn’t believe it on Thursday during the tbird CSI4* Speed 1.45m on opening day of the Canadian Premier. There, the now-15-year-old gelding proved he’s back and better than ever, topping a 12-horse field of renowned speedsters including Kyle King (USA) and Conor Swail (IRL). Kara Chad ultimately finished second with Corinna Z; King and Odysseys were third.
Already this year, Coyle and Farrel have earned three international wins, propelling the Irish rider into the top-15 in the Longines Rankings. They’ve also finished on 7 podiums, according to Jumpr.
“He’s one of my top horses again right now,” reflected Coyle, who may gear the gelding toward this weekend’s CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix, and likely the Nations Cup for Ireland next week. Whatever he decides, he’s got the numbers to back it up: The pair currently posts a 75% clear rate in four rounds at 1.55m, finishing on the podium at that same rapid clip (Jumpr stats).
“I’ve probably won more classes this year on him than any other horse. I need him if I want to try to stay at the top,” Coyle said. “He wasn’t there for a long time, but I’m really reaping the benefits of having him back.”
