A Five-Star Night for Coyle and Vale at 2026 WIHS

The five-star jumper division kicked off on Thursday, October 22, with top combinations pursuing victory at the 2026 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian™. Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle and Farrel, owned by Ariel Grange, took the top place in the $63,000 Welcome Stake CSI5*-W, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Gray’s Inn, owned by Thinkslikeahorse, were fastest in the $63,000 Stars and Stripes Speed Final CSI5*-W. Held at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, WIHS continues through Sunday, October 25, and includes the feature class, the $340,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W, on Saturday evening, October 24.

Farrel’s Star Power Shows in 23rd International Win

Course designer Colm Quinn (IRL) set the track for the opening five-star class of the week, and 11 found the key to a clear round. Winning by almost a second were Daniel Coyle and his longtime partner Farrel, who blazed through the short course clear in 35.23 seconds. The closest to their time were Mark Bluman (ISR) and Landon de Nyze, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo owned by Aram Ampagoumian LLC, who recorded a time of 36.30 seconds with no faults. Rene Dittmer (GER) and Cody 139, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Quidam de Revel owned by Cerrin Döhle, were third with a clear round in 37.55 seconds.

With a stout jump-off contingent of fast riders, Coyle had his plan from the start. “There's only one way to attack this, and it's from the beginning and hope I get away with it,” he revealed. “At least then it gives them something to challenge. Everything came up the way I wanted it to.”

Speaking about Farrel’s innate ability and their partnership, Coyle said, “Most horses are a lot harder to turn, but with an old partner like this, he already knows if I lean one way, he's away before me. What makes you fast, especially in a small indoor like this is turning back to the fences. And I think tonight, from the third to the fourth jump, that was a real spot where I earned a lot of time.”

Coyle started riding Farrel in 2018, and this was their 23rd FEI ranking class victory. “Farrel is so handy in these small arenas, and we haven't done indoors in a few years like this at the top level, so it's nice to kick it off with a win,” he acknowledged. “He's a real partner of mine, and we can go anywhere together.”

All-Around Winner Gray’s Inn Steps It Up in the Speed

The $63,000 Stars and Stripes Speed Final CSI5*-W had some of the world’s top riders vying for winning honors, and it was Aaron Vale who couldn’t be caught. Riding Grey’s Inn, his time of 57.04 seconds held for the win by more than a second and a half. Sean Jobin (CAN) and Grande Dame DK, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Ceira d’Ick x Kannan owned by Antrim Equestrian, placed second with a time of 58.43 seconds. In third with a time of 58.50 seconds were Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Gemma W, a 15-year-old KWPN mare by Luidam x Unaniem owned by Blue Star Investments and Over the Top Stables LLC.

“It was a course I liked for my horse tonight,” said Vale of the mount he has competed for two years. “I didn't really take any chances that I thought he couldn't do, you know? Had I wanted to go faster, there was a place or two maybe I could have taken one less stride, but I did what I thought was pretty comfortable for him, and it was enough tonight.”

Gray’s Inn became part of Vale’s string of horses after his wife Mallory had competed the horse to the three-star level. He has become an all-around valuable partner that can compete in grand prix classes and win in classes such as the 106,000€ five-star speed competition in St. Gallen, Switzerland, this past summer.

“He’s just an effective horse,” said Vale of the 12-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding by Cannavaro x Oscar. “He’s a winner at lots of levels and is just nice to have in our barn.”

Vale has competed at WIHS for decades and makes it an essential stop on his fall tour.

“Washington's been one of my favorite shows since I was a junior,” he remarked. “It's an important fall show in the U.S. There is great prize money and a nice ambiance to it. The red coolers are beautiful, so it's always nice to win one of those!”

Hunter and jumper action continues on Friday, October 23, with championships for the junior hunters, the WIHS Equitation Final Hunter Phase, and the $10,000 1.20-1.25m Junior/Amateur Jumpers in the daytime session. The MARS Barn Night welcomes equestrian fans for a night of fun, starting with the WIHS Pony Jumper Championships, presented by World Wide Technology, followed by the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship, presented by Artemis Equestrian Farm and the $63,000 FEI Accumulator Costume class, which features five-star riders and their mounts in their Halloween gear.