Upper Marlboro, United States – October 22, 2026 – 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 (USA) and Farrel, owned by Ariel Grange, took the top place in the $63,000 Welcome Stake CSI 5*-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 CSI 5*-W, on Saturday evening, October 24.
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 (IRL) and his longtime partner, 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.”
Final Results – $63,000 Welcome Stake CSI 5*
1) Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel – 0 / 0 – 38.23
2) Mark Bluman (ISR) & Landon de Nyze – 0 / 0 – 36.30
3) Rene Dittmer (GER) & Cody 139 – 0 / 0 – 37.55
Source: Press Release from Jump Media for the Washington International Horse Show
Photos: © WIHS / Erin Gilmore Photography
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