‘You have been everything’: Olympic superstar mare retires aged 16 to enjoy the future she deserves
Irish showjumper Daniel Coyle’s Olympic superstar ride Legacy has retired from competition aged 16 to live “with her head held high, reminding us all that greatness is achievable”.
The mare, owned by Daniel and Ariel Grange, was officially retired at the World Equestrian Center, on Ocala, US, on 14 February, before the World Cup leg.
“Our Legacy,” Daniel said. “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 for ever.”
As well as jumping double clear in Paris in 2024, Daniel and the Chippendale Z mare were instrumental in Ireland’s qualifying for the Olympics as they were on the team that finished fourth at the 2022 World Championships. They also represented Ireland at the 2021 and 2025 Europeans; they won the first day’s competition last year but then withdrew as this was deemed to be in Legacy’s best interests.
Together, Daniel and Legacy represented Ireland on winning Nations Cup teams and won CSI5* classes across the world.
After they won the London International grand prix in 2023, Daniel told H&H Legacy was his horse of a lifetime.
“I’m delighted just to be riding her,” he said. “I owe everything to Legacy and Ariel.
Daniel Coyle and Legacy at the Paris Olympics
“Ariel is a super owner, who’s with me every step of the way; we’ve become one big family and Legacy is the head of it all; we’re the people around her but it’s all about her.”
Daniel said Ariel’s mother owned Legacy when Daniel was riding for her but when she died, no one knew what would happen. Ariel took over Lothlorien Farm and Legacy was the first horse she bought.
“In the spring of 2018, Daniel and I were kids, scared of having to rebuild, grow and honour the history of Lothlorien by ourselves,” Ariel said. “It seems so long ago now, years on into success and feats that we didn’t know we would achieve.
“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. We have lived every heartbreak, struggle, elation, celebrated every victory and success (sometimes a little too much), and at the end of it all we are the ones that had to be her voice and make the hardest decision of our professional lives, to hang up the saddle.”
Ariel said that although she and Daniel are saddened by the end of their competition journey with Legacy, they are “so happy” to give her the retirement she deserves.
“Legacy will reign over Lothlorien with her head held high, reminding us all that greatness is achievable,” she said. “Thank you Legacy… you have been so much more than any first place ribbon or fancy jump, 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.”
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