Following her return home in December 2025 after a serious fall in August 2024, Olympic event rider Liz Halliday has been officially classified as an FEI grade II para dressage competitor. She received her grading at TerraNova in Florida last week and plans to return to competition later this year.
Since returning to her Lexington farm, US-based Olympic eventer Liz Halliday has resumed riding three days a week on team member Melissa's horse Brewer in her own arena, describing the experience as 'incredible' after her long absence. Communication remains a daily challenge, supported by her team, but her spirits have lifted amid steady progress.
Last week, Halliday traveled to TerraNova in Florida with her partner Mark and mother for classification. Officials assessed her without riding, placing her in the FEI grade II category, which features walk and trot tests emphasizing horse quality and performance.
'I am proud to say that I am now officially an FEI grade II para dressage rider!' she wrote on Facebook. Halliday has started practicing complex movements at home and anticipates competing soon, viewing it as an 'exciting new direction.' At the event, she met inspiring para dressage athletes facing similar challenges.
Halliday also celebrated the return of Deniro Z to her farm—a horse with whom she achieved nine international wins up to CCI4*-S level, including 10th at the 2021 Kentucky Three-Day Event and 15th at the 2019 Burghley Horse Trials. Riding him again has been the highlight of her year.
