Five-star event rider Liz Halliday has returned to her home in Lexington, Kentucky, 16 months after a severe head injury from a cross-country fall. The Olympic competitor, who placed 19th in Paris, spent over a year in rehabilitation facilities in Chicago and Dallas. She expressed profound emotions upon her arrival and remains committed to ongoing recovery efforts.
Liz Halliday, a prominent five-star event rider, marked a significant milestone by returning home to Lexington just before Christmas, following a serious head injury sustained in August 2024. The incident occurred during a cross-country fall at the USEA American Eventing Championships in Kentucky. Prior to the accident, Halliday had competed at the Paris Olympics, where she finished 19th.
Her journey back involved more than a year in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Chicago and Dallas. Upon finally walking through her door, Halliday shared her feelings in a statement on January 20: “It’s hard to describe all of the emotions you experience when you walk through the door to your own home for the first time in so long … joy, gratitude, and a sense of pride that all of the hard work I have done over the past 16 months has brought me to this point.”
Recovery continues as an active process. Halliday has transformed her office into a home gym to build strength daily. She attends weekly therapy sessions focused on improving speech and mobility. Additionally, riding at a local facility has proven beneficial to her progress.
Looking ahead, Halliday remains optimistic. “I am excited to continue to improve, and I am so grateful to you all for cheering me on throughout this recovery journey. I still have a long way to go, but I’ll never give up, and I’ll never stop fighting,” she said. This update highlights her resilience in the demanding world of eventing.
