United States Eventing Association

2024 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year Liz Halliday is Laser-Focused on Her Recovery

“She’s back to being Liz,” Chris Desino of Ocala Horse Properties said of Liz Halliday just six months after Halliday and the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Shanroe Cooley (Dallas x Shanroe Sapphire) fell while competing in the USEA Advanced Final at the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (Lexington, Kentucky), resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

Desino and his brother Rob Desino have always been very active and involved owners in Halliday’s program, but their relationship is more than just a professional one. They have a friendship that is undeniable. Those strong bonds have been a crucial part of her recovery process as Halliday has been surrounded by loving and supporting people since the accident including her mother, Debby Halliday, her boyfriend, Mark Williams, the Ocala Horse Properties team and Desino brothers, and many other family members and friends.

“The support Liz and I have received and continue to receive from Liz’s wonderful group of friends has made a huge difference to both of us,” shared Debby. “We will be forever grateful for their kindness and dedication. They have been beside us from the beginning and continue to show up.”

With Liz, 46, focusing on her own rehab, her horses are receiving top-notch care at various facilities around the country, including her long-time five-star partner, Deniro Z, the 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Zapatero VDL x Zonne-Trend), who is now enjoying his retirement at her winter farm in Ocala, Florida.

“I showed Liz a video where Rob recently decided he was going to start hacking Deniro around the farm, and she got the biggest thrill out of seeing Deniro carting one of us around,” said Chris with a laugh. “She is very trusting that we are doing the right thing by the horses so that she can be solely focused on her recovery now. The same way that she was so laser-focused on her training, she is just that focused on her therapies.”

Chris noted that even when her room is full of visitors, the minute a therapist steps into the room, Liz is at attention, ready to tackle whatever challenge lies ahead of her next in true form.

“Liz has always been known for her grit, determination, and powerful work ethic,” shared Debby. “Those qualities are being tested as never before. She has shown a stoic tenacity that has served her well in the extraordinary effort required for recovery. She steadfastly keeps facing forward, even when the going is hard and frustrating. She is unfailingly kind and gracious to all the staff who interact with her. Everyone knows her and loves her beautiful smile. I am very proud of how Liz is handling an extremely difficult situation. Her progress has been on a steady upward track, and she keeps improving every day.”

It’s that same energy and dedication that Liz channeled into her 2024 eventing season prior to her accident that helped her earn the title of the 2024 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year based on her impressive competition results for the second year in a row.

“She was really blown away with winning both the Lady Rider of the Year and the [USEF] International Equestrian of the Year, which is decided upon by a majority vote,” Chris said. “I told her, ‘You are one special person.’ I can’t wait for her to be able to pick up all of the magazines and articles and the thousands of text messages and emails she has received for herself and just see the amazing support she has gotten from everybody all over the world.

“Liz is the person that just puts her head down and works really hard,” he continued. “She didn’t ever really pay attention to everything that was going on around her. I think when she has a moment to focus on all of that, she is really going to enjoy seeing it.”

Looking back at where the year started, Chris and Debby shared just how impactful the 2024 season was for Liz and all of her owners and supporters.

“The craziest thing about last year was that it was the first time that we as owners and also Liz as a five-star rider had four horses who could be vying for a possible Olympic spot,” Chris shared.

“In years past, it was always just Deniro, and then it was ‘Monster’ [Cooley Quicksilver], so it was a massive change for us to go to these events and watch four of them go, because you had so many highs, and then the lows, but then the next horse would give you another high.”

At the beginning of the year, the whole team behind Liz sat down with her coaches Erik Duvander and Peter Wylde to discuss each horse and their plan for the year.

“We are very involved, but Liz has always controlled the future. She has great mentors around her that will guide her the right way,” Chris said.

Seeing the culmination of Halliday’s hard work over the past several years as she’s ridden and trained the majority of her horses from young ages to where they are now was nothing short of a thrill for everyone involved, especially after seeing it culminate with Halliday getting a spot on the U.S. Eventing Team at the Paris Olympics.

“Of course the highpoint for all of us was her competing at the Olympics in Paris,” said Debby. “It was a fabulous event in an amazing venue. Paris will surely be remembered as a top Olympics experience for all the equestrians who participated. The crowds were huge and enthusiastic and Liz rode beautifully on the wonderful Cooley Nutcracker. I remain so grateful that she got to have her Olympics experience. It was a goal she first stated at age 12, and so painfully missed in Tokyo 2021.”

“We were thrilled that she was on the team,” Chris echoed, “and looking back on everything, we are very fortunate that she was able to compete there.”

For now, Halliday will continue to focus on her recovery with that same intensity which she is known for in the competition ring. Her progress has been so great that she’s anticipated to graduate from Shirley Ryan in Chicago and make a move to her next rehabilitative facility where she’ll continue to focus on her ultimate goal: getting back home and back to her horses.

“She misses the horses dearly,” said Chris, “but I know all of the support she has received helps her realize how much she is loved.”

As this phase of Liz’s recovery concludes and the next step begins, Debby is still eternally grateful for all of the love and support they have received along the way and continue to receive daily.

“The eventing community’s interest and outpouring of thoughtful messages has been quite overwhelming,” she reflected. “I was very touched by how many people at all levels reached out to give us their support. Most of the top competitors at the AEC came to see her in the hospital, and we still have the winner’s check [from the Advanced Final] with the message to Liz handwritten on the back. Her room is decorated with cards and posters from riders from every level. We read many of the messages to Liz to let her know her community cares. I particularly loved the messages which began with. ‘You won’t remember me, but…,’ followed by a story of a lesson or other interaction some aspiring eventer had with Liz that especially helped or inspired them. It warms my heart to know how many people’s lives she has touched in a very positive way.”