United States Eventing Association

Liz Halliday didn’t exactly have the morning she was planning on before she hopped on Cooley Nutcracker for cross-country in the CCI4*-L at Galway Downs. Her first ride, Shanroe Cooley, had an awkward jump over fence 19a, a duck at the Land Rover Mission Vieho Water, and she wasn’t able to stay on.

Just four days ago, Liz Halliday was standing on the podium in Santiago, Chile, with a team silver medal around her neck. Now, she’s brought two of her promising Advanced horses to The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs for the U.S. Equestrian Federation CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship, and she’s off to a good start, leading the division on Cooley Nutcracker.

Mill Spring, N.C.—May 13—Liz Halliday-Sharp had nearly 4 points of time in hand as she headed out onto Mark Phillips’ CCI4*-L cross-country course at the Tryon International this morning, and she had to use most of it as she heard Cooley Nutcracker’s shoe come off when he took off from fence 7.

Mill Spring, N.C.—May 12—No one could crack Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker’s score of 27.4 during the final day of dressage at the Tryon International CCI4*-L, but Jacob Fletcher and Fabian put in a strong test to challenge them. Scoring a 31.2, they’ll head into tomorrow’s cross-country in second place.

Mill Spring, N.C.—May 11—While Liz Halliday-Sharp has only had the ride on Cooley Nutcracker since last year, the pair have made big strides in getting to know each other.

A trip to the Tryon International for “Bali’s” first CCI4*-L last November ended in a bad luck fall at the end of the cross-country course, but the gelding’s come out much stronger and more educated this spring, according to Halliday-Sharp.

Lexington, Ky.—April 27—Liz Halliday-Sharp has barely had Cooley Nutcracker in her barn for a year, but she and the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolant R x Ballyshan Cleopatra) have forged a formidable partnership.

Formerly campaigned by French rider Astier Nicolas to the CCI3*-L level, Halliday-Sharp and the gelding won the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L (Kalispell, Montana) last year and the Bromont CCI3*-S (Quebec, Canada) before moving up the Advanced level.