Eventer Liz Halliday was taken off the respirator Tuesday, a great step in her recovery from a head injury she sustained in a fall on the cross-country course at the American Eventing Championships .
Being able to breathe on her own means she can get more sleep, an important key toward getting better. She gripped a pair of reins in her hospital bed on Sunday, which was also an important sign about the improvement of the Paris Olympic team rider after surgery to ease pressure on her brain.
“She is continuing to make steady improvements and wowing her medical team with her grit and determination,” a message from her supporters said on Sunday.
The top three in the Advanced division of the AECs had Liz on their minds while they were on the podium Friday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Winner Will Coleman, runner-up Boyd Martin and third-place Phillip Dutton held up a hastily improvised sign that said “Get Well Liz.”
They were thinking of the Paris Olympic squad member who underwent surgery at the University of Kentucky medical center to relieve pressure from swelling in her brain following her Thursday fall with Shanroe Cooley on cross-country.
Boyd Martin, Will Coleman and Phillip Dutton with a wish on the podium. (Annan Hepner/U.S. Eventing Association)
The horse was uninjured and now is happily grazing in his paddock.
Liz’s team said Saturday that when doctors asked Liz to wiggle her fingers and toes, in typical Liz fashion “she is going above and beyond by lifting her arms and legs, too. We are seeing improvements every day. She is constantly showing us that she is going to recover faster than expected.”
Will said he was thinking of Liz all day during the competition; hence the note written on the back of his winner’s check.
“Just really wishing her the best possible recovery and sending her family and all her connections as much support as we can give them,” said Will.
“Just hoping she’s going to be back, and just really pulling for her.”
Will finished on 36 penalties with Diabolo, originally his Olympic reserve horse until injury dropped him out of contention for the Paris Games. Boyd had the same score on his Paris reserve mount, Conner, but Will being closer to the optimum time on cross-country broke the tie in Will’s favor. Phillip rode Possante to third on 40.6 penalties, with 1.2 time penalties in the show jumping.