“A major bright spot has been getting back in the saddle, which I’ve been able to do at a wonderful local facility. I am able to school walk and trot, and riding every week has definitely lifted my spirits,” Liz Halliday shared.
Just over a year removed from an accident during competition at AEC in Kentucky, U.S. Olympian Liz Halliday has shared a new update with the community. Liz continues to rehab from a traumatic brain injury sustained in the fall on cross country, and she’s handed the reins of her top horses to riders she trusts, most prominently Boyd Martin, who has the ride on several horses, including Liz’s Paris horse, Cooley Nutcracker (owned by Ocala Horse Properties).
Liz shared the following update on September 16:
“Hi all! Now that we have passed the one-year mark of my accident, I wanted to check in with an update on how I’m doing. I’m still grinding every day in my therapy at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Dallas. Thanks to the dedicated therapists here, I have made significant progress, but it is clear that there is still a long way to go on my road to recovery. This is a slow process!
My injury was on the left side of my brain, which means the right side of my body is impacted. My right leg and right arm have very limited function at this stage, especially my arm. Important benchmarks: I can now walk on my own for longer and longer distances with a cane, and my balance is much improved. I am healthy and getting stronger all the time.
Liz and her partner, Mark.
I’ve now learned to write with my left hand, but my speech and writing are connected, and both are still a work in progress and something I struggle with daily.
A major bright spot has been getting back in the saddle, which I’ve been able to do at a wonderful local facility. I am able to school walk and trot, and riding every week has definitely lifted my spirits.
I don’t know exactly what the future will look like for me, but I can promise you one thing: I will never stop working my ass off. Every day is a constant effort to walk, talk, read, write, and do all of the things we take for granted every day, but I will never give up.
Thank you to my mom, Mark, family, and friends for their constant support. Thank you to Boyd Martin for the fantastic job he is doing with my horses. Thank you to Tamy Pollard, who keeps my dogs at her farm nearby and brings them over for regular visits. And thank you all for your continued positive thoughts, prayers, and good vibes. I’m still here, and I’ll never stop fighting. Up, up, up!”
We’re continuing to send Liz and her family all of our love, and don’t forget to share your own encouragement on social media using #KeepFightingLiz!
