| Nicknames |
Liz (Twitter profile, 05 Aug 2019) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Representing USA for the first time at a major championship, when she helped them to a team medal at the 2023 Pan American Games: "I've dreamed about it for a long time. It was wonderful to be on a team with three very talented women, and everybody went there with a great attitude." (useventing.com, 02 Feb 2024) |
| Most influential person in career |
British equestrian William Fox-Pitt. (useventing.com, 05 May 2020) |
| Hero / Idol |
New Zealand equestrian Mark Todd. (useventing.com, 05 May 2020) |
| Injuries |
In 2022 she displaced two ribs, tore a ligament in her ankle, and sustained a small fracture to her foot after falling from her mount, Maryville Sir Henry, at a competition in Tallahassee, FL, United States of America. (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 28 Apr 2022; chronofhorse.com, 15 Mar 2022)
She broke the C7 vertebra in her neck after a fall from her horse, HHS Cooley, at the 2016 Burgham Horse Trials in England. As a result of the fall, HHS Cooley had to be euthanised. Halliday returned to competition two months later. (eventingnation.com, 27 Nov 2016, 31 Jul 2016) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
"I'm definitely a very visual person. So, before I ride around the cross-country or anything like that, I literally would have to ride it in my head. I like to just have a moment and just shut my eyes and just ride through my plan. I find that that really puts me in a good place, because I've sort of got the system down then, if that makes sense." (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 07 May 2021) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"I enjoy high-speed, high-pressure sports. That's sort of what I've always been into." (noellefloyd.com, 21 Aug 2019)
“I’m a chronic workaholic." (useventing.com, 02 Feb 2024) |
| Awards and honours |
She was named 2023 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year by the United States Eventing Association [USEA]. (useventing.com, 02 Feb 2024)
She was named the 2020 Rider of the Year by the United States Eventing Association [USEA]. (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 07 May 2021) |
| Other sports |
She has competed in motor racing, including in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. She was a professional racing driver in sportscar and GT endurance disciplines. (lizhallidayeventing.com; eventingconnect.today, 12 May 2015) |
| Famous relatives |
Her father Don worked as an instructor for the Sports Car Club of America [SCCA]. (lizhallidaysharp.com, 01 Jan 2018; eventingconnect.today, 12 May 2015) |
| Other information |
STABLES
She owns Horsepower Equestrian in Ocala, FL, United States of America. She also runs Blue Fox Farm in Lexington, KY, United States of America. (teamusa.org, 26 May 2021; sidelinesmagazine.com, 20 Jan 2021)
RIDING AND RACING
She has raced motor cars and competed in both equestrian and driving before she retired from racing in 2008 due to financial reasons and an illness to her father. "My dad was into racing. He actually was an instructor, a racing instructor, for a long time. I'm not doing [driving] and riding together anymore - I'm mostly just riding. But for many, many years, I did do the two at the same time [and] there are a lot of similarities. I think eventing is more dangerous, that's for sure, because you don't have a roll cage on your horse. But they're both high-reaction speed sports. You have to be quite fit for both, I think. I think I would have achieved bigger things in horse sport a little bit earlier had I not been doing the two together at the same time, but it was a really great part of my life and I wouldn't take it away for anything." (teamusa.org, 26 May 2021; practicalhorsemanmag.com, 07 May 2021; uset.org, 29 Jun 2020; noellefloyd.com, 21 Aug 2019)
TIME ABROAD
During her junior year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, she joined her father in England where he was racing motor cars on the European circuit. She then spent time training with British eventer William Fox-Pitt and ended up staying in England for nearly 20 years. "I went to meet [William Fox-Pitt] and then moved there in January the next year. It was actually the biggest kick in my rear I ever had. I moved there from Southern California, and January's not the greatest time of the year in England. It's dark and cold and can be really miserable. William was always very good to me, too. What I learned from him was invaluable. A lot of his horsemanship I still practise now [speaking in 2021]. I went before [graduating college]. I had done three years and I actually went in good standing and I went to spend a year away. I was a marine biology major, which I really enjoy, I still enjoy that. But, do I think I would be working toward that path now? No, I don't. It would be nice to have finished, but I'm pretty happy with the way the world has taken me." (teamusa.org, 26 May 2021; practicalhorsemanmag.com, 07 May 2021; sidelinesmagazine.com, 20 Jan 2021)
TELEVISION WORK
In 2009 she began working as a television presenter for the media company Eurosport, specifically working on its coverage of the French motorsport endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. She has also presented motorsport shows for other companies based in Europe and the United States of America. (teamusa.org, 26 May 2021; lizhallidaysharp.com, 01 Jan 2018; f1broadcasting.co, 12 Jun 2016) |
| General highlights |
She represented the US at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She was initially picked as the travelling reserve but replaced Will Coleman's horse being withdrawn.
She missed out on the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games when she was selected with Deniro Z, but had to withdraw due to a hoof issue.
She helped Team USA to silver at the 2023 Pan American Games. |
FEI Database
Liz Halliday Eventing 
Liz Halliday Eventing 
Liz Halliday 
Liz Halliday Eventing 
