A COLLEAGUE pointed out this week that I took a big interest in Liz Halliday after interviewing her at the Paris Olympic Games last summer and that is true. Liz was drafted into the USA team at the 11th hour riding the Irish Sport Horse Cooley Nutcraker and was amazing throughout to finish 19th individually, just adding time penalties to her dressage score. I enjoyed her passion when she came to the mixed zone to talk to the media.

Liz has a great affinity with Ireland and especially Cooley Horses; she rode plenty of them to great success. So, when we heard of her serious head injury just a month later after a cross-country fall, I think the whole eventing community worldwide was shocked and saddened. And it highlighted the danger of the sport even for the most accomplished riders.