Liz Halliday continues to make progress in recovering from a fall with Shanroe Cooley at the USEA American Eventing Championships (Kentucky), according to a social media post from her family and friends.

“We had a major milestone that happened today!” the Wednesday update stated. “Liz opened her eyes for a few moments AND tracked movement. If all continues to progress as it is, her amazing team of doctors are expecting her to move to the rehab hospital next week.

“To say that Liz continues to defy the odds is an understatement. She is so incredibly strong and showing us each day that she will fight hard through every step of her recovery,” it continued.

Halliday was hospitalized at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington on Sept. 29, after a fall on cross-country at fence 21B in the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final. She underwent surgery to relieve pressure on her brain that day. Shanroe Cooley was uninjured in the fall.

On Tuesday, she was taken off the ventilator and began breathing on her own.

“We had a very special visitor at the hospital today,” the Tuesday update stated. “Erin Suidikas, an emergency room nurse at the hospital, was jump judging at Fence 1 when Liz fell. Erin immediately called ahead to the emergency room to alert the hospital staff to prepare an operating room. Her swift action allowed Liz to get into surgery quickly after being transported to the hospital.”