A change has been made to the US Olympic eventing team after a horse was found to have suffered an injury prior to heading in to quarantine.
US Equestrian (USEF) announced today (7 July) that Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z will not take part in the Games. Liz had been due to make her Olympic debut in Tokyo.
“Following pre-travel horse evaluations, veterinary concerns prompted additional diagnostic testing of Deniro Z prior to the team’s departure to Europe for pre-export quarantine,” said a USEF spokesman.
“Following a thorough review of the testing results, it was determined it is in the best interest of the horse to be withdrawn from the team after confirming he has sustained an injury.”
The spokesman added the 13-year-old gelding, owned by Ocala Horse Properties, is expected to make a full recovery.
The withdrawal means travelling alternate rider Doug Payne has received his call-up to the team with 17-year-old gelding Vandiver, owned by Debi Crowley, Doug and Jessica Payne.
The other team riders remain:
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Phillip Dutton and Z, owned by Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, Simon Roosevelt and Suzanne Lacy
Boyd Martin and Luke 140, owned by The Luke 140 Syndicate. First direct reserve horse: Tsetserleg TSF, owned by Christine Turner, Thomas Turner and Tommie Turner.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell
The reserve riders who will travel to pre-export quarantine in Aachen, Germany are:
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way, owned by Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables (first alternate)
Will Coleman and Off The Record, owned by the Off The Record Syndicate (second alternate)
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
