The USET succeeded the U.S. Army as the nation's official representative in international events. The team made its first appearance in the Olympics at Helsinki in 1952, and they brought home two bronze medals. The first Olympic team included Arthur McCashin, William Stienkraus, and John Russell. In spite of the financial obstacles, the USET has grown to be one of the major forces in international equestrian competition. Competitors are selected for individual competition and there is no standing team.
Few riders can afford to devote all of their time to amateur competition due to the great expense.
The USET's permanent headquarters are at Glandstone, New Jersey, and South Hamilton, Massachusetts. Driving skills were the subject of study, practice, and refinement. At the turn of this century, organized driving competition gained popularity in both Europe and America. The 1901 International Horse Show at the Olympia in London included driving competition for singles, pairs, tandems, and teams of four, but is was not until 1970 that the American Driving Society established the rules governing competitive pleasure driving. Competitive driving tests the skill of the driver and the training of the horse.