Historic Milestones – USET Foundation

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation

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Historic Milestones

Hamilton_Farm_Riding_Ring_by_HA_Strohmeyer_circa_1919-22917-Festival-of-Champions-Arena-by-Hepner

(Move the arrows in the center of the photo(s) above to see Hamilton Farm as it was in 1919 and then just recently at the 2017 Festival of Champions.)

1902

  • First officially recognized international horse show with army officers from many nations invited to represent their countries in competition.
1902
1912

  • First Olympic Games (in Stockholm) to feature equestrian events (Jumping, Dressage and Eventing) during which the U.S. Cavalry team won Team Bronze in Eventing.

    Pictured – Captain Guy Henry and Chiswell, Lieutenant John Carter Montgomery with Deceive, and Lieutenant Ben Lear on Poppy from wikipidia public domain
1912
1932

  • First U.S. Olympic Gold Medal – Team Gold in Eventing in Los Angeles.

    Pictured – Lt. Earl Thomson and Jenny Camp, Team Gold and Individual Silver, Eventing

1932
1948

  • Last Olympic Games (in London) with an all-Cavalry team representing the United States.

  • The mounted Cavalry of the United States is disbanded.

    Pictured – Lt. Colonel C.H. Anderson, Captain J.W. Russell, Colonel F.F. Thomson, General Henry, Colonel F.F. Wing, Lt. Colonel C.A. Symroski at the Dublin Horse Show (photo by USET Archive)

1948
1950

  • The International Equestrian Competition Corporation is founded, led by Olympian Colonel John “Gyp” Wofford. Its purpose is “to select, train, equip and finance our nation’s international equestrian representation with special emphasis on the North American fall circuit of international shows and the 1952 Olympic Games.” The name is soon changed to United States Equestrian Team with three funded disciplines: Jumping, Dressage and Eventing.
1950
1951

  • First Pan American Games are held – the U.S. did not participate due to financial concerns.
1951
1952

  • First “civilian” equestrian team sent to the Olympic Games (in Helsinki) with the Eventing Team winning the Bronze medal. Pictured above; Walter G. Staley, Jr. on Craigwood Park, John E.B. “Jeb” Wofford on Benny Grimes, Charles “Champ” Hough on Cassavellanus, and William James on Reno Prudence (reserve rider.)
1952
1952

  • First “civilian” equestrian team sent to the Olympic Games (in Helsinki) with the Jumping Team winning the Bronze medal. Pictured above; William C. Steinkraus on Hollandia, Arthur McCashin on Miss Budweiser, John Russell on Democrat, and Norman Brinker (reserve rider.)
1952
1953

  • Whitney Stone is elected President of the USET and serves until 1973.

1953
1955

  • First USET team sent to the Pan American Games (in Mexico City) with a result of Individual Silver in Dressage for Maj. Robert Borg with Bill Biddle and Individual Gold in Eventing for Walter Staley, Jr. (pictured above) and Mud Dauber

1955
1956

  • Captain Bertalan de Nèmethy is hired as full-time Jumping coach.

1956
1961

  • The USET establishes a full-time, year-round training facility in Gladstone, New Jersey thanks to the generosity of the James Cox Brady family. The leased property provides for stabling and housing for horses and riders as they train in the three disciplines of Jumping, Eventing and Dressage. De Nèmethy, the Jumping coach, is joined by Stefan von Visy, who coaches Eventers and part-time Dressage coach Bengt Ljungquist.

1961
1963

  • USET riders win a clean sweep of all available Gold medals (5) at the Pan American Games in Sao Paulo. Pictured here is Gold Medal Eventing Team, Michael Page and Grasshopper, Kevin Freeman and Reno Pal, William Haggard and Bold Minstrel, Michael Plumb with Markham.

1963
1968

  • William C. Steinkraus wins the first Individual Gold medal in Jumping aboard Snowbound at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
1968
1970

  • Jack LeGoff is hired as Eventing coach.
1970
1978

  • Some 500 acres, including the Hamilton Farm stable complex and outbuildings, are sold to Beneficial Finance Corporation, which graciously continues the lease provisions.
1978
1979

  • Gold Medal Club is established for donors at the $1,000 annual giving level.
  • Driving discipline is added.
1979
1982

  • The USET Medal Finals competition is initiated at Gladstone as a pipeline for future jumping stars.
1982
1984

  • The name of the USET Medal Finals is changed to USET Show Jumping Talent Search, with the East Finals competed at Gladstone.
1984
1988

  • Beneficial Finance Corporation donates the stable complex and buffering acreage to the USET, guaranteeing a permanent home base.
1988
1990

  • First World Equestrian Games held in Stockholm, Sweden. Bruce Davidson and Pirate Lion win eventing Individual Bronze medal.
1990
1992

  • Endurance discipline is added.
1992
1998

  • Reining discipline is added.
1998
2001

  • Vaulting discipline is added.
2001
2003

  • Para-Equestrian discipline is added.
2003
2003

  • USET Foundation is created in December. Frank V. Lloyd is the first Chairman of the Board and Armand Leone, Jr. is the first President.
2003
2004

  • The $20 Million Campaign to Achieve Competitive Excellence is launched.
2004
2007

  • Jane Forbes Clark is elected President and CEO. Armand Leone, Jr. is elected Chairman of the Board.
2007
2008

  • The USET Foundation is invited to participate in the Rose Bowl parade and fields a stellar group of 12 riders representing the Olympic disciplines who have won 17 Olympic medals between them.
2008
2009

  • The Campaign to Achieve Competitive Excellence concludes after exceeding its $20 million goal.
  • Fran Steinwedell is the first Gold Medal Club member to pass the 30 year milestone in giving.
2009
2011

  • United States Equestrian Teams sweep 10 of the available 12 medals at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Pictured here is the Gold Medal Eventing Team; Hannah Burnett, Buck Davidson, Shannon Lilley, Michael Pollard and Lynn Symansky)
2011
2012

  • The Olympic fundraising benefit, An English Country Evening, held in Wellington, Florida, breaks all USET Foundation records by netting over $1 million.
  • The area in front of the stable complex is dedicated as the 1960 Courtyard in honor of the Rome Olympic Games and Jumping Team Silver Medalists Frank D. Chapot, George H. Morris and William C. Steinkraus.
2012
2013

  • S. Tucker S. Johnson is elected President and CEO.
  • Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. is elected Chairman of the Board.
  • The first Gladstone Program is held at Hamilton Farm, an intensive week of training and education with George H. Morris for exceptionally dedicated and talented young Jumping riders.
2013
2014

  • The $35 Million Campaign for Continuing Our Competitive Excellence is launched.
  • Charity Navigator awards the USET Foundation its prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
  • The R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award is established.
2014
2015

  • Campaign for Continuing Our Competitive Excellence exceeds $35 million goal, raising $36.5 million.
2015
2016

  • The Olympic fundraising benefit, Rockin Rio, held in Wellington, Florida, breaks all USET/USET Foundation records by netting $1.6 million.
2016
2017

  • Two riders ranked in the top five on the FEI World Ranking List – Kent Farrington #1 (Jumping) and Laura Graves #5 (Dressage).
2017
2018

  • 12 Medals – 2018 World Equestrian Games  (3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze)
  • Laura Graves (Dressage) #1 in the world on the FEI World Ranking List.
  • Beezie Madden 2018 Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup Champion.
2018
2019

  • United States Equestrian Teams win 8 medals at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
  • Charity Navigator awards the USET Foundation its prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
  • USET Foundation publishes “Riding for the Team” – the 3rd edition of inspirational stories of the USA’s medal winning equestrians and their horses.
2019