Elizabeth Searle has played a major role in the worlds of Dressage and Vaulting in the United States. It was through her efforts that Vaulting was first introduced to the United States, and in 1968 she co-founded the American Vaulting Association (AVA). She has served as an officer for the AVA, the United States Dressage Federation, the United States Dressage Foundation, and the United States Pony Club. Ms. Searle competed in a variety of disciplines, hunters, jumpers, eventing, and breeding, as well as FEI-level dressage.

She is the recipient of the 2003 USA Equestrian Pegasus medal of honor. USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition.