Bertalan de Nemethy

Bertalan de Nemethy
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  • 29 May, 2018
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Jumpers • Equitation • Hunters • Eventing

Bertalan de Némethy (Feb. 24, 1911 – Jan. 16, 2002) was a cavalry officer in Hungary and later became the show jumping coach for the US Equestrian Team. Additionally, he was extremely influential in developing many of the riding and training methods used by show jumpers today.

De Némethy began riding as a child in Gyor, Hungary. He began competing in show jumping in his teens. Due to his uncle’s employment as a cavalry officer, de Némethy attended the Military Academy of Ludovica, in Budapest. He then entered the cavalry, riding six horses each day at the school, beginning with dressage horses, before having a lesson on the longe without stirrups, and then riding young horses cross-country. In 1937 he became an instructor. He was sent to train at the German cavalry school in Hanover, the first Hungarian officer to do so. There he was taught by the likes of Otto Lörke, Fritz Stecken, and Bubi Günther, and learned the German system of training horses.

World War II forced de Némethy to return to Hungary, but as the Russian Army approached Budapest, he and his fellow cadets decided to flee, they went to Denmark. De Némethy remained in Copenhagen for six years, employed as a riding instructor. In 1952 he emigrated to USA, where he began teaching and designed jumping courses for various horse shows. In 1955, on the advice of William Steinkraus and Arthur McCashin, de Némethy was asked by the US Equestrian Team to become the coach for the jumping team. De Némethy accepted the position, holding it until 1980. During this time he trained famous riders like George Morris, Joe Fargis, Frank Chapot, Kathy Kusner, Leslie Burr, Conrad Homfeld, Michael Matz, Melanie Smith, Neal Shapiro, and William Steinkraus.

He based his training on dressage work, jumping grids, and longeing, all of which was published in his classic book The de Némethy Method. While he was their coach, the US Show Jumping Team won the team silver at the 1960 and 1972 Olympics, the 1968 individual gold, and the 1972 individual bronze. Additionally, all four riders on the 1984 gold medal-winning team had been trained by de Némethy.

After coaching the US Team, de Némethy was much sought-after as a course designer. He was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1987.

 
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The de Nemethy Method Series – Advanced Gymnastic 2

Advanced Gymnastic Training of the Horse – Part Two

Once again, EquestrianCoach is proud to present Bertalan de Nemethy’s classical principles of teaching and training. Bert was a pioneer in the use of gymnastic exercises and believed them to be an essential tool in the sophisticated training of jumpers. The trainer, of course, must rely on common sense and observation when using gymnastics, with careful consideration paid to the horse’s training level and disposition. The incorporation of gymnastics into a horse’s training program will enhance elasticity, agility, strength and coordination. In this, the second part of his advanced gymnastic topics, variation in stride number between the elements of the exercises challenge the horse and rider as the jumps increase in size.

Running Time: 12 minutes 54 seconds

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The de Nemethy Method Series – Advanced Gymnastic 1

Advanced Gymnastic Training of the Horse – Part One

Once again, EquestrianCoach is proud to present Bertalan de Nemethy’s classical principles of teaching and training. Bert was a pioneer in the use of gymnastic exercises and believed them to be an essential tool in the sophisticated training of jumpers. The trainer, of course, must rely on common sense and observation when using gymnastics, with careful consideration paid to the horse’s training level and disposition. The incorporation of gymnastics into a horse’s training program will enhance elasticity, agility, strength and coordination. In this first installment of his gymnastic topics, a trotting approach through cavallettis regulates the horse’s speed while the adjustability of the horse’s stride is the focus.

Running Time: 16 minutes and 51 seconds

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Longe Line Exercises for Seat Improvement & Position Correction

The de Nemethy Method Series – Part One

EquestrianCoach is privileged to present the teaching and training methods of Bertalan de Nemethy. During his 25 year post as coach, the legendary equestrian led the United States Equestrian Team to international acclaim in 6 Olympics, 5 Pan American Games, 4 World Championships, and countless international competitions. We start this series with a longe line session designed to establish, maintain and refresh the rider’s proper position in general and to develop a solid seat in particular. He even used these techniques on his team riders right up to and during the Olympic Games. Exercises on the longe line, with a calm, willing horse, allow concentration to be placed on building the rider’s strength and correcting weaknesses.

Running Time: 11 minutes and 15 seconds

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