The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1984 (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1984-02-01 / 2. szám
PROFILES IN FOCUS Bertalan de Nemethy: The Legendary Coach of The Show Jumping Squad of The United States Equestrian Team - bv - Paul Pulitzer By the time Bertalan de Nemethy of Far Hills, New Jersey, retired in 1980 as Coach of the Show Jumping Squad of the United States Equestrian Team after 25 years of distinguished service, he was a living legend throughout the equine community in America. His squads had competed in 144 “Nations Cups,” or international team competitions, and had won 71 of them, while the riders he had coached and trained had won more than 400 international classes, 72 Grand Prix, and 44 team championships on the Fall Indoor Circuit. One of his proteges. Bill Steinkraus, who became the president of the U.S. Equestrian Team, was the only American rider in the history of the Olympics to ever win an individual gold medal in showjumping (1968 Olympics in Mexico). A TRUE SON OF HUNGARY Bertalan de Nemethy was born in Hungary. His father was Governor of three of the 19 provinces which comprised Hungary at that time and, because of his father’s position, was raised in the governor's mansion at Gyor. Enrolled at an early age in an elementary school and high school run by Benedictine monks, he spent his summer vacations on his grandmother’s estate where, he said, his pony was always waiting for him. So, it is no wonder that he was a superb horseman by the time he graduated from high school and entered the Ludovica Military Academy as a Cadet. Upon graduating with high honors from Hungary’s “West Point,” and having been awarded a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Hungarian cavalry, he was assigned to the Third Hussar Regiment. After active service with his elite regiment for a short period of time, he was selected by his Commanding Officer to attend the Riding Instructors School which was, in effect, the Hungarian Cavalry School. He was also sent for one year of study to the German Equitation School at Krampnitz bei Potsdam. After completing these courses of rigorous study, he became a member of Hungary’s Show Jumping Team and took r • >f Bertalan de Nemethy surrounded by his winning “pupils." Page 16 The Eighth Tribe
