PrintA story of special connection between three of the greatest coaches of all time that can help us all today.
It was only as recently as the 1990s when the attachment of “Bert,” “Jack” and “Herbert” to any statement still gave an immediate credibility and authority to an equestrian statement.
We all knew who they were, and we were in awe of their achievements. In addition, if, like me, you loved dressage, show jumping and eventing and wanted to study all of them, the obvious connection and shared philosophy between these three Gods of the Olympic disciplines was a great joy to witness.
Therefore, to many of the older generation of riders and trainers, it may seem unnecessary to introduce Bertalan de Némethy, Jack Le Goff and Herbert Rehbein.
But memories are brief, and we have a new equestrian generation, so a brief introduction is appropriate. Don’t worry, this is not a history lesson, but it is important to know how truly exceptional they were and to understand their background.
Bertalan de Némethy (1911–2002)
Bert de Némethy was the Hungarian coach who took over the U.S. Equestrian Team show jumping squad in 1955. Over the following 25 years he gave a system, a style and a character to U.S. show jumping teams that was envied throughout the world. The fruits of the de Nemethy years were really reaped at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, only a short time after his retirement from coaching, when the U.S. show jumpers took their first team gold medal, and the individual gold and silver as well. As William Steinkraus put it in 2002, his place in equestrian history is secure: “You couldn’t erase the traditions if you tried. They are part of our collective experience. Even if 30 years from now, people ask: ‘Who was Bertalan de Némethy?’ they will still be doing things his way.”
Jack Le Goff (1931–2009)
Jack Le Goff arrived from France in 1970 to take over the U.S. Eventing Team. He never missed winning a medal with any of the eventing teams that he coached in his 14-year tenure in the United States. His teams won gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1984 and a total of 18 medals in eight international championships including four consecutive Olympic Games and three consecutive World Championships. It was an astounding accomplishment by which the USET still measures itself.
His innovative, intensive training changed the U.S. eventing program forever. Denny Emerson, who rode under Jack on the 1974 gold medal World Championship team, stated recently in The Chronicle of the Horse: "Right now, and I'd bet for years to come, the Le Goff dynasty will remain the gold standard against which people will measure any other USET three-day team."
Herbert Rehbein (1947–1997)
Herbert Rehbein won the Hamburg Dressage Derby eight times and captured seven titles in the German Professionals Championships at the end of the era when the Olympic Games were still a strictly amateur sport, and the majority of top riders were professional. He was recognized by his peers as being without equal and was voted “Trainer of the Year” by the International Trainers Club in 1991. In 1994, the German Federation conferred on him the title of “Riding Master.”
