Jonny Hilberath, Co-Coach of German Dressage Team, Dies at 69
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Mar. 5, 2025
Jonny Hilberath, co-coach of the German dressage team and in demand as a trainer around the world, has died at the age of 69.
Jonny appeared always polite and with a smile.
“I have learned to find peace within myself on the horses; I don’t let myself be guided by emotions in the saddle, but I try to think, analyze and understand the horses as well as possible,” was one of his quotes.
He took over as national coach after the sudden death of national coach, Holger Schmezer, just six months before the London Olympics in 2012. He did not want to continue after London because he wanted to devote more time to his own business.
Monica Theodorescu became national coach and has been supported by Jonny Hilberath ever since.
“Essentially, riding is a mental sport,” he said. “Talent is important, but I think the seriousness and enthusiasm with which you practice this sport are almost more important. I think you have to commit yourself to riding.”
Jonny’s family lived in the country and working horses in the fields was part of everyday life. The story goes that as a child he followed a girl on her horse to a riding hall and saw how she rode her horse, much differently than working horses. His curiosity led him to mucking out stalls and he got into riding.
At the end of his teenage years, he rode once a week in lessons with Rosemarie Springer’s then rider. The rider asked me to ride a few horses with Mrs. Springer because he was going on vacation. The rider met a woman and never returned. Jonny stayed with Rosemarie Springer and completed his riding apprenticeship.
“When you’re young, there are always phases when you’re not so sure whether what you’re doing is right,” he explained. “I could have imagined doing something with architecture, for example.
“But looking back, I can say: I am very sure that the decision to go with horses was the right one. This sport has given me a great life. They taught me discipline and humility. They gave me a lot of joy. And I am sure that horses bring out many of the qualities that are referred to as the good things in people.”
He trained riders all over the world for the Olympics, ran a top training stable with 36 stalls, and won bronze at the German Championships in 2007.
“When I was asked if I wanted to take on the job as a dressage discipline trainer, that was a great honor and joy for me,” he recalled. “But I was also surprised. Until then, I had never felt that I was perceived that way.”
