Synopses & Reviews
Within riding there exists a fundamental conflict of interest: The rider needs to have controland#151;her confidence depends on her ability to control the balance of her own body as well as that of her very powerful horse. The horse, by nature, needs to feel freeand#151;free in both mind and body to express himself through physical movement.
In When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics, author Beth Baumert, writer and editor at the internationally recognized equestrian magazine Dressage Today, resolves the freedom-control enigma by taking a close look at the individual components that make up riding and dressage. Beth provides insight gleaned from years of working with the best riders, trainers, and judges in the dressage world, and details practical ways riders can learn to harness the balance, energies, and forces at play when theyand#8217;re in the saddle.
Readers will discover how to use and#147;positive tensionand#8221; and what the author calls the four physical and#147;Powerlinesand#8221;and#151;Vertical, Connecting, Spiraling, and Visualand#151;to become balanced and effective in the saddle. Readers will then find ways to understand and manage the horseand#8217;s balance and coordination challenges, including the fact that he is inherently crooked and naturally inclined to do too much with his front end and not enough with his hind.
Ultimately, the rider learns to regulate and monitor the horseand#8217;s rhythm, energy, flexion, alignment, bend, the height and length of his neck, and, finally, his line of travel by properly aligning her spine with his. When the center of gravity of a balanced rider is directly over the center of gravity of a balanced horse, that place where two spines align becomes the hub for rider and horse harmonyand#151;a dynamic and remarkable riding rapport that yields beautiful performance.
Review
and#147;Sometimes when Iand#8217;m teaching I find myself thinking my student really needs to read Beth Baumertand#8217;s book. The perspective and the words sheand#8217;s chosen give a welcomed fresh approach to describing the theories behind training.and#8221;and#151;
George Williams, member of the US Dressage Team and President of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF)
and#147;I absolutely LOVE this book! It grabbed me from the moment I read the words and#145;perfect balanceand#8217; and and#145;that place where two spines meetand#8217;and#151;you get such a great visual from this! When teaching, it can be a struggle to help riders who canand#8217;t seem to balance themselves. This is where author Beth Baumert provides a valuable tool: She explains why the riderand#8217;s balance is the key to the horseand#8217;s balance and how a controlled interaction of balance ultimately leads to success and harmony. This book is where the magic begins.and#8221;and#151;Debbie McDonald, two-time Olympian and USEF Developing Dressage Coach
and#147;Beth Baumert and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to horses and dressage training. Now she has created the best guide Iand#8217;ve seen for those who really want to grasp the ins and outs of dressageand#151;Iand#8217;ve never read a book covering all facets of dressage in this detail. With all that is going on in our sport today, I hope that ridersand#151;now and in the futureand#151;will pursue dressage as it is described here by Beth.and#8221;and#151;Henk van Bergen, former Chef dand#8217;Equipe of the Dutch National Dressage Team and British National Young Riders Developing Team, and member of the FEI Judges Supervisory Panel
and#147;This book is truly timeless. I can humbly admit that it clarified some subject even for me, after a lifetime of being involved with dressage. It is the equivalent of countless clinics given by some of the best in the world.and#8221;and#151;Axel Steiner, FEI 5* Dressage Judge (retired), USEF and#147;Sand#8221; Judge, and USDF and#147;Land#8221; Program faculty member
and#147;Beth Baumertand#8217;s book is desperately needed. I see many riders going down the wrong road, often because of a dubious understanding of the term and#145;dressageand#8217; and a limited view of its importance. Whatever you are ridingand#151;whether hunters, ponies, jumpersand#151;I recommend that you learn about and use dressage in your schooling, if only for reasons of maintaining soundness. Iand#8217;m lucky that, in my life of riding and teaching, there has never been jumping without flatwork. But thatand#8217;s in my own little world. Todayand#8217;s riders are too consumed with cosmetics and competition. Even riders at the top have somehow lost what the Masters knew centuries ago! Every rider needs to know the basic tenets of dressage, and so I recommend When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics. I canand#8217;t say enough good about it.and#8221;and#151;George Morris, former Chef dand#8217;Equipe of the US Show Jumping Team
and#147;This is a great book! It mirrors what I see in Beth Baumertand#8217;s studentsand#151;they all demonstrate a very classical way of riding and training horses. When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics clearly explains the classical foundation of how the rider should balance and sit so that he or she can then educate the horse. Beth has provided a valuable tool for all kinds and levels of riders.and#8221;and#151;Bo Jena, Chef dand#8217;Equipe, Swedish Dressage Team and FEI 4* Judge
and#147;[T]he best reason to read When Two Spines Align is that your horse will thank you for itand#151;no matter what your discipline. and#133; [W]hen you move in true harmony with [your horse] so that it looks as if the movements are his ideaand#151;itand#8217;s the moment we all strive for. This book can help you get there.and#8221;and#151;Practical Horseman
andldquo;This is easily the most influential book I have read for a long, long time. andhellip; So many great concepts it is almost overwhelming. HUGE thumbs upandmdash;you will love this book.andrdquo;andmdash;Behind the Bit Blog
About the Author
Beth Baumert trains horses and riders at Cloverlea Dressage LLC in Columbia, Connecticut, the farm she and her husband Alan have owned since 1973. They have two sons in New York City and Colorado, and a daughter, Grand Prix rider Jennifer Baumert, who operates Cloverlea Dressage LLC in Waxhaw, North Carolina, and Loxahatchee, Florida.
Bethand#8217;s primary interest and field of study has always been rider education. For many years, she produced videos of the Aachen Dressage Show, as well as other instructional videos/DVDs, so American dressage riders could aspire to the European standard. She is a USDF-Certified Instructor and was the initial editor for Dressage Today magazine and has served as its technical editor for most of the years since the magazineand#8217;s beginning in 1994. In that capacity, Beth is in constant contact with the best dressage riders in the world as they discuss and write about the technical aspects of dressage.
Beth is on the Board of Directors of The Dressage Foundation (TDF) and serves as President. TDF is on a mission to cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage in the United States.
To learn more about dressage, visit Bethand#8217;s website: Dressage-Dynamics.com.
Table of Contents
Introduction--The Freedom-Control Enigma
Part One--How Riders Work
Chapter 1--The Seat: The Place Where Two Spines Meet
Chapter 2--An Introduction to Positive Tension and Powerlines The Easy Way to be Strong
Chapter 3--Your Vertical Powerline The Power to GO
Chapter 4--Your Connecting Powerline The Suppleness to STOP
Chapter 5--Your Spiraling Powerline The Flexibility to TURN
Chapter 6--Your Visual Powerline Connecting to the Outside World
Chapter 7--Clear Aids for Communicating Aids Ask Three Questions
Part Two--How Horses Work
Chapter 8--The Horse's Balance Issues Understanding them Leads to Resolution
Chapter 9--How the Horse's Weight Distribution Changes Improve the Balance by Suppling and Strengthening
Chapter 10--Impulsion and Engagement Timing the Aids to Maximize Freedom
Chapter 11--Leverage for Collection A Law of Nature to Help
Chapter 12--Transitions Connecting and Collecting your Horse
Chapter 13--Half Halts Connecting and Collecting your Horse
Part Three--How Two Spines Meet in Balance
Chapter 14--Rhythm--Speaking your Horse's Language
Chapter 15--Energy--Finding the Right Amount of Power for the Balance
Chapter 16--Flexion of the Poll--The Key to a Supple Back
Chapter 17--Spinal Alignment--The Key to Straightness
Chapter 18--The Bend--Bend Control is Horse Control
Chapter 19and#150;Height of the Neck--Throughness by Nature
Chapter 20--The Length of Stride--The Key to Elasticity
Chapter 21and#151;The Line of Travel--The Key to Perfect Balance
Chapter 22and#151;Figures and Movements--Building an Athlete
Conclusion--The Probability of Magic