“The prerequisite for magincal moments in the saddle lies in attention to detail; in knowing how your body and your horse’s body work ideally; in being endlessly particular about the details of your horse’s posture, about your riding position, the refined clarity of your aids, and your horse’s understanding of them.”
Beth Baumert, Where Two Spines Align
Last fall I had the absolute pleasure of attending a Beth Baumert clinic held my my local GMO (group Member Organization), ENYDCTA (Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association). Beth is the author of both How Minds Meet and When Two Spines Align. Recently I finished the latter, what a great book…I’ve been so excited to share it with you!
Where Two Spines Meet is an incredibly well-thought-out book to help the rider understand the inner workings of riding. Where the energy comes from, the flow, the balance, and the messaging that occurs between horse and rider. It helps to close the gap from two individuals to one being moving as one, allowing your cues to be quiet and invisible to the outsider.
The book consists of 22 chapters split into 3 main parts. The first part is How Riders Work, the second is How Horses Work and the final part is How Two Spines Meet in Balance.
“The tense rider can’t feel her horse and the tense horse can’t feel his rider.”
― Beth Baumert, When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse
In Part 1, How Riders Work, we learn about the rider’s seat…the balance and weight aids involved in communicating with your horse. We are introduced to powerlines, or “pathways of energy” to help us consider where the energy flow is going. The vertical, connecting, spiraling, and visual powerlines are the four Beth Baumert talks about and each has its own focus.
- Vertical Powerline: Power to Go
- Connecting Powerline: Suppleness to Stop
- Spiraling Powerline: Flexibility to Turn
- Visial Powerline: Connecting to the Outside World
“Your shoulders, head, and elbows are passengers: they turn only because your spine spirals. If your hips were to turn along with the shoulders, your position wouldn’t support the horse’s bend and his haunched would swing out.”
― Beth Baumert, When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse
In Part 2, How Horses Work, we learn more about the dressage fundamentals that are more horse-oriented. Balance, Impulsion, Engagement, Leverage, Transitions, and Half Halts are all major discussions within this part of the book.
In Part 3, How Two Spines Meet in Balance, Beth Baumert combines the horse and rider to create a picture of developing harmony. How both beings create rhythm, energy, the importance of flexion of the poll, and spinal alignment. We discuss bend, height of the neck, length of the stride, line of travel, and finish with figures and movements.
“If the rider has a problem with the line of travel, then the horse never, under the best of circumstances, can be balanced because the rules will changes constantly for him. So, you should ride lines and figures with neurotic accuracy.”
― Beth Baumert, When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse
I found myself making mental notes and saving pictures of passages that resonated with me. I tend to be noisy in my hand aids, and I know that I often gaze at Stanley’s neck a little too much. I know that my aids need to be clear and quiet, I need to get myself a better balance to stay out of his way. Beth’s book has been and will continue to be vital to my work with Stanley between lessons with our trainer.
“The rider who is constantly looking at her horse’s neck has a problem similar to the one who clutches the saddle with her legs. She will always be in her horse’s balance; she uses her horse’s balance as a frame of reference because she never looks outside it. The rider who stares at her horse’s neck is committed to being “on the forehand” and can;t influence her horse otherwise.”
― Beth Baumert, When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse
Final Word:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I took my time to read it because there is SO MUCH to digest. In fact, as I reread parts of it I realize I still need to go back and read again. Beth provides a wealth of knowledge in When Two Spines Align and it’s one of those books you need to buy and read periodically. Not every exercise will pertain to you at the moment you need it but as you progress you can reread and learn even more.
“The magic occurs when the horse is worked (both physically and mentally) in a way that honors his nature. That is, he is helped to use his body with “integrity,” and he works freely and willingly for the rider while the rider has control of the balance.”
― Beth Baumert, When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse
I also want to add that I buy most of my horse books from Trafalgar Square books. This happens to be one of such books. You can find your copy through my affiliate link here, it’ll let TSB know I sent you!
The Green Horseman 