When Two Spines Align: Dressage Dynamics: Attain Remarkable Riding Rapport with Your Horse

I was super excited to receive and dive into this book, but I'm really not caring for it...at all! It is all over the place referencing far into the book, The author assumes the reader knows all the lingo and you read a hundred pages at a time wondering when you will understand, if ever. I was bored within the first chapters and by page 70 I was ready to throw in the towel. I'm still plodding on but I wish I hadn't purchased it at all. NOW AFTER FINISHING THE BOOK...I would like to clarify my previous review after having finished the book with somewhat DIFFERENT FEELINGS. I hope I can help someone like me who had trouble with it, because THERE IS GOOD INFO HERE. Did I enjoy reading it? No! It is textbook dry but I'm glad I read it!When the author says something like I'll be getting more in depth on this subject later page 100, go there immediately! I didn't because I thought I'm already lost I'm sure to be baffled with more intricate in depth information. The book is just written that way continually referencing far into the book. Better yet, when you first say hmm...go to your computer and start googling. There are typos which confused me too. Like in two different places it says halt-halt then in a few strides again half-halt. Well unless there's a halt-halt a halt and a half halt well you get the picture. "AT X" then there would be no X on the arena diagram. Further on, in another diagram oh, there's X it's in the center of the arena...silly me. If, for instance you want to refer back to an exercise, good luck! because unless you know exactly what that exercise was trying to improve, you've got no reference. It's indexed really weird to me. I still don't know which way tracking right or tracking left wants me to go and there is no reference in the index for tracking at all. It would have been a much more enjoyable read if the author could have just told the many reasons for half halt and the posture for shoulder fore right off the bat instead of a hundred pages later. I know it says DRESSAGE DYNAMICS on the cover but I thought I'd be learning about dressage dynamics instead of being required to have been born and bred in the field. It seemed kind of snobbish to me, like only intended for those "in the know" and I felt pretty dumb sometimes reading it, and that didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. But it is really good info!My favorite part of the book was the last two lines, in the conclusion..."He passages and piaffs down the final centerline with elasticity and vigor BECAUSE HE'S PROUD TO CARRY YOU. THAT'S WHERE TWO MINDS MEET, TWO HEARTS MEET, AND THE MAGIC BEGINS." If the whole book could have been written in this spirit I would have been over the moon with joy, I'm all about the lightbulb moments with my horse and so is my guy. That connection is what we all want. I hope he will be able to tell something is different and appreciate all the effort I put into reading this book. I"m sure he will!! maybe you should read it too! but just sayin'...just because it is scientific in nature, doesn't mean it has to be boring, right? Thank you though, Beth Beaumert for the great information and all the effort put into this book. It couldn't have been easy. and I"M GLAD I READ IT!!... but I'm glad I'm done :)

Akin to Sally Swift, Centered Riding but modernized. This book has been so helpful with theory and a deeper understanding of the way the rider's and horse's bodies can work harmoniously together. I use it for inspiration and problem solving, e.g., half-pass, and planning my next day's schooling. A book you can get something new out of every time you read it!

I have read a lot of books in riding and this one was by far the best. Just filled with aha moments. And I have been riding horses fir 50 years! I feel like it has greatly improved my riding and as a result my horse’s way of going. I bought it in kindle but now I am buying a hardcover copy so I can read it again and again and never forget it’s teachings. Brilliant!

I have spent the last month studying Beth Baumert's book on training one's horse, and one's self. Each night I read a chapter and the following day instrument what I have learned.I have a young Andaluz horse who had been skitish and rushing. I now have a partner with whom our spines align, and our minds mesh.Ms Baumert is so clear in her detailed descriptions. She presents excellent exercises to practice the lessons. Very good drawings and photographs to illustrate her point.I've been a dressage rider since 1990, on various horses and levels. I have read much, am a judge in Ecuador where I live.I have never read such a complete study in training a horse, one that is so helpful to me. Thank you very much, Ms. Baumert for taking your time to share your wealth of knowledge!

This is easily the most influential book I have read for improving my riding. Much as I love Sally Swift, this book had a bigger impact for me -- captures that essence of the Swift metaphors and goes further in its analysis of what constitutes good riding -- there are exercises too.When Spines Align is about more than posture -- it has helped me to better understand the right "feel" -- both in the particulars (connection, use of weight, etc) and more generally. I have been implementing what I've learned for about a month, and my trainer (who did not know I was reading the book) has been saying things like "I don't know what you are doing but you have changed your riding." There is a significant difference in my horse, and for the first time in quite awhile I feel that a) he is happy in the work and b) we are making progress.

This is one of my FAVORITE books about dressage. As a “number cruncher” and analytical person, I always have to understand the “why” before I can translate that into the physical mechanics and eventually the feel. This book successfully bridged that gap for me….providing the theory and the “why” while translating that into feel. As I advance in my dressage training, I am finding that your intentions are just as important, if not more important, than your physical abilities. Dressage is all about managing “energy” and this book provides a great description and many mental tools for working WITH the energy in a productive and healthy way for both horse and rider. I would recommend this book to any rider!Dana Sambogna

Love this book. It is able to put things in perspective from the riders point of view and into how it relays to the horse. How our body language and body position effect the horse and the horses movements. There are also step by step exercises given as well in each chapter. The chapters build up more and get more advanced the further along you go. Definitely a must have for any dressage rider and also for anyone who wants to improve their riding in general.I believe all riders would benefit from reading this and learning more about how their position truly does affect the horse and also how to get your horse into a proper frame and strengthen their back.

Probably the best dressage book I own, and I own a load of them. For me this books gave the missing link into keeping your horse working off your seat and into the contact. Its not just about how to do the moves in instruction but also gives you how to feel the moves in explanation.

One of the best books I've read

A good read - lovely pictures to help you understand the principles. Enjoyable read

Regardless of the discipline or level of riding you participate in, if you want to ride in true partnership with your horse read this book. Beth Baumert doesn't just focus on only the rider or only the horse, but on both - how one affects the other and what you, the rider, can do to help give your horse the physical and mental freedom to work for you instead of against you.The book is written in language any level of rider can understand and includes exercises that benefit both rider and horse - improving balance and co-ordination. You will feel in control of your horse while allowing him the freedom of movement that we all admire and want to see in our horses.

The latest and most modern of books on the theory of the art of riding European style. It builds on where all the other books left off, and is clearly written, in easy-to-understand language. It is not a book particularly meant for beginners, as a 'how-to-ride' book, but can still be read by beginners, to their advantage.