by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA March/April 2009

Have you ever felt wildly misunderstood by your ______ (horse, trainer, or friend)? Have you ever been too hard on yourself? Have you ever reflected on your communication skills and wished you could do better? In riding there are two things that are essential in communicating effectively: sharing your thoughts clearly and saying things that serve you as a rider. When you communicate well you are easily understood and your messages support your efforts to be an excellent horseperson.
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by Tonya Johnston, MA
Appeared in Showbiz January/February 2009

Riders of all ages and abilities share something that helps them strive for excellence in the ring: good old fashioned competitive fire. Passion to succeed will vary widely by person, but the ability to harness it, for every rider, is one of the most important things a rider can learn.
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by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA May/June 2008

“Why do you ride and compete?” Ask two people that question and you are sure to get different answers. However, what is most important is for you to understand your own reasons for eventing. Therefore, in this article we will explore why you ride and compete. We will examine both the value you place on competition (your philosophy) and your drive to take action (your motivation). read more »

by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Equine Wellness May/June 2008

In order to handle your show nerves successfully, it is helpful have some strategies in place before you even get there. Use the following five performance tools to reduce your nervous energy and channel the remaining good energy into things that can help you in the ring.

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by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in The Plaid Horse, April 2008

It is not unusual for riders to approach a lesson differently than a class at a horse show. Unfortunately, this discrepancy does little to help them make the most of their skills in the show ring, when it counts. We have all heard the phrase, “You play the way you practice.” So how can you handle your lesson challenges in a way that strengthens the mindset you strive for at horse shows?

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by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA Magazine, March/April 2008

In riding, perfection can appear on the horizon as a tempting mirage, but using that term can distract us and damage our confidence. Even our best rides contain small flaws that can be found with careful examination. You are riding at an excellent level when you are managing flaws effectively, but they are there, and they will always be there. Once we have accepted that, we can embrace learning and recovering from our mistakes as necessary and vital skills to improving as a rider.

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by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA Magazine, January/February 2008

The USEA Annual Conference in Colorado Springs was terrific and I was happy to have been invited there to present. A beautiful setting, thought provoking sessions, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for the sport made for a fantastic event.

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by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA Magazine, September/October 2007

Riders frequently tell me that they use imagery to enhance their performance. However these same folks often (and unknowingly) leave out some of the most important facets of the skill having never truly learned the fundamentals. How about you? read more »

by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Hunter Jumper Magazine, September 2007

If we treat the medal final as an ‘exam’ of sorts, we will need to ‘study’ the physical side (lessons, cross-training, etc.) and the mental side of the sport (focus, a positive attitude, etc.). Thankfully, your trainer is with you every step of the way to perfect your physical and technical skills; but do you have a clear plan for your mental preparation? read more »

by Tonya Johnston
Appeared in Eventing USA Magazine, July/August 2007

The goal for this issue’s column is to help you use sport psychology to track your progress and build the quality of your schools between lessons and clinics. To set the stage, let’s focus on one feature of the sport of eventing we know to be true: Eventers, more often than many other equestrian disciplines, school and jump their horses on their own.

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