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...
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...
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...
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...
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.)....
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...
by Tonya Johnston, MA Appeared in Hunter Jumper Magazine, July 2007 In a typical 8-hour day, how much time are amateur and junior competitors actually in the ring? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? This is the nature of horse showing, and it creates an interesting challenge. How...
Summer is here, and so is the heart of horse show season. The CDS Dressage Championships, the Menlo Charity Horse Show and the Oaks are just some of the competitions that can make even the most seasoned exhibitors feel some nervous anticipation.Sport Psychology In The...
by Tonya Johnston Appeared in California Dressage Society East Bay Chapter February ’03 Newsletter As we look forward to the rest of this year, it is important to set new goals and plan strategies for achieving them. Be mindful that as you set new goals you...
Tonya Johnston has turned the love of horses and riding into a productive career as a sport psychology consultant. Tonya Johnston, MA Sport Psychology Consultant by Susan Nelson Appeared in September ’03 issue of Riding Magazine Tonya Johnston has turned the...
