Conquering the Warm-Up Ring

Conquering the Warm-Up Ring

By Tonya Johnston, MA Appeared in Eventing USA, January/February 2009 If I had a dollar for every time one of my clients told me how much they hate the warm-up ring, I would be writing this article while floating in my infinity pool that overlooks the ocean on my...
Embracing Your Mistakes

Embracing Your Mistakes

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...
Visualization: From Fundamentals to Fine-Tuning

Visualization: From Fundamentals to Fine-Tuning

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...
Sport Psychology in the Ring: Show nerves can be put to good use

Sport Psychology in the Ring: Show nerves can be put to good use

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...
Achieving Your Goals in 2003

Achieving Your Goals in 2003

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...
Breathing for Peak Performance

Breathing for Peak Performance

by Tonya Johnston Appeared in September ’03 issue of Ride! Magazine Tonya explains a basic breathing control technique called Circle Breathing to improve relaxation, confidence, and focus in competition.  “Take a deep breath!” “Relax!”...