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...
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...
By Tonya Johnston, MA Appeared in The Plaid Horse January/February 2009 Can you remember when you first did a full jumper division, including the Sunday classic? Or your initial outing in the open equitation division? What about your debut in the short stirrup...
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...
By Tonya Johnston, MA Appeared in The Plaid Horse October 2008 Horse shows are always challenging, but some carry more weight for us than others. Let’s face it; a local A-show will not have the same impact as a medal final you have never been to or your first...
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....
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...
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...
