THE PERSON BEHIND THE PRACTICE
Meet Tonya.
Mental skills coach. Author. Rider. A lifelong student of what happens between the ears and in the saddle.
A LIFE IN THE SPORT
She knows
the feeling.
Tonya Johnston, MA, works with equestrian athletes around the world. Her clients range from young riders beginning in the pony divisions to professionals competing at international championships.
She combines a master’s degree in sport psychology with a lifetime of riding and competing, bringing equal parts expertise and empathy to the work.
WHAT SHE BELIEVES
The best rides begin with
curiosity, not judgment.
Tonya teaches riders to understand their thoughts, manage their energy and meet challenges with practical skills. The goal is more than a result: it is a stronger relationship with your riding and your horse.
Her approach fits hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing, reining and other disciplines. It supports riders, trainers and parents as part of the same team.
A RIDER, TOO
In the arena
with you.
Tonya has earned championships, wins and year-end awards in hunter and equitation divisions. She and her horse Galactic were WCHR 3′6″ Amateur-Owner Hunter National Champions in 2021.
That ongoing experience informs the way she coaches: with respect for the joy, complexity and pressure that make this sport so personal.
AUTHOR / EDUCATOR
Inside Your Ride.
Tonya is the author of Inside Your Ride: Mental Skills for Being Happy and Successful with Your Horse. She has taught in a sport psychology master’s program, led clinics for equestrian associations and shared her work in columns, talks and the Inside Your Ride Plaidcast.
Explore her ideas ↗