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Riders often talk about preparation and control as if they’re the same thing. If the warm-up goes smoothly, the plan feels solid, and emotions are steady, it’s easy to assume everything is under control. That control means you’re ready.
But in her conversation on episode 462 of The Plaidcast, mental skills coach Tonya Johnston makes a clear distinction between the two. Preparation supports effective riding. Control, on the other hand, is often an attempt to eliminate uncertainty. That’s where riders start to struggle.
Understanding the difference helps riders stay adaptable, present, and effective, especially when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Preparation Builds Readiness, Not Certainty
Preparation is about developing skills, habits, and awareness that allow riders to respond well in real time. Riders prepare by training their horses, practicing transitions, walking courses, and building routines that help them stay organized.
But preparation does not promise predictability.
Horses feel different from day to day. Warm-ups change. Courses don’t always ride the way they walk. Preparation equips riders with tools, but not guarantees. The trouble starts when riders expect preparation to control outcomes. When something shifts, even slightly, it can feel as though the entire ride is slipping away.
When Control Takes Over
Control often shows up when riders start comparing what is happening to what they expected to happen. Attention moves away from the horse and toward enforcing a plan.
“Neutral thinking is very behavior-focused. It’s not about how you feel, and it’s not about trying to change how you feel. It’s about asking yourself, ‘What do I do now?’ What’s the next useful thing I can do in this moment?” Tonya explains.
That distinction matters because riding is dynamic. Horses respond. Conditions change. Courses unfold differently than expected. When riders are focused on controlling the experience—trying to make the ride match a specific expectation—they lose the flexibility needed to adjust.
Preparation allows for change. Control resists it.
Why Control Feels Comforting—but Isn’t
The desire for control makes sense. Riding involves uncertainty and responsibility for another being. Control feels like safety.
But control often adds pressure rather than relieving it. Riders feel responsible not only for riding well, but for making everything go smoothly. When something doesn’t go according to plan like a missed distance, spook, or rail down, the experience feels like failure instead of information.
Prepared riders experience those moments differently. Because their focus is on response rather than outcome, they’re able to adjust without spiraling.
Preparation Creates Options
One of the most important differences between preparation and control is how many options a rider believes they have. Prepared riders trust their ability to respond. If something changes, they adjust pace, rebalance, or rethink the line. They don’t need the ride to unfold perfectly to stay effective.
Control-oriented riders often feel stuck. Because the plan was tied to a specific outcome, deviation feels threatening. Neutral thinking reopens options by pulling riders back to the present moment and the next decision.
Letting Go of Control Isn’t Lowering Standards
Releasing control does not mean riding passively or lowering expectations. Riders can still care deeply about quality, precision, and responsibility.
The difference is how tightly those expectations are held.
Prepared riders hold plans lightly. They stay committed to good riding, not to a specific version of how the round must look. That flexibility allows them to support their horses more effectively—especially when the horse needs something unexpected.
Control and the Illusion of Mental Toughness
Many riders believe mental strength means suppressing emotion and appearing calm. But emotional control is not the same thing as functional focus.
“You don’t need to feel calm or confident to do the next right thing,” Tonya shares. “You just need to stay connected to what you’re doing. The feeling doesn’t have to change for the behavior to change.”
This is where preparation and control diverge most clearly. Control tries to manage internal states. Preparation keeps riders oriented to action.
The most useful question isn’t How do I feel? It’s What do I do now?
Riding the Horse You Have Today
This distinction becomes especially clear in everyday riding. Horses change. Some days they feel sharp. Other days, they feel distracted or tense.
Control-focused riders struggle when the horse doesn’t match expectations. Prepared riders notice what’s different and respond.
Preparation supports listening. Control resists it. By letting go of the need to control, riders create space for clearer communication and better decision-making.
Prepared riders trust their ability to respond, even when things don’t go as planned. Control promises certainty but delivers tension. When riders stop trying to control the ride and start responding to it, they stay present, adaptable, and effective—no matter how the round unfolds. Want more insight from Tonya Johnston? Listen to her full conversation on The Plaidcast and subscribe to The Plaidcast for practical tools to support your mental game in the saddle.
