Brought to you by The Plaidcast
Many equestrians immediately start analyzing their ride the minute they dismount. They replay the distances, the turns, the transitions, and the places where things could have gone better.
But equestrian mental skills coach Tonya Johnston offers a different starting point for reflection: pause and think about one moment that felt great. “Think back to your last ride and think of a moment that just felt awesome,” Johnston says. “It can be big, it can be small.”
Identifying one positive moment forms the foundation of a mental exercise Johnston promotes. The goal is not to ignore areas for improvement, but to make space for riders to recognize moments when things went right.
Recognizing the Feel of a Good Ride
The moment Johnston asks riders to identify does not need to be dramatic. It might be a jump that felt especially smooth, a turn that came together perfectly, or a stretch of flatwork where horse and rider felt completely in sync. What matters is noticing the feeling.
By pausing to recall that moment, riders reconnect with the experience of riding well, the timing, balance, and partnership that make the sport so rewarding. Johnston encourages riders to think about these moments intentionally. Instead of letting them pass quickly, riders can take a few seconds to replay them in their minds and remember how they felt in the saddle.
A rider might think of a standout jump from a show round, but the moment could just as easily come from an ordinary schooling ride. Maybe it was a quiet lead change, a balanced transition, or a line of fences that finally felt comfortable after several attempts. Recognizing these smaller moments can be just as meaningful as recalling a major success.
When riders take a moment to identify something that felt great, they create a mental snapshot of success. That snapshot becomes a reference point of what good riding feels like. Whether the moment comes from a lesson, a schooling ride, or a show round, recalling it reinforces the connection between horse and rider that makes those rides memorable.
Bringing Awareness Into the Ride
Another benefit of this exercise is that it encourages riders to become more aware of their experiences in the saddle.
When riders begin looking for moments that feel good, they naturally become more attentive to the details of their rides: rhythm, balance, communication with the horse, and the feeling of moving together smoothly. This awareness can deepen a rider’s understanding of what contributes to a successful ride. Over time, riders may start noticing those moments more often, not just after the ride is over, but while they are still in the saddle.
A Habit That Takes Only Seconds
Identifying one good moment takes only a few seconds, but it can shift how riders think about their time in the saddle.
Instead of ending every ride with a mental list of corrections, riders can start by remembering a moment that felt right. Maybe it was the rhythm down a line. Maybe it was a confident jump. Maybe it was simply a moment when horse and rider felt connected.
So the next time you finish a ride, pause for a moment. Think back. And remember the moment that felt awesome.
Want more insight from Tonya Johnston? Listen to this episode of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
