Inside Your Ride: Mental Skills for Being Happy and Successful with Your Horse

by Tonya Johnston

Become the confident, composed, and effective rider you’ve always wanted to be!

Mental skills coach Tonya Johnston, MA, has helped thousands of equestrian athletes achieve success at every level, from recreational riders to award-winning international competitors. In Inside Your Ride , she provides specific methods and clear, easy-to-follow directions to help you mentally prepare for your next ride or competition, no matter your discipline and skill level.

This book will show you how Inside Your Ride is also filled with inspiring quotes, stories, and insights from Olympic and world-class riders and trainers, including Margie Engle, John French, Guenter Seidel, Anne Kursinski, McLain Ward, Gina Miles, and Missy Clark, who share their personal mental preparation strategies.

Genres: Horses, Nonfiction, Psychology

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, because for a lot of competitive folks I think it would be at least a 4-star book. However, I'm coming from a different perspective.
I've been around horses since I was 5 years old. I've had some mental challenges lately (read: fear) to overcome. My mom read this book and enjoyed it, so I thought I would give it a go. Ms. Johnston is obviously very knowledgeable and writes an impressively interesting 'how-to' book. I read most of it word for word. The first several chapters give some great and very doable suggestions for improving your mental state, energy, and goals. Johnston helps you set those goals in a positive and attainable manner. I have started applying many of these suggestions already and feel more confident and clear in my daily work with my horse.
Here's what I didn't like, though. At least two thirds of the book is specifically geared toward competitive riders. Mostly English sports, but it could be applied to Western competitors. I've never been a competitive rider, and my horse simply isn't capable of it at this point. I had to skim through several chapters because I didn't need pointers on communicating with my trainer, or preparing for a show, or structuring post-ride (which is much more specific than you would think) notes. I think this information is great for competitve riders, but I was disappointed that Johnston focused so heavily on this type of riding. In fact, she never even mentioned 'pleasure riding' even in inference. Not every rider enters competitions, shows, etc. Plenty are trail/hack riders. Plenty enjoy just working with their horse on the ground, doing equine therapy, etc. Mental skills are necessary for all these facets of the equine sport.
I do understand why she seemed so focus, to some degree. She is a mental skills coach for sportsmen and sportswomen. But, still, I was disappointed that her information was so hard to distill for pleasure riders. Overall, I would recommend... for the right person. A lot of the information I gleaned were things that I could synthesize from general self-help books.

[Beth Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book! It has so much useful advice. It is definitely focused on the English disciplines (dressage, h/j), but the techniques are universally applicable to all types of riding, even non-competitive riding. I never felt like an anxious rider or one that had mental difficulties to overcome, but I'm surprised how much of a difference some of the mental skills techniques I have incorporated into my riding have made. Regardless of your level of riding, your goals, or whether you have any issue you want to overcome or not, this book is awesome. I have reread some sections 3 times over!

[Rakan Khaled · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Interesting mix between sport psychology and equestrian. Enjoyed it specially the diets 4 chapter and the visualization one rocks .

[Brooke Fredericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book especially for people who ride english (sure it would work for many riding disciplines however), have goals and are looking to progress. I was pretty diligent in following the author's suggestions, like actually using a journal and analyzing your rides, and staying focused on the positive. Riding competitively is a very mental sport and although I've read plenty of self improvement books this is the only one that's put it in the context of riding and being a team with your horse, your trainer, and your support group (I.e. spouses, friends) and how to handle it all once you get to the show. I am certain this book helped me with my horse show nerves at my first hunter jumper show after many years and I was able to win a few blues and focus on the positives, and most importantly have fun. Big thanks to the author!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oct 2025: Reread, glad this book is on audible now, I listened to it this time. Still a great book, highly recommend.

July 2020: WOW! I wish I read this book years ago! I have improved so much using the techniques mentioned in this book! They may seem silly, or even so simple but trust me, with a little effort and belief in yourself they work! I hope this book comes back to print, it needs to be read by every rider, competing or not competing, no matter the discipline.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of what's in this book I've read elsewhere, not to say I didn't underline a few things. I just wish I could find books like this for fox hunters. Riding in the ring doesn't really cross over.