6 Nov 2026 05:00
514. Inside Your Ride with Tonya Johnston, MA, & Poppy Blandford by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
In this episode of The Plaidcast, host Tonya Johnston, a Mental Skills Coach with a Master’s in Sport Psychology, welcomes internationally recognized equestrian Performance Coach Poppy Blandford for an insightful conversation about mental preparation, building confidence, managing perfectionism, and developing the mindset needed to perform consistently under pressure.
Based in Ireland, Poppy works internationally with equestrian federations, development squads, teams, coaches, and riders to strengthen mental performance and help athletes thrive in competitive environments. Her clients include Olympic and World Equestrian Games athletes, Global Champions Tour team riders, and leading stables throughout Europe and the United States. She also tutors for the Rolex Young Rider Academy and the Wesko Equestrian Eventing Foundation and has delivered workshops for Horse Sport Ireland, British Showjumping, and the FEI.
Throughout the conversation, Tonya and Poppy explore the importance of developing internal resources, embracing discomfort, and shifting perfectionism away from self-criticism and toward productive growth. Poppy shares practical strategies for managing emotions after challenging rides, using her RISE framework to build consistency, and incorporating effective visualization and intentional reflection into training. They also discuss Poppy’s collaboration with World of Show Jumping and the value of sharing real-life experiences with mental coaching.
Tonya also introduces her Inside Your Ride Mindset Journals, designed to help riders reflect on their experiences, track progress, and strengthen their mental skills through structured journaling.
Thank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.
At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.
Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.
We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.
Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!
