What Are You Looking At? 

By Sandra Verda-Zanatta 

SVZ Dressage & F2R Fit To Ride Pilates for Equestrians 

Many Thoroughbreds face the question of What Next? when their racing careers come to an end. A large number transition into new disciplines, with eventing being a popular second career. But does success on the racetrack translate into success on the cross-country course, in the dressage arena, or over show jumps? Understanding what makes a good eventer is central to both equine welfare and effective rehoming strategies for retired racehorses.

In 1999, on Vancouver Island, a different kind of animal wellness movement began to take shape. Purica was founded on a belief that natural ingredients, when scientifically formulated, could unlock extraordinary potential for horses and their owners. What started as a simple idea has grown into a 25-year commitment to transforming equine health through precise, science-backed nutrition.

Two crucial gene mutations transformed wild horses into the gentle, rideable animals that reshaped human civilization. These genetic changes, scientists say, were a true “game changer for horse biology.”

Wrong lead, reposition, relaunch. It’s the two-strides-forward, one-stride-back process of learning leads for riders and their horses. Fast forward a year down the road to see the same rider who once dreaded hearing “Wrong lead!” from her coach now initiating the wrong lead …on purpose. Why? She’s discovered the counter-canter as an essential tool in building a solid training foundation for her horse