Silva Storai's Journey of Self-Mastery, Mindset, and Muscle at the Age of 60

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At 60, Silva Storai is more than a former jockey or the director of a riding school; she is a manifestation of what it means to combine passion, purpose, and personal well-being over decades.

Born in Italy, she arrived in India at 17, after an extraordinary overland journey through Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet the path felt natural. She had been connecting with horses since the age of 13, and her first ride on a cavallo was meaningful - bold, unrestrained, and a decisive moment in her life. The bond between a rider and a horse, as she would later describe, is emotional, intuitive, and deeply grounding.

Her professional riding career began in the early 1990s, but it was in 2003, aboard Brown Sugar at the Deccan Derby, that she made history. She defied the odds and shattered stereotypes in a male-dominated sport by winning two derbies. Her triumphs represented acts of resilience in the face of challenge, not just personal milestones.
Yet Silva's story doesn't end with trophies. Over the past two decades, she has built one of the country's most respected riding schools, Embassy International Riding School (EIRS). Under her vision, the Equestrian Premier League (EPL) has grown from a two-club event into a national platform that has nurtured talents including Fouaad Mirza and Ashish Limaye.

What makes her story even more compelling is that she remains at the forefront physically, emotionally, and mindfully. Her days still begin with morning walks and end in quiet reflection, surrounded by horses and trees. She doesn't chase extremes but values consistency in her day-to-day. Her rhythm is still grounded in riding, though not in a race saddle anymore.

Silva's focus isn't on intense exercise or restrictive diets. "I maintain a disciplined, challenging routine that keeps me vibrant and energised. My day begins with long walks, early in the morning and again in the late afternoon. I still ride whenever possible, though EIRS has become much busier, especially during the show season. Moreover, three times a week, I commit to strenuous 90-minute workouts, always ending with physiotherapy to help manage the old injuries I've carried since my early racing days," says Silva Storai.

She further adds, "Nutrition is the key; your food must support your daily activity. 80% of how you look comes from what you eat; only 20% is driven by your workouts. The real secret to good health and a strong body is to stay consistent, and you will be rewarded."

Her story reminds us that finesse isn't about speed or spectacle or the drama of life's turning points. True finesse is found when you become the still centre of it all.