Toni doesn’t want to build a swimming pool. “No one in my family likes to swim!” she exclaims. Ninety percent of Lipa Equestrian’s 10- hectare property, a farm owned and operated and opened by equestrian Toni Leviste, is tailored for horses. “ Everything else is secondary,” she says.

Tony with Leap of Faith

If horses could pick which farm they could go during the summer, they would definitely choose Lipa Equestrian in Lipa, Batangas – a peaceful equine escape that is the Amanpulo resort for horses. Only its perimeter wall of Mahogany trees is seen from Leviste highway, but once inside its gates, endless greenery, towering trees and colorful bougainvillea bushes surround the surprised visitor. Once in awhile, a horse’s head will peek out from behind a picket fence or a loose one will slowly cross your path while grazing. They’re harmless, of course. If they buck, roll on the dirt, gallop on the field or neigh loudly, it is only because they are truly enjoying their vacation. Who wouldn’t? Accommodations are fit for a prized stallion. Individual paddocks, stand-alone stables, are all available. For some retired horses, walking freely along the paths with no permanent paddock is also an option.

Walkway that separates individual paddocks

During the peak season of Christmas and summer, occupants range from active horses on break (mostly owned by Toni’s friends), regular mainstays (horses Toni is paid to train herself), and retired horses. The farm’s layout today, however, is nowhere near how it was 10 years ago. “ The property belonged to my father’s grandparents,” Toni needed a place for her horse Tiger – now 27 years old – to stay while she competed in Europe. They built one stable and a nipa but amidst the property’s lifeless land.

Soon, she and good friend Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski would visit Lipa everyday to ride after attending classes at Ateneo University. “It would take us two and a half hours to get here,” she says, as compared to the one and a half hours it takes today. Soon, more paddocks and stables were built to accommodate the horses Toni’s friends would send for a little rest and recuperation after strenuous training. The lifeless farm soon became full of life. “Even those were only two feet tall when we planted them seven years ago,” Toni says, pointing to the huge Mahogany tress lining the property. “Look at them now. It’s amazing how God makes them grow!”

A viewing deck was built for Store Specialists Inc. executive Anton Huang, who’s wife Nina’s horses were trained by Toni. “ He would come and watch Nina ride, but since we had no bleachers of any sort, he would do so from the side of the ring and get covered with dust!” she exclaims.

With the number of horses increasingly being sent to the farm, Toni decided to build more stables – one of European standards. After all, she herself trains in Europe months at a time. She drew a plan and sent it to architect Dan Lichauco. The barn was going to cost a lot. Like most European stables, it has cement floors, rubber footing, a high ceiling with big wooden windows and doors for cross-ventilation, open-air showers, and sweeping views of the entire farm from every room (or should I say, stall). When her father Tony Levisle exclaimed, “Horses are going to live there?” Toni thought her plan would go down the drain. Instead, Tony joined the bandwagon and decided to tear down the old nipa hut and build an even bigger house, deemed the Heritage House, for his retirement. What started off as a plan for a new barn became an all-out construction.

Bed & Breakfast with a viewing deck, the two-storey library and the Heritage House

“All I wanted was a barn with one room on top for me to sleep in,” she says. “That’s how they do it in Europe.” But as it turned out, a two-storey library plus Bed & Breakfast were also added. “Since my dad was going all-out, I decided to build a separate guesthouse for riders who want to spend a night while visiting their horses. I even enrolled my cook in Heny Sison so our food would be something the riders could look forward to, as well.” Toni picked every fixture, doorknob and material used for the houses, which were all decorated by Anton Baretlo of Pineapple.

It’s been two years since the groundbreaking of the European-style stables, and now, plans of an additional indoor arena, bridle path, show ring and temporary stalls are underway. And hopefully, swimming pool too – if guests can convince Toni that riders need more than food to entice them to spend the night. “ I want this to eventually be a showground for international competitions,” she explains. “Let this be my contribution to Philippine tourism,” she says. Because politics, Toni has vowed, is not in her destiny. Unlike other politicians in her family (her father Tony was governor of Lipa for many years and stepmom Loren Legarda, a senator), Toni believes that she can serve her country in other ways. “Because you can’t prevent it – when you swim with the sharks, you become one.” She says.

Toni is more than happy living the life of a farm girl…well, almost. “That’s Trudy,” she points to a 17-year old white mare peeking out of a stable, who she has taken with her all over the world to compete. “She my soul mate. That’s why I don’t need a husband,” she says. “Though my dad is giving me away to any takers,” she continuous, laughing. It will be very difficult for a man, however, to compete with the prize-winning horses.

“It’s just so peaceful here,” Toni says for the 10th time that day. But it is the truth. “Even 27-year old Tiger doesn’t want to die! He’s the wise old chief of the farm,” she says, “All the horses seem to gravitate toward him, and honestly, even the wild ones calm down when they’re with him.” If these horses could talk, they would stretch out under a Mahogany tree, look out the paddocks filled with freshly cut grass, and say, “Ah, this is life.”

© Copyright 2004 by SportHorseCM.com

Top of Page