A prized equestrian with such admirable distinctions as Manila Polo Club Rider of 2016 and Show Jumper of 2016, fifth placer in the FEI World Jumping Challenge Zone 9 Asia in 2015, and a member of the Philippine team that won gold in the 2015 FEI World Dressage Challenge, Xavier Virata was elected president of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines this April 2022.

It is a position for which he is most qualified, having served before as deputy secretary general, team manager and facilitator. When the former president Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski decided not to run for reelection, "I decided to step up since I had the exposure to the organization, and had been doing a lot of behind-the- scenes work," Xavier shared with this columnist in an online interview.

Although he started riding at six, he had to stop the next year after a bad fall. "After dabbling in different sports, I ended up coming back to riding when I was 12," he said.

Xavier trained most of his riding life at the Manila Polo Club. From 2015 to 2017, he trained in France when he was trying to qualify for the 2017 SEA Games. His mom, the former Mia Montinola, has been his main coach, although he has trained with foreign coaches as well.

His priorities for his three-year term include "growing the membership of the EAP, and providing more support to our members." If the pandemic was any beneficial to the sport, it was that "it helped grow the number of riders and horse owners, and I'd like the build on that momentum," Xavier said.

Recently married to the former Stefanie Orandain, Xavier is a riding instructor and horse trainer at DXD Equestrian Specialists, Inc, which his family established. His father Steven, an executive in the aviation industry, is its president, while his mom, Mia, "has been an equestrian all her life, having competed first at age 16, and who has taught riding for the past 40 years." It was his mom who taught him and his siblings, Danni and Diego, to ride, while his dad briefly served as his mom's coach.

"My parents actually met through riding, so you can say that riding is in our blood," Xavier said. Of course, his family on his father's side is also into economic and government service, his grandfather being the former Prime Minister Cesar EA Virata and his mother; and theater, his paternal grandmother being Joy Gamboa Virata, a veteran actress of Repertory Philippines. His maternal grandparents are Roberto and Teresita Montinola.

Below is our interview with Xavier:

Building relationships among equestrians
Daily Tribune (DT): Tell me about DXD Equestrian Specialists Inc.
Xavier Montinola Virata (XMV): When I decided to go full-time into teaching back in 2015, we established DXD. It stands for us three riding siblings, Danni, Xavier, Diego, and is focused on providing end-to-end equestrian services. This covers coaching, horse selection, horse training and management, among others. In 2020, we also opened up our own riding school (Rancho Leonor) at our family property in Silang, Cavite. DXD operates from two locations: my parents and I manage the stables and riding school at Rancho Leonor, while my sister Danni takes care of our clients in MPC. If you'd like more information about our farm, you can visit our website www.rancholeonor.com

DT: How do you intend to unify the various factions of the equestrian sector?
XMV: I believe  it's important to build relationships in order to understand their perspective, what their needs are, and how we can best help them. There are many different horse groups that practice different disciplines. In Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and Bulacan there are jumpers, dressage, and polo riders while in the rest of the country Western riding is more prevalent. The goal of the EAP is to promote the disciplines of the International Equestrian Federation aka the FEI (Fédération Equestre de Internationale). The FEI disciplines are Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, and Vaulting.

DT: You are a family man, a business owner, an instructor and the president of your organization. How do you find the time to perform your duties from day to day? What is a typical day for you, if there is one?
XMV: It's quite challenging to juggle responsibilities of everything. But I list down my priorities for the day and I make sure to delegate the tasks I know I don't have time for. I first have to organize my students and horses. Then, when I'm not teaching or training I am able to do work on my laptop. That's why I'm sometimes working well into the night to catch up on emails and documents. I'm very lucky to have a supportive team around me. My wife and family help me when I can't perform a task myself.

DT: How do you start your day as soon as you wake up?
XMV: I wake up early (around 6:30 am) to start preparing for the day's lessons. I check on the weather since our riding arenas are all outdoors, and review the CCTV footage of the horses (we have CCTVs installed in all our stables).

DT: What do you eat for breakfast?
XMV: Normally bread and some fruit. I also have coffee for energy.

DT: How do you keep fit?
XMV: I am usually on my feet throughout the day, I average around 20,000 steps on a daily basis. I also ride regularly to help train the horses that are stabled in the farm.

An intelligent wife
DT: You have just gotten married. What did you discover about marriage that has made you realize you did right by tying the knot?
XMV: I didn't realize how nice it was to come home to someone at the end of the day.

DT: What is your wife's trait that you love most?
XMV: I love that she is intelligent.

DT: Give three words that best describe yourself.
XMV: Passionate. Hardworking. Patient.
DT:  How about three words to describe yourself as a husband?
XMV: Thoughtful. Supportive. Understanding.

DT: What did you learn from Ateneo that has been valuable to you all these years especially in your professional life?
XMV: The importance of integrity.

Helping my country
DT: What are the three best words to describe your grandfather, former Prime Minister Cesar EA Virata?
XMV: Hardworking. Intelligent. Honorable.

DT: Of the many stories or words shared with you by your grandfather, what has guided you in your life so far?
XMV: He taught me that in whatever I do, I also have to think about how my actions can help my country.

DT: Your grandmother, Joy Gamboa Virata, is a big name in Philippine theater especially the Repertory Philippines. Were you ever involved in theater? What is the artistic side in you?
XMV: My theatre experience is limited to one summer acting workshop, and my participation in a skit that my grandmother put together for my lolo's 70th birthday. I enjoy painting, drawing, and photography.

DT:. Like father like son is a popular saying. In what way has this manifested in your and your father Steven's personalities and passions?
XMV: I get my work ethic from my father — he taught me the importance of having a vision, and that you have to put in the work to make it a reality. We both share a love and passion for horses and the equestrian sport, as well as aviation. He gifted me a flying lesson a few years back, and it was one of my most memorable birthdays.

Having the right attitude
DT: What was the best tip your father gave you in riding and pursuing a career as a rider, coach and the owner of your own riding school?
XMV: Have the right attitude, develop patience, and think long-term.

DT: Other people ride when they are young, and then they stop. What has kept you in the world of horses as an equestrian and an entrepreneur and educator in the field?
XMV: I am very passionate about this sport, mainly because it has made me into the person I am today. I am very dedicated to helping the sport grow here in the country.

DT: Who are your idols in your sport? Why?
XMV: I look up to Scott Brash, a British rider. I admire his ability to keep cool under pressure, and the way he treats and respects his horses as fellow athletes.

DT: Can you name the three Filipino equestrians of an earlier generation, including instructors, coaches and equestrians like you, who have influenced you in your riding technique and your professional direction?
XMV: Both my parents have been the biggest influence in my career as an athlete, and now as a coach and business owner.

DT: Of your many awards and citations, what are the three that you are proudest of?
XMV:  These are 1st Place at the FEI World Dressage Challenge for our region, 5th Place at the FEI World Jumping Challenge for our region and a place at the Dinard International Competition in France.

DT: What is your greatest reward as a teacher?
XMV: It is seeing my students join competitions and win. The other is when I see students fall in love with the sport, much as I did.

Walking my talk
DT: What has been consistent in your leadership and involvement in the development of your sport that have contributed to your winning these elections? What are your guiding principles for becoming a good leader?
XMV: I want to be known as a leader who is able to walk the talk. Your vision will never become a reality if you don't act on it. It's important for me to execute and make things happen.

DT: How do you deal with organizational problems — intrigues, factionalism, negative attitude?
XMV: There will always be a difference in opinion, so it is important that you understand their context — where are they coming from? It is only from there that you can find a middle ground.

DT: What do you wish for the Equestrian Association of the Philippines?
XMV: I wish that the EAP can create an active community of riders and horse owners that are passionate about the sport, and advocates for horse welfare.

DT: What is your wish for the Philippine Racing Commission?
XMV: I wish that the partnership between the EAP and the PRC continues to flourish, so that we may create more opportunities for both industries and work together to promote horse welfare.

DT: What is in your bucket list as an equestrian, an educator and a business owner?
XMV: Personally, I would still like to represent the country in the SEA Games. For my students, I would like to see them competing internationally as well. For the business, I would like it to be the premier equestrian center in the country.

DT: Where will you be 10 years from now, both in your profession and passion, and in your personal life?
XMV: I see myself running Rancho Leonor, while raising two kids with my wife, most likely also teaching them how to ride.

DT: What is your advice to young people who want to pursue a life of equestrianism?
XMV: It doesn't matter what age you start. It's about how much effort you put into it.