The Mentoring Program Meet our mentors
Mattea Davidson
Shane Davidson
Mattea was introduced to horses through a school friend
Many young Australian riders dream of riding and training
whose father started the Brisbane Polo Club. She spent
in Germany, but a young Shane Davidson made his dream
her weekends grooming and riding polo ponies, until
come true. His first European trip was for six months,
she was able to lease a horse and begin competing in
later returning to Germany for several years to study in
Interschool and Pony Club events.
the world famous Bereiter program. While there, Shane
After leaving school, she spent time with Tom Doyle, a vet and a rider. She rode multiple horses, helped out with vet work, and also had lessons with Tony Manca, while gaining further experience working in Kevin McNab’s yard where she met future husband Shane Davidson. Hooked on the idea of a career with horses, she was
had the privilege of training with some of the world’s best coaches, including dressage riders Hannes Baumgart, Ulla Salzgeber and Martina Hannover, show jumpers Gilbert Boeckmann, Joachim Heyer and Hans-Heinrich Engemann, and Olympic eventer Harry Klugmann. Shane also competed his homebred stallion Fairbanks Catargo at the World Young Jumping Horse Championships
accepted into the University of Queensland’s Veterinary
in Lanaken, Belgium – the first time Australia had been
Science program. While completing her degree, she
represented in this prestigious breeding showcase.
continued to compete and train horses at the Davidson family’s property Fairbanks Stud, where Shane taught her to break in and start young horses according to the German system.
Since returning to Australia, Shane has produced horses who have carried him to success in the competition arena, earning his inclusion in elite squads. He’s a professional show jumper at World Cup level, a Level
The couple later founded Davidson Equestrian, with
II Coach, a professional trainer, and a committed
a focus on producing horses from birth to top level
breeder of elite performance Warmbloods. He has also
competition. Additionally, they’re kept busy teaching
trained to Grand Prix level dressage and has competed
young riders, and training, campaigning and producing
successfully in that discipline.
horses for sale.
Along with wife Mattea, Shane now owns and operates
A professional rider in CCI4* level eventing and World
Davidson Equestrian, a professional competition stable and
Cup show jumping, a Level II Coach, and a Competitive
established performance horse stud, with notable success
Edge Coach, Mattea is also actively engaged as an
in breeding horses for dressage, jumping and eventing.
equine veterinarian. Focused on equine reproduction and
They also offer agistment and training facilities designed
dentistry, she handles all Davidson Equestrian’s stud work.
to provide the optimum environment for every horse.
A professional CCI4* rider, Mattea is an equine veterinarian, a Level II Coach and a Competitive Edge Coach (Image by Oz Shotz).
Shane is a professional show jumping rider at World Cup level, a Level II Coach, and a professional trainer (Image by Oz Shotz).
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