Gitte Donvig | About Gitte Donvig |
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 Gitte Donvig Gitte grew up at Statene Park in Macedon and as a young girl, quite liked the idea of riding but mother said, if you want to ride, you also have to do the work involved in keeping a pony. This had an impact on the young Gitte’s enthusiasm and so she stuck with Barbie dolls and other things that young girls do. Gitte said, “Looking back, mum was right, you have to show a keen interest and be prepared to ‘work’ to have a horse! I got very keen when I was at secondary school (Braemar College at Woodend) as many of my classmates were horsey. Then I went to boarding school and it was a case of “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and I could hardly wait for weekends and holidays when I could ride.  Gitte With Oktavia I was determined to be independent and so I worked at Catherine Shelley’s Melton Equestrian Academy This teaching experience gave me a great feeling of achievement and played a significant part in the way I have structured my future.” Gitte said. to pay for my habit. “Catherine Shelley had just purchased the beautifully marked warmblood mare Oktavia from Berni Saunders and unfortunately Catherine broke her leg the day she picked the horse up, so I got the gig of riding Oktavia for the next three months. Oktavia gave me a feel for the influence of good riding … and from there I was hooked.!” “I worked hard and saved with the idea of buying my own horse and with mum's help we were able to buy Fernandez. I had a great time with him, learned a lot and had some rewarding successes.” In 2001 Gitte won the Aachen Challenge for Young Rider’s (at the Victorian Dressage Festival) and the prize was a trip to Germany to attend the Aachen Show. She stayed on in Germany for about a year to gain some work experience from Ulf Möller and PSI (Performance Horse International) Gitte says, “This was a fantastic experience and I was able to see the way a professional and highly successful stable was run and in particular how they prepared the young horses for sale or their first competition.  Gitte and Fernandez I won a scholarship to attend Marcus Oldham College near Geelong. This formalization of my equine studies also took in some marketing and computer work and this has been a huge bonus as I move forward in my career Gitte added, “I was fortunate that mum gave me the ride on her fantastic little horse Mosaic, he gave me the best riding lessons as he knew it all. There is nothing like a trained schoolmaster to help a rider get the feel and the timing – Robbie was a great schoolmaster!”  Gitte and Don Amani In 2004 Gitte married Lee Priest and they share lots of interests outside the horse world. Lee is a respected Chef and they currently own two restaurants. Gitte says, I am the financial controller and marketing manager for the restaurants – this leaves Lee to do what he does well and concentrate on the food and customer service. We recently opened the Base Eatery on the Waterfront in Geelong. This has been a very busy project and we are both pleased at the way people have supported this venture. Mietta was born on the 17th December, 2006 and she is a joy. She is an easy going child, and Lee is a fantastic dad – we are a very happy family, Gitte added. “Statene Park have another young stallion about to step out – a colt by Jazz. Gitte says, he is exceptional and the best moving horse I have ever seen. I get “goosebumps” when I see him on the lunge – he will be a very good prospect for Young Horses classes and I am pleased that I will be riding him.” enthused Gitte.  Gitte and Reidel “I have a couple of lovely horses in my team at the moment – Reidel a pretty flashy mare, her dam is by Olympic Ferro who was ridden by Coby van Balen at the Sydney Olympics and Reidel is by Rituel. I have also got the ride on mum’s Grand Prix horse Port Said. We are just starting together and I am learning lots from him. I ride a few of my students horses and from all of my equine partners I learn something that helps me to improve and helps me to be a better instructor. I am very fortunate to have many supportive people around me and know that the balance of horses, teaching, married life and motherhood would not be possible without a very supportive family and I acknowledge my good fortune to have wonderful people around me”  Gitte riding Shiraz Black the 2009 Champion of Champions DWTS |