Mary D. Midkiff

Mary D. Midkiff of Louisville, KY, award-winning author and international clinician, trainer and Certified Horsemaster who works with all breeds and disciplines, will join equine industry leaders in presenting programs at Horsemen’s Council of Illinois’ Chicagoland Equestrian Lifestyle Expo & Holiday Market. 

Sponsored by Purina Mills, Expo will be November 21-22 indoors at the new Lake County Fairgrounds’ Expo Center in Grayslake (Chicago), IL. 

The Expo Center can accommodate booths and seminar areas but cannot accommodate horses, hence Expo’s strong focus on education and “All Things Equestrian” shopping. 

Midkiff is known as a pioneer in the horse industry for her focus on the female equestrian connection with horses and as the creator and founder of the Women & HorsesÔ fitness and performance program. Her book “She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman’s Soul,” published by Random House, has been translated into five languages and is available worldwide. She has been selected as a presenter and clinician for the FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. 

Among those joining Midkiff will be Richard Shrake of Sunriver, OR and Dr. Randel Raub, PhD, head of equine research at Purina Mills’ 1,100-acre 75-horse research farm. 

Shrake is a master educator, trainer and world-class horse show judge. He is the originator of the Resistance Free Riding and Training methods. He is an approved horse show judge for seven breeds and has judged more than 16 world and national championship shows. 

Dr. Raub is Director of Equine Business Development and Technical Service for Purina Mills. He received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Illinois, and his Doctorate from the University of Kentucky where he focused on the effects of nutrition and exercise on growth physiology. Before joining Purina, he was the horse teaching and research specialist at Kansas State University for 12 years. He and his family are active in the breeding and training of ranch and western performance horses. 

In addition to giving attendees the opportunity to meet with experts, the expo will present “all things equestrian,” for current horse owners and the one in three households wanting to own or ride a horse in the future, according to Horse Industry Alliance research.  

Program details for all topics, presenters and times will be available at the Expo website www.HorsemensCouncil.org. 

“Whether you’re looking for feed, tack, togs, a barn to house them – or just a good time learning more about horses and every aspect of the equestrian lifestyle – you’ll find it at Equestrian Lifestyle Expo,” said Joy Meierhans, manager. 

“There will be great shopping across the 65,000-square-foot Expo Center floor, with learning opportunities and fun activities in dedicated seminar and game areas,” Meierhans said. “This is ‘not your father’s’ horse fair; we’re including programming you just won’t find elsewhere,” she said. 

Vendors will offer English and Western tack, clothing for all breeds and disciplines; feed, supplements, health care products; facilities, equipment and stable supplies (barns, stalls, fencing, generators, waterers), trailers and vehicles. 

Holiday gift items will include jewelry, paintings, prints, sculpture, books, videos, stationery, home/barn/lounge accessories – even chocolates in the shape of horse heads. 

Presentations will be given on a wide range of equestrian themes, including “Interior Decorating for the Horse Lover in Today’s Economy” by Susan Behringer of Susan B. Designs, and “So You Want to be a Vet?” by Marcia Thibeault, DVM, author of “I Make House Calls.” She will share experiences from her decades of practice, either affirming the listener’s desire to pursue a career or dissuade them with equal emphasis. 

Part of Expo’s programming format will be roundtables – literally – where attendees can spend 15 minutes at a table with an expert before moving on to the next table, topic and expert. Think of it as speed dating with the pros. 

The new Lake County Fairgrounds, north of Chicago in Grayslake, IL, is west of I-94 and south of Gurnee Mills and Six Flags Great America. It is at the intersection of Peterson and Midlothian Roads, located ½ mile west of US 45 and ½ mile east of IL 83. 

One-day tickets are $8; two-day $14. They may be purchased on the web site with a credit card or at the door (cash only). 

For information on Expo visit www.HorsemensCouncil.org or call toll free 1-866-384-9161. For information on exhibiting, contact Joy Meierhans at (630) 557-2575 or JM@TheMeierhans.com. 
For attendees who wish to extend their weekend, Chicagoland has lots to see and do. Expo also has arranged excellent rates at host hotels in the area. 

Horsemen’s Council of Illinois, voice of the horse industry in Illinois, is affiliated with the American Horse Council and is the statewide association of equine organizations and individuals working to provide centralized leadership for Illinois’ 77,000 horse owners, 213,000 horses and its $3.8 billion industry, which provides full-time employment for more than 15,000 people.

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