About the Author Mary D. Midkiff is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, and a University of Kentucky graduate in advertising and communication. Her lifelong involvement as a participant and a business professional in the horse industry has been diverse. In 1976, she received her Horsemaster's certification and has trained and instructed throughout the Northeast ever since. From 1986 to 1991, she served as the American Horse Council's Executive Secretary of Showing, State Horse Councils, and the Animal Welfare Task Force. In 1991, she founded Equestrian Resources (EQR), an Alexandria, Virginia-based equestrian marketing firm specializing in the promotion of show, sport, and recreational horse activities. She is also the founder of Women & Horses?(TM), a fitness and performance program devoted to practical advice and product information for the female equestrian.