Race horse training. Methods of training, managing, handling, healing, rehabilitating, feeding and caretaking of Thoroughbred Race Horses by Mary D. Midkiff

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Mary Midkiff’s
Race and Pre-Training Thoroughbred Race Horses

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Through my lifelong experience with horses I have come to
understand how crucial it is to train horses within their world of
understanding; listening and observing everything they are
communicating to you as they develop.

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We relate best to horses through what is natural to them. We are
always learning about their diet, how they relate to one another,
how they react as prey animals and how they move.

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Approach to Managing and Training Horses
1. Evaluation
 Overall health
 Emotional and mental health
 Personality and Life Force
 Willingness to participate with me
2. Program
 Internal Health and Nutrition
 Balancing the Nervous System
 Energy and Body Work
 Ground Work
 Games and Questions
 Mounted Work

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Approach to Managing and Training Horses
When I meet a horse I take an overall impression.
 Smell the breath
 Look in the eyes
 Notice the texture of the skin and hair
 Feel the coat and body temperature
 Check out quality of feet
 Note the weight distribution
 Watch him or her move

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Approach to Managing and Training Horses
As I evaluate the horse I gather information on what the horse needs and how
I will progress from here.

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Approach to Managing and Training Horses
The program begins with the horse’s internal health.
1. Nutrition
Health of the Intestinal Tract

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1. Nutrition - foundation for all steps in the program
Horse’s health, comfort, ability to think, coordinate and learn start in the
intestinal tract.
Feed
 Select and feed organic grain when possible
 Use herbal or natural supplements
 Avoid toxins such as sugars, preservatives, pesticides and herbicides
 Avoid stored feeds as they may have spoiled
 Have hay analyzed for nutrition
 Provide natural mineral salt rocks free choice

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2. Balancing the Nervous System
The nervous system must fully function in order for the horse to progress in his or her
education.
Steps
 Aromatherapy with Midkiff’s The InBalance Horse essential oil blend
 Release endorphins through the mouth
 Massage Jaw and TMJ areas
 Open up jaw bones and passage between
 Oppositional energy of head and atlas joint
 Massage around poll and ears
 Acupressure in upper neck
 Stretch nuchal ligament

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3. Energy and Body Work
Finding and relieving excess and deficient energy throughout the horse will
balance his ability to fully use his mind and body.
Steps
 Hands on massage
 Laser therapy
 Magnet therapy
 Dowsing
 Myo-fascial release
 Stretches

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4. Ground Work
Everything you do with a horse on the ground contributes to his acceptance of
work in the saddle.
Steps
 Tying
 Ropes around the body
 Forward movement
 Sideways movement
 Backward movement
 Driving with lines
 Ability to distinguish each foot

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Ground Work Steps and Training
 Round pen with lines and free
 Connected work
 Wash stall
 Trailer
 Gates
 Ground poles and obstacles

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Acceptance of human interaction in every step
of the program.

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Building Trust

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Leading and partnering with the young horse.

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The reward is always the leader’s acceptance. Every step begins
and ends with the leader’s acceptance.

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Each introduction including bridle and bit, saddle, rider, racetrack, starting gate and
beyond is based on the young horse’s acceptance and trust of the leader.

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5. Games and Questions –
Development of mind/body connection

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6. Starting Under Saddle Does Not Have to Be Stressful

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Happy youngsters love to show you what they
can do and display their pride.
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From the stall, shedrow, arenas to the training
track. Safety, comfort, happiness and pride
continue to show.
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25. Midkiff Horse Training
Racing your horses, or educating yearlings out of
the field or out of the sales to young horses that
are breezing and racetrack ready, we would be
honored to train your horses. We know how
important they are to you and only want to see
them flourish and shine as athletes!
Come to High Pointe Training Center in
LaGrange, KY.
Mary D. Midkiff 502-552-1195 or
mary@midkiffhorsetraining.com 25

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Midkiff trainee
Playrockforme on
High Pointe
Training Center
Main Track

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Midkiff trainee Top Tier Lass jogs on High Pointe Training Center’s
uphill allweather track.

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Limestone Stable’s yearling filly “In A Flury” exercises in the round pen with curcingle
at High Pointe Training Center.

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Your horses are in good hands.

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Mary Midkiff
Midkiff Horse Training
PO Box 1209
Prospect, KY 40059
mary@midkiffhorsetraining.com
www.midkiffhorsetraining.com
502-552-1195