Things to Do in Independence

Hoofbeats resound across cropped-turf grounds at Shelby Trails Park Equine Education Center. Here, 25-year equestrian Corinne Bradley teaches dressage and jumping techniques to riders of every stripe, from beginner to advanced to honorary centaur. She works with all ages but especially enjoys teaching young people, perhaps because she was only a child herself when she mounted her first horse. By the time she got to high school, she was steering her steeds through full-on equestrian events. Today, Bradley manages an equine paradise. Indoor riding areas introduce barn stormers to their mounts in a controlled environment, and winding trails encourage human and beast to bond while taking in the scenic countryside.

A student of the Parelli way of riding, Bradley’s style emphasizes the horse-rider relationship. Through the Parelli philosophy, students learn to communicate effectively with equines, earning the horses’ trust by eating salt licks and respecting how they react to their natural environment.

The Phoenix Equestrian Centre's owner and lifelong horse expert Linda Gonzalez draws on her professional racehorse-training experience while teaching riding lessons and caring for her fleet of steeds. Having trained racehorses that have breached the upper echelons of the nation's Experimental Handicap top 200 and gone on to race before the queen of England, Linda has an expert eye for tending to the needs and birthday wishes of each horse. Set on 19 acres, her horse boarding and training facility features 60'x60' indoor and 100'x200' outdoor riding arenas, where ponies are free to strut and students take their first tentative gallops atop well-trained mounts. Aside from private lessons and day camps, Linda also breaks and trains unruly horses, leases trustworthy steeds, and hosts a variety of informational seminars about the future possibilities of a centaur composite race.

Opened in 1968 as a nine-hole course, Cardinal Hills added a back nine in 1996 to form a 5,614-yard excursion that challenges oncomers with undulating greens and tree-lined fairways. Though relatively short in overall length, the Harold England design presents its fair share of difficulties, forcing players to choose their clubs wisely and to carefully discern which flagsticks are actually remnants of failed moon landings.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Total length of 5,614 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70 from the back tees
• Course slope of 113 from the back tees

Mud oozes through fingers, toes, and other places mud should never ooze through during Mudathlon, a challenge that puts 3 miles and more than 40 obstacles between racers and the finish line. With multiple stops across the country, Mudathlon transforms its destinations into messy, muck-riddled swamplands, where participants ascend walls, zip down slides, and always end up in the same place—back in the mud. Course marshals stationed along each route keep feet moving in the right direction, and at the finish line, the top three male and female competitors receive Top Mudder awards for finishing fastest while ingesting the government’s daily recommended serving of mud. After the race, individuals and teams gather to celebrate at a country-themed party, which continues the festivities with live music, costume contests, and an abundance of food and beer.