Sports in Manhattan

Signature service: Horseback Riding Lessons Established: 2014 Reservations/Appointments: Required Staff Size: 2?10 people Average Duration of Services: 1?2 hours Pro Tip: Wear long pants, such as jeans, and closed-toe shoes, such as a tennis shoe or hiking boot. Q&A with Teri, Owner, Trainer, and Instructor What is one of your signature services? How is it performed? Horseback-riding lessons are the foundation of our business. We provide one-on-one instruction in all areas of riding, from beginner basics to the show ring. Utilizing a goal-driven method, which produces progression of skill, our lessons focus on fun, safety, and education. Do you or your staff have any special certifications or degrees? I, the owner and trainer, have a BS in equestrian business management from Stephens College. I am also CPR? and First Aid?certified. What aspect of your job, or the services you offer, most often surprises people? You do not need any prior experience to ride, nor do you need to be young. Anyone of any age can start riding.

Along their lush, 40-acre parcel of land, Brad and Mary Ann Funk bring a lifelong dream to fruition every day. The Funks transformed their property into a school—a place where visitors of all ages and experience levels can learn about the couple's shared passion: horses. In the warmer months, students of Ashwood Farms can be seen trotting, cantering, and conquering fences at the outdoor arena, equipped with all-weather footing. Year-round, the farm and stables are home to casual equestrians and competitive riders alike, a handful of whom compete across the country at AA Hunter/Jumper horse shows. Students can enroll in individual classes, or join the equestrian club for a unique, well-rounded experience that includes lessons and tips for a flawless ponytail. Ashwood also provides boarding services for those already equipped with ponies, and school horses for those who wish to use them during lessons and practice rides.

At any of the 15 Great Life Golf and Fitness locations, guests are encouraged to invent their own triathlon of gusto, switching from swimming in the pool to getting a total body workout to playing a round of golf. Great Life has facilities scattered throughout Kansas and Missouri, including golf courses such as the National Audubon Society–certified River Oaks and the links at The Oaks, which were designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in the 1920s. Golfers looking for quick rounds can drop by the nine-hole courses at Maple Creek, Abilene, and CedarBrook. Gyms such as the 14,000-square-foot fitness center at Berkshire allow members or guests to pump iron or run on treadmills when they aren’t helping their golf balls safely reach the greens by paying golf carts to drink all of the water hazards dry. Although amenities vary at each club, all of Great Life Golf and Fitness’s venues boast a pro shop, and the courses at Berkshire and Prairie View maintain driving ranges where golfers can make golf balls practice flying without their parachutes.

Practicality is the name of the game at ATA Martial Arts. For kids and teens, they have bully prevention, child safety, and leadership classes, as well as karate lessons. For adults, they teach self-defense through tae kwon do while fostering fitness, positive attitudes, and confidence.