News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Manna’s Hana Riding Center has almost reached full capacity with students.
Bobbie Abell is the owner of the facility that provides recreational riding for individuals with special needs.
“Our top capacity right now is 32 and we were at 27,” Abell said. “Now we are actively looking for a place so we can expand and move Manna’s Hana. It’s an exciting place to be.”
Abell said the expansion would allow Manna’s Hana to get more horses and have a greater impact on the community.
The riding center had a big 2018 season with the completion of a new covered arena and more than 100 people who served over 3,000 volunteer hours.
“We had 25 members of the Tennessee Tech women’s soccer team that came and hauled about 4 ton of gravel and painted all our ground poles,” Abell said. “40 people came from Collegeside Church of Christ for our work day and we were able to clean all our tack and move about 8 ton of gravel.”
In addition, Manna’s Hana had 62 volunteers working with 27 riders.
Manna’s Hana plans to put some finishing touches on the new covered arena in 2019.
Abell said this year’s Stars and Stirrups Horse Show raised enough funds to purchase end panels for the arena.
“We found that rain was coming in with the way we positioned it so we weren’t able to use it like we wanted to,” Abell said. “Next year, we will be able to use it more so I’m really excited about that.”
Manna’s Hana will begin installing the new panels in March.
