Independence. Strength. Courage.
Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy operates at Due West Ranch, where we lease our riding horses & facility located on a 40-acre education-focused horse ranch in Kansas City, KS. Great Plains is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International member center and 501c3 nonprofit organization providing adaptive horseback riding programs to children and adults with various disabilities. We currently provide approximately 25-30 lessons a week. Each lesson requires an instructor, 1-3 trained volunteers, handicap accessible facilities and very special horses from the Due West herd. All of this is possible with support from individuals and business donors.
Our goal is for Great Plains riders to become as independent as they can be. While this looks different for each individual, it takes the same patience, persistence, and love of riding. Many of our riders graduate from our therapeutic program and move on to the Due West conventional program, something that isn’t possible at other centers.
Independence. Strength. Courage.
Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy operates at Due West Ranch, we lease our riding horses & facility located on a 40-acre education-focused horse ranch in Kansas City, KS. Great Plains is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International member center and 501c3 nonprofit organization providing adaptive horseback riding programs to children and adults with various disabilities. We currently provide approximately 25-30 lessons a week. Each lesson requires an instructor, 1-3 trained volunteers, handicap accessible facilities and very special horses from the Due West herd. All of this is possible with support from individuals and business donors.
Our goal is for ARA riders to become as independent as they can be. While this looks different for each individual, it takes the same patience, persistence, and love of riding. Many of our riders graduate from our therapeutic program and move on to Due West conventional program, something that isn’t possible at other centers.
Our Journey
Founded in 2013 and as the first program of its kind in Wyandotte County, Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy
(formerly Due West TRC) provides adaptive riding services to children and adults with disabilities and other adaptive needs.
Our program forms a connection between horse and rider that improves our clients' overall well-being.
Great Plains programming is designed to serve individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Down syndrome, transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, limited mobility, emotional disorders, and vision and hearing impairments.
Where Are We Located
Great Plains serves individuals in Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Johnson, and Douglas counties in Kansas, as well as the greater Kansas City, Missouri region. We offer year-round riding at our PATH member center.
Mary Sharp-Basler | Founder
After 30 years of teaching and training, Mary's business, Sharp Performance Horses, has become a respected and well-established program. Mary travels throughout the Midwest judging 4-H and open competitions. She also helped design the Midnight Farms therapeutic program in Eudora, Kansas, but she never forgot her dream of starting a therapeutic riding center of her own.
Mary has 21 years of experience as a teacher and special educator in the Olathe school district. She used those years of experience as a teacher and trainer to design and start a therapeutic program in Wyandotte county.
I have the best job in the world-I get to work with these amazing horses and beautiful riders. I want to reduce numbers on other centers' waiting lists. I want to create a safe, fun program for riders with special needs. I want to serve this part of the state. I want families and siblings of our riders to enjoy their time in the country. I want to share this with everyone!
