Independence. Strength. Courage.
Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy operates at a ranch in Bonner Springs, Kansas, where we lease our riding horses & facility located on a 20-acre education-focused horse ranch. 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 special abilities. We currently provide approximately 25 to 30 lessons a week. Each lesson requires an instructor, 1-3 trained volunteers, handicap accessible facilities and very special horses. 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.
Our Journey
Founded in 2013 and as the first program of its kind in Wyandotte County, Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy provides adaptive riding services to children and adults with special abilities 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 needs, 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.
Our Instructors & Staff
Kim fell in love with horses in college at the University of Oklahoma. She worked on a small horse farm in exchange for riding lessons. After graduating in 1996, her next involvement with horses was at Heartland Adaptive Riding Center as a volunteer. She volunteered for a few years, and then that was put on hold to work on her business.
In March of 2021, she started volunteering at Great Plains and, that June, became an instructor. Kim owns an Independent Insurance Agency, but her love and passion these days are with the horses and the riders!
In her spare time, Kim spoils her four-legged kid, Sam!
“I love to see the smiles on our riders faces when they do something for the first time. I love to help them feel free while in the saddle!”
Caitlyn has always loved horses and the unique bond you can have with them, whether or not you ride. She started volunteering at another adaptive riding facility (JAKES Club) with her family when she was 8 years old while her older brother was a rider in the program. Caitlyn was able to watch her brother gain confidence, focus, and a new level of independence as a direct result of his horseback riding therapy.
As life went on and she grew up, she filled her time with other activities and obtained a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2019. She now works full time as a manager at an engineering firm but felt the strong desire to get back into volunteering.
Caitlyn started volunteering at Great Plains ARA in June of 2020 and became an instructor in November of 2021 after Kim (Lead Instructor) suggested she would be a good fit for the role.
“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with our riders and help them grow in confidence and ability. I love to see them master new skills – physically, mentally, and emotionally!”
Growing up in Germany, Martina first learned about her love for all things horses through her mom, who would bring her along for her weekly riding lessons when she was still in kindergarten. Those visits turned into vaulting classes and eventually at age 10 into regular English riding lessons.
In 1996/97 Martina spent a year as an exchange student in Poulsbo, WA, where she met her husband Scott. In 2003 she bought her very first own horse “Cairo” and they settled down on a hobby farm near Gig Harbor, WA. After welcoming their daughter Brianna in 2007 they added a saint of a pony named “Skylar” to the family as well. Years of running a little farm and caring for her horses 24/7 have taught her valuable skills in handling a wide variety of challenges when it comes to horse management. (Never a dull moment, to say the least!) In the saddle Martina has shown multiple different horses in the dressage ring, both in Germany and the US, up to second level as recently as 2021/22.
In her spare time Martina enjoys agility and trick training with her rescue dog “Siri”, reading and puzzles. She’s hoping to add a horse to that list hopefully sooner than later.
Horses have always been an important part of my life, but discovering Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy gave that passion an even deeper purpose. Every day, I have the privilege of witnessing what can only be described as tiny miracles—seeing our riders gain confidence, overcome challenges, and celebrate achievements with smiles, laughter, and unwavering determination.
The barn is a place where the outside world fades away. It’s a place of acceptance, hope, and joy, where every rider is encouraged to reach their fullest potential and every success, no matter how big or small, is celebrated. Watching the incredible bond between our riders, horses instructors and volunteers is a constant reminder of the life-changing impact these animals have.
There is truly no place quite like Great Plains, and I am honored to be part of a community that changes lives one ride at a time.
Board of Directors
We are pleased to introduce ourselves as the Board of Directors for the Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy. We are committed to honoring this program and helping Great Plains thrive.
Thank you for believing and investing your time and energy into this program. We are looking forward to serving you all for this great cause. If you see us around the barn, please feel free to say hi, ask questions, and share any concerns and comments you have. Our goal is to make the Great Plains the best program it can be to serve our amazing community!
President
Anthony Kratke
Anthony started his GPARA volunteering journey in February 2024. He grew up as a country boy in Northeast Nebraska where some of his earliest memories revolve around horses and enjoying the outdoors. Anthony discovered at an early age that volunteering and community involvement are at his core and has carried on through the years. Upon discovering Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy, he knew he wanted to be part of this organization.
“I am consistently impressed with the folks that I meet in the barn. I have great respect for the fellow volunteers and the riders inspire me time and again. As a member of the board, I will help ensure that the barn remains a safe and welcome place for all as we reach our goals.”
Vice President
Jack Kobe
Jack Kobe is a native of Kansas City, KS. He graduated from Bishop Ward High School
and is an alumnus of Kansas State University. He is married to his wife, Sara, and
together they have two boys – Jackson and Logan, and two German Shorthaired
Pointers, Brownie and Nilla. In 2023 Jack and Sara returned to Kansas and currently
reside in Leavenworth.
Jack has worked in a variety of industries: trucking and logistics, agriculture, hog
production and egg production. For the past 5 years he has been in HVAC and is
currently a Project Manager at P1 Group in Lenexa, KS.
Jack has a passion for volunteering. He was a volunteer football coach for over 10
years, coaching 5-6 grade football while living in Iowa. He served on the church council
for Bethany Lutheran Church, and led the cooking for their annual pork loin dinner. He
was selected to be one of Santa Claus’s angels and has been involved with that for over
35 years.
In Jack’s spare time, he enjoys watching sports of all kinds, working on projects around
the house, and spending time with friends and family. He is looking forward to serving
on the board of Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy.
Treasurer/Secretary
Camille Fittell
I started volunteering with GPARA in February 2024 and was hooked from the beginning. I have always been amazed by the grace and sensitivity of horses despite only being around them a handful of times growing up. I believe community is an important component of our happiness and our purpose on Earth and that community should adapt to the needs of its residents in lieu of trying to fit everyone into boxes. Seeing the compassion, energy, and grit behind the GPARA program has inspired me to be more involved. I seek to add energy and my own skill set to ensure our community continues to be served in a way that suits each individual and that our barn continues to be a place where uniqueness is welcomed and celebrated.