Kim O’Connor | Lead Instructor

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 two four-legged kids Charlie and 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 Hetzel | Instructor

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 could be a good fit for the role.

Caitlyn is currently engaged (YAY!) and planning the wedding in her spare time while also volunteering at a local animal shelter and helping with the youth group at her church.

“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!”

Martina Frohning | Instructor

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.

Her husband’s work brought them to Kansas City, specifically Overland Park, in the summer of 2022. Now retired from Costco, where she worked for 22 years, she attended the July 2022 volunteer training at Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy and never looked back. “This program has my whole heart! I strongly believe in the powerful bond between humans and horses and the positive effect a relationship like such can be on one’s life.”

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.