A man and boy riding on the back of a white horse.

Independence. Strength. Courage.

Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy operates at a ranch in north western Kansas City, Kansas, where we lease our riding horses & facility located on a 40-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 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. 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.

Independence. Strength. Courage.

Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy operates on a 40-acre education-focused horse ranch in Kansas City, KS where we lease our riding horses & facility. 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. All of this is possible with support from individuals and business donors.

Our goal is for our 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 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.

Meet Our Dedicated Horseback Riding Instructors!

Kim O'Connor | Lead Instructor

A woman standing next to a horse in the dirt.

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!”

A woman standing next to a horse in an arena.

Honoring Our Adaptive Riding Program With Passion

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!

Laurie, James, Steve, Christine, Katelyn, Kali and Stephanie

Feel free to share your comments, suggestions or questions with the board.

President Laurie Mosier

President
Laurie Mosier

Horses have always been an important influence in my life. After discovering Great Plains, I feel like I get to experience tiny miracles all the time. There is truly nothing better than to watch the riders develop and grow while laughing and smiling. At the barn, the outside world just melts away. There is no place quite like this.

A woman and two dogs sitting in the grass.

Vice President James Zeeb

A man with a mustache wearing a hat and glasses.

Vice President
James Zeeb

After retiring with 26 years as a career firefighter, I still feel a need to serve the community I live in. My wife Angie and I have lived in the Piper Community of Kansas City, Kansas for over 27 years. All 4 of our children graduated from Piper High School, so our sense of community is deeply rooted in the Piper area. After attending a fundraising event in 2021, I had the desire to do more for this organization. I look forward to serving the riders, families and staff of the Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy as a member of the board.

Treasurer Steve Swanson

A man wearing glasses and a hat standing in front of a tire.

Treasurer
Steve Swanson

Since retiring from a career in accounting, I have been focused on community service. As a volunteer for 2 1/2 years, I have seen the positive impact that Great Plains has made. I am committed to enhancing the experience for our riders and their families as a member of the board.

Secretary Christine Hamilton

I've volunteered with Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy since 2018 and love working with both the riders and horses. Originally from North Carolina, I grew up riding horses and am so grateful for the support from the community to ensure that riders have access to the beneficial services offered by GPARA. I currently work at the University of Saint Mary and live in Overland Park, KS with my husband and cat, Kramer.

A woman with glasses smiling for the camera.

Member Katelyn Kok

Member
Katelyn Kok

Katelyn is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, L Grad with Distinction and FEI rider/coach. She has worked with and trained under some of the USA’s most respected trainers including Pam Goodrich and Lendon Gray as well as Europe's most respected including Johann Hinnemann. She has spent several years in Germany riding and learning the art of Dressage from a Master Trainer. She has kept the pursuit of education close to her heart and knows to be successful in this sport you must continuously seek knowledge and be a lifelong student as well as a kind and attentive caregiver of horses.

Katelyn has many successes under her belt already; among several USDF Regional Championships, she was the anchor rider in 2011 for Region 8 at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and helped her team win the bronze medal and also was fifth individual. In 2013 she returned to the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and the Festival of Champions. Katelyn ended that year as one of the top 12 Young Riders in the country with a horse she brought to Prix Saint George herself under the tutelage of Pam Goodrich and Lendon Grey. In recent years Katelyn has earned her USDF Gold Medal, L Grad with Distinction, competed several horses at the US Dressage Finals as well as the Markel Young Horse Dressage Championships and helped her students achieve many goals in their riding!

In Germany Katelyn was the second rider for a successful international Grand Prix Rider and mentored under a Master Bereiter. She rode everything from stallions to Grand Prix horses to youngsters just getting their start in Dressage. She gained valuable experience by training sales projects and working with misbehaving horses. The experience she gained in Europe riding high quality horses and through learning Germany’s training system gives Katelyn an advantage and a unique approach in training her clients and horses in the USA.

Member Kali Hiatt

A woman with long hair and a green shirt.

Member
Kali Hiatt

Growing up the daughter of a riding instructor, I have witnessed and experienced the physical and psychological benefits of horseback riding. Riding afforded me the opportunity to compete at the D1 level in college & land my first job after graduation with a therapeutic riding program as a volunteer coordinator. I ultimately followed my passion for serving others & became a nurse. My love for equestrian sports & the benefits for all people made it an easy decision to join GPARA. I am excited to be a part of this community & look forward to watching the students grow & develop in their abilities over time. My free time is spent with my husband (Kyler), two dogs (Patty & Rosie), & riding my horse (Summit).

Member Stephanie Cashion

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.