Equine assisted services connect veterans with horses to provide a healthy recreational service through riding and by addressing mental health concerns with a mental health therapist

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration awarded a $169,632 Project Grant to Bravehearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center on August 3, 2021 under the VA Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (CFDA 64.034) federal grant program.

Bravehearts will utilize the funding to implement an equine assisted services program that connects veterans with horses to provide a healthy recreational service through riding and address mental health concerns. A mental health therapist will be involved to provide counseling and therapy. The goal of the program is to benefit veterans' mental and physical health through adaptive sports activities involving horses, consistent with the purpose of the CFDA 64.034 grant program. The place of performance will be in Illinois.