The freedom rein program: equine therapy for veterans with mental health disabilities. (programming for veterans)

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Under Secretary for Health awarded $189,336 to Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, Inc. on September 30, 2025, under the VA Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces program (CFDA 64.034). This one-year project grant, with a completion date of September 30, 2026, funds the Freedom Rein Program, an equine therapy initiative designed to address mental health disabilities among veterans. The grant supports instruction, participation, and therapeutic activities utilizing equine-assisted therapy tailored to veterans' specific mental health needs, alongside program coordination, athlete assessment, equipment provision, and program evaluation activities necessary for effective implementation and operation.

Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization, has demonstrated sustained capacity to deliver adaptive sports programming for disabled veterans, having received five consecutive federal grants totaling approximately $982,121 since August 2021. The organization operates as a prime federal grant recipient with direct responsibility for all program implementation and veteran service delivery, with no identified subcontracting partners. This award represents the Department of Veterans Affairs' continued confidence in the organization's ability to develop and manage comprehensive adaptive programming specifically addressing the mental health and recreational needs of the veteran population.