Mitchell Reno, who served two tours in Afganistan, says the mustangs at BraveHearts have changed his life. | Photo: Courtesy BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center

This year the Veterans Administration awarded more than $1 million in grant funding to equine-assisted therapy (EAAT) and sports programs that help veterans cope with mental and physical service-related issues. A mental health specialist believes the grants recognize why horses are so well suited be centerpieces of these programs in the first place.

A total of $ 1 million of the Adaptive Sports Grant for fiscal 2018 was specifically designated and awarded for equine therapy for mental health issues, said Michael F Welch, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of National Sports’ Paralympic program specialist. Additional equine programs that fell under the general adaptive sports category also received funding. 

“So more than $1.1 million actually went to equine programs,” Welch said