House Approves $5 Million for Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans

Thanks to TheHorse.com for this exciting news from June 8, 2018.

On June 8 the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 5895, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2018, which that included an amendment to increase funding for the Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sports Grant Program for equine-assisted therapy.

The amendment, introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) increases funding by $5 million for fiscal year 2019.

The funding will enable an expansion of services that use equine-assisted therapy in conjunction with mental health care treatment and services to veterans.

“We applaud Congressman Barr for his continued commitment to securing resources that will help our heroic American veterans and equines,” said Marty Irby, senior adviser at the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to see this convergence of good news and good programs to benefit both veterans and horses.”