U.S. House committee passes bill to increase equine therapy program funding for veterans

The U.S. House of Representative Appropriations Committee on Thursday advanced a bill that includes language increasing the grant money available for equine therapy programs for veterans from $1.5 million to $5 million a year, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

The language was included in the 2025 budget bill funding military construction, veterans’ affairs, and related agencies. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 34 to 25, largely on party lines due to language prohibiting the use of funds for several purposes supported by Democrats related to abortion, DEI programs, and other hot-button issues.

The bill would still need to pass the full House and Senate for the funding increase to become law. The language increasing funding for equine-therapy grants is not expected to be a controversial provision in the bill.

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Under the language, the grant money would be available to aftercare organizations “to plan, develop, manage, and implement equine therapy programs for veterans and armed forces members with disabilities.” A number of Thoroughbred aftercare organizations currently run equine-therapy programs.

To be eligible for the grants, aftercare organizations would need to submit detailed applications under the VA’s existing “Adaptive Sports Grant Program,” the same procedure as in previous years.

“Funding initiatives to help Thoroughbreds find a second career is a top priority for the NTRA, and to be able to do that while aiding veterans is a big victory,” said Tom Rooney, the president of the NTRA, who is an Army veteran. “This grant will fund equine therapy programs so our retired racehorses can benefit our nation’s veterans. Those of us who have been blessed to spend time with Thoroughbreds know how much they do for humans.”

The increase in grant funding was submitted by Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky who is active in advancing issues related to the Thoroughbred industry.

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