$11M Texas Horse Park trots rehab to veterans, children REC

DALLAS – Texas Horse Park in southern Dallas is ready to trot forward. City Council approved a $10.9 million construction contract for the facility located along Loop 12 near the Trinity River Audubon Center and the proposed Trinity Forest Golf Course.

With the approval, Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship, a provider of equine-assisted therapy and rehabilitation for children and adults with disabilities, will open its second location.

In addition to providing traditional equine therapy to serve more Dallas County children, the new Texas Horse Park will focus on veteran’s health with the Equest’s Hooves for Heroes Veteran’s program.

According to Susannah Denney, Equest Veteran’s Coordinator, "There are over 450,000 veterans in North Texas, many of whom struggle with the transition to civilian life". The new Texas Horse Park facility, with its proximity to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, makes it the ideal location to dedicate more services supporting America’s heroes.

The Hillcrest Foundation is chipping in $200,000 toward the project.

The project includes an activity center, two indoor and two outdoor arenas, three horse barns, a trailhead pavilion, compost building, equipment and hay storage, administration building, landscaping, utilities and other infrastructure. Work is scheduled to start in July and take nearly a year.