Collin County Sheriff's Office Equine Therapy Program (VALOR)

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: https://www.collincountytx.gov/sheriff/Press-Release?Source=Press%20Releases&dirID=73&Title=Collin%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Equine%20Therapy%20Program%20(VALOR) via the CCSO

We recently celebrated a significant milestone with the official launch of the VALOR/Collin County Sheriff’s Office Equine Therapy Program, an initiative designed to support Justice-Involved Veterans in the Veterans Accessing Lifelong Opportunities for Rehabilitation (VALOR) program. 

The VALOR Program was founded in 2018 by Judge John Roach in Collin County, the VALOR Program is an innovative in-patient, lockdown rehabilitation facility dedicated to helping justice-involved veterans from across Texas. Tailored to the unique challenges veterans face, VALOR provides a safe and structured space for participants to focus on overcoming substance abuse, trauma, and mental health struggles. The program offers not only intensive mental health and substance abuse treatment but also a robust work program designed to promote personal growth and stability.

Recognizing the potential to enhance further its already impactful approach, VALOR’s stakeholders, Judge John Roach and Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner sought to take the program to new heights by introducing an equine therapy program to be located on the grounds of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff Skinner is leading the charge to bring a groundbreaking equine therapy program to VALOR—making it the first of its kind in the United States. This addition brings a powerful new dimension to the program, offering veterans an innovative path to healing and recovery.

Throughout the week, these inmates had the opportunity to work directly with renowned cowboy and master horseman Pat Puckett with The Disciplined Ride, learning horsemanship skills while developing trust, emotional resilience, and key coping strategies. This program offers them a unique path toward recovery, allowing them to become fair leaders and reconnect with themselves and others.

We also took a moment to recognize Collin County’s own Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and NCHA Hall of Fame member Punk Carter for his enduring support of both the Sheriff’s Office and this equine therapy program. His contributions have been instrumental in building the program and making the launch a success.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Dr. Mark Quinn, Caleb Quinn, David Costello, and their team at the WES Arena for allowing us to use their magnificent facilities and for being such wonderful hosts. Their generosity throughout the week provided the perfect setting for this transformative program.

We are also extremely grateful to Collin County Commissioners Cheryl Williams, Susan Fletcher, and Darrell Hale for their unyielding support in championing this program. We also want to thank Texas State Senator Angela Paxton and Congressman Keith Self for their incredible support of the program and for participating in the luncheon and formal kickoff of this new initiative.

We look forward to sharing the continued success of this equine therapy program and the lasting impact it will have on the lives of these Veterans and their families. What we witnessed this week under Pat Puckett's expert tutelage is that horses can help make us better people in every respect!​