FREDONIA, N.Y. — Earlier this year, Spectrum News 1 showcased a ranch in Western New York designed to help veterans and first responders suffering from mental illness.

The facility also hosts a number of military groups and trains members using the same equine, or horse therapy.

It's having an impact both on and off the grounds.

Lt. Col. Ron Saglimbene is one of 21 U.S. Marines from Prior Service, Recruiting Station One, on a training exercise with local reserve units at Range Ranch, a safe and healing retreat in Fredonia, for veterans.

"So, we're pretty excited about the opportunity for us to really bring our recruiters up to the next level, utilizing these partnerships, said Saglimbene.

What You Need To Know

  • Range Ranch is designed to teach equine therapy to veterans and first responders

  • The ranch is a spot for veterans to clear their mind and cope with PTSD or any other mental health issues

  • Ranch owners also want to raise beef cattle

These are partnerships that'll help recruiters identify with rural communities.

"To give the recruiters the opportunity to understand what this population really needs when we're talking to them and connecting to them," said Saglimbene.

The ranch provides equine therapy to veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health disorders, while helping them experience the great outdoors.

"Understanding that there are outlets, [that] there are opportunities for Marines and any service members suffering from any kind of mental anguish or any type of trauma. There are organizations, institutions that are there to help them," said Lt. Col. Robert Moore at the Range Ranch.

"So, us understanding what it's all about is going to be key for the recruiters and the work that they do," said Saglimbene.

Under the direction of Dawn Samuelson, founder of the National Equine Institute of Growth through Healing, or NEIGH, recruiters took part in a number of exercises. These exercises required teamwork, organization and communication, not only with each other, but with the horses, to help gain the animal's trust — skills recruiters can use in their work.

"Obviously they're recruiting other military members, so understanding what's on their emotional coat and how that affects those around them is really important," said Samuelson.

Lessons the Saglimbene and his team found out firsthand.

"Really makes individuals understand boundaries, and being able to read other individuals when you're talking to them, so that's a huge piece we just kind of learned here, which we actually didn't expect, so I think it's great," said Saglimbene.

Ranch leaders also hope to someday raise beef cattle.

Recruiters also gained a better understanding of why agriculture and protecting food security is important to farming communities.