2022 National American Legion Auxiliary Public Spirit Award Winner

DTOM 22/0 Foundation & Veterans Ranch
For immediate emergencies please dial 911. For assistance please book an appointment below or contact us at 605-725-3866
2022 National American Legion Auxiliary Public Spirit Award Winner
For immediate emergencies please dial 911. For assistance please book an appointment below or contact us at 605-725-3866
May 2025
Lots of changes have been happening at the Ranch to update everyone on; first due to the economic downturn and inflation resulting in a steep decline in donations, we unfortunately had to sell the Warner Location. We had an absolutely amazing 2024 therapy season there, and over its lifetime did thousands of sessions. It was an amazing location and one we built together from the ground up, it was a very sad day to see it go, but unfortunately sometimes we have to make hard decisions to continue to service our Veterans in need. We continue to fight because of the successes we see every year from Parkinson's to Neurological conditions as well as Autism, it has been so amazing. In effort to serve more, we have partnered with Riding Peace Draper Sensory to handle all of the children and civilians through their business. Elsa can be reached at 605-252-6620 for an appointment through this amazing business. We both are operating out of the El Jo Mar Arena, just north of Aberdeen, SD on Hwy 13. The Bagley location is under construction and will be available for Veterans in the near future, so please stay tuned. This therapy still consists of riding specifically trained horses, facing backwards, to "reset" the brain, repair neuropathways and give Hope again from dealing with the detrimental effects of TBI, PTSD, dementia, Parkinson's, seizures, autism and other neurological issues. For Veterans sign up is easy, all the you need to do is email Chris@dtom220.org or call 605-725-DTOM(3866) or text 605-252-2042. We are very much in full swing with the 2025Equine Assisted Draper Sensory Method riding season!!!
An update on our DTOM Veteran Food Program, we fed many Veteran Families for Easter with spiral cut hams and food boxes. Last fall we birthed our first steer with our cattle herd and this spring was born "Hope" our first heifer. Thanks to an amazing donation of 1/2 a beef this spring we were able to hold off on taking "Tim" to the butcher until this fall, giving him more time for growth. If you are a Veteran in need for food, reach out, many churches have joined our fight and with fresh beef it is such a blessing. As always ALL of our Veteran Services are at no cost to our Veterans who have sacrificed so much. Thank you for your interest and continued support of the program, lets go help some people together!
American Legion Auxiliary-Dept of South Dakota
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, SD
Hills View Hunts Eureka, SD
Robin Zimmer Glenham, SD
Wesley Smith Alexandria, MN
Congratulations Chad, thank you for your support and to AJ at SoDak Sports for their never-ending support of our Veterans at the Veterans Ranch!!!
On Patriot Day, September 11th 20204, 1st Interstate Bank had 25 employees volunteer at the Veterans Ranch. They worked tirelessly for 4 hours to make sure the Ranch was presentable to our Veterans as they arrive for their Equine Therapy appointments. Thank you 1st Interstate, you are such an amazing partner. #wefigthttogether
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2023, DTOM hand delivered 170 Military Families Food Boxes, feeding and estimated 500 Active, Guard, Reserve, Veteran and Military Family Members over a 3 state area!
On Saturday, February 11th, DTOM Veterans Ranch will be delivering a new service pup to a combat veteran in Iowa. A huge thank you to Mr. Dustin Maier and his family for donating this beautiful lab puppy to an amazing combat veteran who recently lost her service dog Skippy to cancer. This is the mission we love, and we took an oath to help each other to the end…and the end was never defined. More to come! Filling holes in our veterans hearts as Dustin stated…yes, brother…yes we are.
”South Dakota Service Dogs” can be reached at info@southdakotaservicedogs.com
DTOM Veterans Ranch and Pheasants Forever members gathered Wednesday evening to honor a beloved Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Jerome Loucks, (Bronze Star and Legion of Merit Recipient), his wife Norma, and his family. Jerry as he is known by, (originally from Aberdeen) has contributed so much to his community, and youth programs, and to the DTOM Veterans Ranch. DTOM just took a trip from Warner South Dakota to Sierra Vista, Arizona to deliver the 2022 Friend of Max Award for the most inspirational veteran, and to visit with him and his family. Pheasants Forever and DTOM honored him Wednesday evening. Chief Loucks loved his horse Booker here at the ranch, so all of the members and DTOM staff took a picture with “Jerry’s Horse.” “Honor Thy Oath…it can never be too late to get them the help they need.”
Please reach us at Help@DTOM220.Org if you have any further questions.
Veterans or their family members should reach out to the DTOM Veterans Ranch by calling 605-725-3866 and talk to Chris to set up a zoom call, an in-person meeting, or a phone call to begin the in-take process. The in-take process includes a balance screen, health, and safety screen, and an individual goal assessment. Once this has been completed the DTOM staff will develop a customized healing and follow-up plan for the veteran or their family member.
The program is designed to be a lifelong program and commitment to the veteran's overall health and well-being. This is all based on the individual's progress within the program and depends on the activities the veteran selects for themselves within the program.
Photos and Videos: We do not allow anyone to take video or photos of the horse sessions. You can have your picture taken with the horse right before or after the session but because these sessions are protected by HIPAA and PHI, and we are not in the business of selling our veterans stories or using them for marketing, we cannot allow video or photos. We protect the privacy of the healing journey and the privacy of all of our veterans and their families.
Also: We do not allow cell phones in the arena because of the frequencies. We need the arena 100% quiet during the session so the horse can hear the cues and counts, and the noise cancelling devices and the EEG works properly. Once the session starts, no one is allowed to walk in and out of the arena until the session ends and the rider has dismounted. Cell phones can be kept in your own personal vehicle, or we have a box that we keep them in during each session. We also ask that you do not wear fitbits, watches, or other devices that give off frequencies or record heart rates.
Family members are allowed to observe the sessions only if the client allows it. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed in adult sessions, and a parent/guardian must be present at all times during the youth MRMS sessions. Children are not allowed to run the property without supervision (for safety reasons).
We do not allow personal pets (dogs) on the property or during any DTOM events for safety. We allow fully trained-certified services dogs on the property as long as they are leashed at all times, and you can provide vaccination history of the animal for rabies etc.
ESA's are allowed only if they are well-behaved, and on leashes all of the time they are on the property, and you can provide current vaccinations for rabies etc.
We have had animals bring in diseases or health issues on to our property and to our horses, so we are absolute on these decisions. Absolutely NO dogs or pets are allowed around our service horses, no exceptions. This is for the safety of your dog.
Absolutely no smoking or vaping on the property due to insurance reasons, and the need to protect our buildings, horses, and their hay.
Many of our veterans have never ridden a horse. The program starts off with the ground program before we put you on the horse. We address balance, health, safety, and security before we introduce you to the horse. This is not a typical horse therapy program, so even people who have ridden horses previously, or grew up with them all of their life will not be used to this type of riding. This horse is not a typical riding horse. They are specifically trained to do a series of momentums, gaits, movements, all very different from the typical gait of a normal horse. The program includes horse safeties, safety belts, and required helmets. If there are any issues with the horse, rider, weather, or anything that disturbs or hinders the safety of the ride, we terminate the ride immediately. Safety is our number one priority.
The cost of the program is no cost for all veterans and their immediate families. We believe Veterans and their families have sacrificed and carried such a burden, it would be against our Oath to charge one penny. We do operate off donations so many of our veterans or their families donate throughout their program. (This is not expected of our veterans or their families at all).
A one-hour session for a civilian/individual is 125.00 per session. This covers the cost of feed and care for our horses and program materials.