the largest and oldest herd of nokotas® in the world

LARGEST EXPORTER OF NOKOTA® HORSES

The Nokota horse is the native horse of North America with immense history and regal presence

They are a distinct breed, with superior health and emotional intelligence.

Frank Kuntz and his late brother Leo Kuntz have been managing this feral herd of native horses, which they carefully acquired from Theodore Roosevelt National Park during the removal in the mid-70's , before they introduced domestic breeds. The Kuntz brothers have bred and created a pedigree for over 40 years. 94 Nokota horses' blood samples were gathered (with extraordinary effort and expertise by Frank and colleagues) to create a permanent biobank and pedigree registry. This will complete an in-depth study of genetic origins with the help of equine geneticist, Dr. Doug Antczak, the Baker School of Animal Health, Cornell University. The project compliments Harvard's anthropological work which strongly supports the Native Lakota narratives; and suggests the Nokota Horse ran with buffalo and lived with the 7 Lakota Sioux nations long before the Spanish "reintroduced" the horse. There is NO SPANISH MUSTANG marker in these horses. Connection to ancient lines could place Nokota on the ENDANGERED SPECIES list. It is without a doubt that we need to appreciate the connection to the Lakota People, the Native Tribes, the Native Prairie-Land and American History.

Nokota® History

HUMANS HELPING HORSES HELPING

The kuntz brothers

Both Vietnam Vets, these brothers believed in something bigger than themselves.

What is now called the Nokota® Horse, which was once almost extinct, exists only due to the intervention, sacrifices, dedication and love of these two brothers.

More About Frank and Leo

Echoes of the Nokota® by julie christen

How has one man’s life mission to make an unjust thing right – save North Dakota’s native horses – changed history?
Never in his dreams did Frank Kuntz think that he would become the one they were waiting for.
Once in a while, choices are made that change the fate of others. The prairie winds shift, the stars align, history is saved, and legends are made.
Riddled with pain, anger, and sorrow … this is a tough story.
Sculpted by the hardest of times … the best of them too … this is a family story.
Founded on promises and passion … this is a love story.
But most of all, despite the sacrifice, loss, and injustice … this is a success story.

GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK HERE!

“Breed awareness. Feeling the strength of family. Having faith and hope in good people. That’s what this story tries to embody. Just like the KUNTZ Nokota Ranch.” - Julie Christen

We are extremely honored and blessed to have Julie as a voice for the Nokotas®. Above is a photo of Julie and RainyDay. It touches our souls everyday that the connection between a horse and a human is truly something special and spiritual!

Nokota® Voices by Julie Christen

GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK HERE!

Donate

All donations will help with the day to day operations in preserving this breed.

Our main goal is to raise enough money to find a permanent sanctuary.

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Chasing Horses Blog:

In 1999, Frank Kuntz and his late brother Leo joined a few others and started what has come to be known as The Nokota Horse Conservancy (NHC). The purpose of this nonprofit group was to save the unique breed of wild horses that were being sold from Theodore Roosevelt National Park before the park introduced new blood. The brothers knew that what the park was proposing would have lasting impacts on the horses in the park. That unique breed of horses is now known as the Nokota horse. Frank and Leo come from a family that values and understands horses. They were originally interested in the horses for the “suicide” races they were participating in. It didn’t take these then young men just returning from Vietnam too long to see how special these horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park were – BEYOND their amazing racing abilities.

Meet our new supporter! A non-profit that is now accepting donations to go directly towards saving our herd of Nokotas!

Visit Chasing Horses website to support and DONATE through their non profit

The two brothers dedicated their lives to these horses. They worked hard to raise awareness for the Nokota horses. Because of their hard work and advocacy, the Nokota horses are the state of North Dakota’s honorary equine. Frank and Leo donated the original horses to the organization they formed (the NHC). They have traveled countless number of miles and have talked to thousands of people to raise awareness for the Nokota horses.

Leo passed away in 2018 as a result of an ATV accident while he was checking on the herd of horses. Frank has remained dedicated to the Nokota horses and the nonprofit he and his brother helped create. Frank continued to not only care for his own personal herd of Nokota horses, which currently includes 185 horses, but the NHC’s herd of 90+ Nokota horses as well.

Around the same time that Theodore Roosevelt National Park announced their plans to eliminate the ENTIRE herd of horses from the park, the NHC voted Frank off the board of the nonprofit he created. After being voted off the board of the nonprofit that he and his late brother created, the NHC also abruptly terminated their contract with him as Herd Manager, a paid position he has held for years.

In case being a Vietnam Vet wasn’t enough…

In case saving a breed of horses wasn’t enough…

In case starting a nonprofit and spending countless hours advocating for the Nokota horses wasn’t enough…

Now being kicked off the board of that nonprofit AND being told that he has to leave IMMEDIATELY from the land he has rented for decades WITH his 185 horses IN the middle of a very snowy North Dakota winter – seems to just be the icing on the cake to this story.

To add to the story, Frank’s daughter Christa and his wife Shelly were also both voted off the board by the NHC.

As of February 2023, for the first time since its creation, there are NO members of the Kuntz family on the board of directors for the Nokota Horse Conservancy.

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has been very vocal in our support to Frank Kuntz and his dedication to preserving the Nokota horse over the years. We also enjoy advocating WITH Frank for the wild horses that still currently call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home.

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates is not interested in the drama that created this moment. We ARE interested in helping Frank at a time when he REALLY needs it.

Frank and his family know that they have the full support of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates. After speaking with our legal advisors and Frank and his family, Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, as a 501(c)(3) organization, will be accepting donations specifically for Frank and his Nokota horses during this period of transition. That means that your donation to us for Frank and his horses is tax deductible! Frank is walking away from the NHC without any of the funding he helped raise over the years through his hard work and dedication to the horses and the nonprofit. He is literally starting from scratch.

The immediate need is for land for Frank’s personal 185 horses. If you are in North Dakota and have or know of land for sale or lease, please email us at info@chwha.org.

You can donate to directly to Frank through any of the ways listed on our website: https://chwha.org/support-chwha/ We do ask that you please make a note letting us know the donation is specifically for Frank and his Nokota horses.

We have also set up a separate Go Fund Me specifically for Frank and his Nokota horses: https://gofund.me/db42dd3c

You can also learn more about Frank and Leo & their story on the website created by Frank’s daughter Christa: https://www.kuntznokotaranch.com/

HORSES FOR SALE

merchandise

ALL profits from merchandise sales go directly back to caring and preserving this herd.

Represent the horses and ranch-show your support by purchasing today!

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Supporters

Mo Brings Plenty and Roanie

Mo may look familiar, you may recognize him from the hit TV series Yellowstone. Mo brings wisdom and grace to the Nokota family and supports our fight to save these horses. He is vocal about this herd and his friendship with Frank. He is a great asset to the cause.
“These horses need to be around for future generations” -Mo Brings Plenty
Tim and Lynn Austin

Tim adopted Willy (fka Flame) from Frank before we left the clinic. My husband drove back out to ND from Vermont where we live to pick him up and bring him home. Willy had previously had little handling and was quite shy at the clinic. He spent 36 hrs on the trailer. I expected a rodeo when he got off. But instead a falling star dropped from the sky over the trailer. They opened the doors, Willy looked around and stepped out calm as can be and just started eating grass. Another falling star fell at that moment, which I took as a sign from the Universe that he was meant to be here. Willy has the kindest heart and has completely taken care of my hubby as they gotten under saddled. He’s an amazing creature and we are so blessed to have him
Jennifer Lynn Gandy

I came to Linton and Mr. Frank took me in at my hardest time in life. He saved me and so did the horses. I can never repay him for all he has done for me. All I can do is continue to help at the ranch and help Mr. Frank preserve these horses. He and the horses deserve so much more than what they have been put through lately.
Frank Rugh and Family

The Rughs living in Laramie, WY. Married 17 years, Combat Veteran , 2 awesome kids. Frank just graduated the University and has a passion to build a Lakota medical school in the Bighorn mountains. Frank “The Nokota® horses are important as in the Lakota learning setting, these horses would actually be teachers to the people.”