For those of you who have asked – here is the article from the Towner County Record written by our friend Brenda Halverson. Thank you to their editor for sending us the text so we could share it with all of you!

Thank you also to our dear friend Frank Kuntz and his daughter Christa Ruppert for their continued support and advocacy for the Nokota horses. This is an incredible story we look forward to watching as it continues to develop! Be sure to check them out on Facebook for videos and pictures that go along with this amazing story.

International program in place to help preserve Nokota horses

The story of our wild horses—in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) and in the United States—is an incredible one. Since the 1950’s when the park was fenced in and the Park Service decided to eradicate the horses, the herds have survived shootings, poisoned hay, roundups that have resulted in fatal injuries to many horses, and mismanagement in general. It’s also incredible to me–not in good way–that anyone, anywhere, would make it their goal to eliminate such a huge part of our American history and heritage. And they are succeeding; a recent report indicates that there are over 9,000 less wild horses on BLM lands this year than in 2023.
The good news is that there are some pretty incredible people dedicated to preserving this unique bloodline and, just like the BLM and National Park Service, they also are working tirelessly to achieve their own goal, to provide a permanent and safe home where the horses can live wild and free!
While there are so many dedicated and admirable organizations who do this, something that is also incredible has transpired for Frank Kuntz and his Nokota horses, and is setting them apart.
Frank and one of his daughters, Christa Ruppert, have been generous with their time in sharing some of this amazing story!
In the 1970’s, Frank and his brother Leo purchased 50 horses from TRNP. Originally, Frank says, they wanted to breed the Nokota’s sturdy bone structure into their own bloodlines. But in a recent conversation, Frank explained that as he worked with the Nokota horses he discovered their unique learning and communicating skills, and their intelligence–which had been a major factor in their survival over the years. Since then, Christa says preserving the Nokotas has been a family affair, with all the girls helping when needed. Christa is more involved, saying, “I have traveled the US with dad, spreading awareness and knowledge of the breed at expos, clinics, and such.” Frank has endured some tough times–his brother Leo passed away in an accident, the cost of feeding and caring for the horses has increased, and the work of advocating for the wild horses can be stressful at times. An example: research shows that the horses in TRNP are a native species, and one of Frank’s goals (and frustrations!) has been for the Park Service to acknowledge the research which proves this—they, however, are not convinced and even classify these horses as “livestock”. And “livestock” are not allowed in the park.
Frank is an expert on the Nokota breed. “Their self-preservation instinct makes them unique,” he says. “These horses have their own communication and infrastructure, and their intelligence and hardiness is the reason they have survived the park’s efforts to get rid of them.” He explains how, in the wild, the lead mares teach the colts. Also in the wild, stallions maintain a relationship with their offspring which was new to me. “Relationship” is a word often used by the Kuntz family and by those in the Nokota Challenge.
Frank gives training clinics incorporating natural horsemanship methods, and focusing on the relationship between the human and the horse. “This is what we are losing,” Frank told me. “The relationship is the foundation.”
Wild horse advocates are a determined breed themselves! Years ago some of these Nokota horses were imported to France with the idea that, if anything happened on either continent, at least the bloodlines would survive.
Just recently, France has again played a part in preserving the Nokota horses! About 10 years ago, Frank met Anouchka, a French exchange student. In 2023 they reconnected at one of Frank’s training clinics. Anouchka is very concerned about what is happening with the wild horses here in North Dakota and came up with an idea to help Frank and his horses.  Frank was a little hesitant when she approached him about sending more of his horses to France. Before entering another country the horses would need to spend some time in quarantine, and there had been a previous negative experience with quarantine that Frank was not anxious to repeat.
Undeterred, Anouchka tracked down Christa Ruppert and presented her ideas; Christa says Anouchka’s positivity was convincing, and after a phone call to Frank, they started moving forward, getting every question and concern answered in advance.
Anouchka set up a non-profit called the Nokota Challenge. Horses from the Kuntz Nokota Ranch would be relocated to France where they would have three months of training before participating in a “challenge” which will demonstrate their learning abilities, temperaments and dispositions, and the different disciplines they can be trained in.
In early March, a party from the Kuntz Nokota Ranch arrived at the One Oak Ranch in Texas, trailering eight Nokota mares (and one stallion who is not part of the challenge) to meet the French trainers who would work with them one-on-one for several weeks. An important part of the Nokota Challenge is for horses and trainers to have a trusting relationship, and in choosing the horse they would work with a trainer would walk through the herd to find a horse they felt a mutual connection with.
Christa says, “The Nokota Challenge will be similar to the Mustang Makeover, except that these trainers will learn more about the horse, and how the Nokotas communicate and trust. It will be more of a relationship of human and horse and what they can achieve together.”
But first, the horses needed to learn how to walk down narrow corridors and spend time in “crates” for their upcoming flight to France. The trainers were impressed with the horses, who learned quickly, and the Kuntz family was impressed with the trainers’ work with the horses.
“They were the best people in their approach to the horses,” Frank said, explaining that they kept the horses—who had never met people—quiet and low-key.
To date, the Nokota horses have arrived safely in France and will soon begin their three months of training for the challenge which takes place in June.
 Frank still has his own challenges caring for the remaining horses on his ranch.
“Dad has been at this for over 40 years now,” Christa says. “Our main goal is to find a sanctuary where the horses are allowed to live as wild as they can with their own social structures. A place where we can teach about the horses and their history.”
While I have yet to meet these horse advocates in person, their conversation indicates characteristics like kindness, care for humans and horses alike, and keeping your word.
“I made a promise to these horses,” Frank says. “They can’t speak for themselves, and I promised them a permanent home.”
He’s still working on it. Thank you, Frank! (And family!)
For more information on the Kuntz Nokota Ranch and the Nokota Challenge check out their Facebook pages where photos and videos abound!

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