Hello and Happy Friday to everyone!
Today we have a special guest blog from our friend Christa Ruppert from Kuntz Nokota Ranch.
Yesterday, one of our local news stations featured her dad, Frank Kuntz, as “Someone You Should Know” we encourage you to check out the story here: https://www.kxnet.com/news/local-news/frank-kuntz-keeper-of-the-nokota-horse/
There are hints of Christa’s uncle and Frank’s brother, Leo Kuntz, mentioned through the story.
These two brothers stepped up and saved North Dakota’s unique wild horses when Theodore Roosevelt National Park failed in the 1970’s. The two brothers bought as many of the original horses from the park before the park introduced new blood.
Frank and Leo worked hard over the years to preserve this unique breed of horse they call The Nokota horse. This rare breed has less than 1,000 horses worldwide. Truthfully, there are only Nokota horses in our world today because these two brothers recognized just how special these horses were.
Leo passed away in August of 2018.
Frank’s work preserving the herd continues and now Christa has stepped up to help her father.
Christa knows that Leo Kuntz is also “Someone You Should Know” and wanted to share her memories of him in light of the news feature this week. Our platform is always open to our friends at Kuntz Nokota Ranch in whatever ways we can help. We hope you will take a moment to read Christa’s words below and enjoy the photos she generously shared. We are grateful to Christa for taking a moment to honor the amazing man her Uncle Leo was.
I want to add, I have never had the honor of meeting Leo in person. I can say his spirit lives on through his family who loves him, and I am honored to have heard many wonderful stories about this man.
I also speak of my friend Wally quite often.
I met Wally when the park first announced their plans to eliminate the horses from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 2022.
Wally and Leo were the best of friends. One day when we met for lunch, Wally was talking about Leo and said, “You know, they don’t leave us when they die.” He went on to tell me that he knew that if Leo was still alive, he would be fighting the park with all he had – just as he had most of his life. Since Leo wasn’t here for this fight, Wally felt a need to fight in his honor.
I have always been touched by that moment with Wally. It speaks of the depths of their friendship that continues in Wally’s heart and with his actions.
If you look at the “Get Involved” page on our website (https://chwha.org/get-involved/) You will see that one of our goals is to open a wild horse sanctuary in Southwestern North Dakota. Our hope is to raise the $42,000 we need for a feasibility study as a first step in that process.
If you are moved by Frank and Leo’s story, there are two ways you can help!
- Help us reach our goal for the feasibility study to finally give Frank’s Nokota horses a permanent home! You can make a donation to CHWHA SPECIFICALLY for this purpose here: https://secure.everyaction.com/AOhC63Brrkm0Vf0pI11PHw2
- Frank needs help with the day-to-day care of his Nokota horses. You can make a tax-deductible donation to help support Frank’s Nokota horses here: https://secure.everyaction.com/UGvULXvTsE6mmGuUK5PEGw2
Thank you again to Christa for sharing her heartfelt words here and to Frank and Leo for all they have done to save North Dakota’s unique breed of wild horses!
As I was doing the interview for the news, a question about my Uncle Leo brought back a flood of memories. He is constantly around me, his presence felt in the most profound ways. This week, he visited my dreams again, reaching out to me as if to remind me to share his story—the real him—from the perspective of someone who he loved as a daughter. Someone who truly knew him, not just someone pretending to be his friend. In the dream, our hands reached for each other, a poignant reminder of our enduring connection.
In the vast, open fields of North Dakota, among the whispers of the wind and the gentle gallops of the Nokota horses, lives the memory of my Uncle Leo. He was more than an uncle to me; he was my second dad, my protector, my confidant, and the person who nicknamed me “Mushy” with a warmth that only he could muster.
Uncle Leo always had my back, especially when Grandpa had me running around doing tasks. He would find the object Grandpa sent me searching for and make sure I got the credit for fetching it. His small acts of kindness and protection meant the world to me, shaping my childhood with love and support.
In the round pen, he taught me to ask the horses instead of telling them, showing me the gentle way to communicate. My dad looked up to him and talks about him fondly. Uncle Leo and my dad shared the same vision, same dedication and same passion even when others tried to drive wedges between our family. Uncle Leo believed in my heart and soul, knowing I was meant to carry on his legacy with the horses.
“Today is a good day to have a good day,” he would say, reminding me to find joy even in the hardest times. Despite the mental hold some people had on him, Uncle Leo never stopped caring for our family. He was deeply spiritual, teaching me about grounding at an early age. I often refused to wear shoes, choosing to stay barefoot by his side, feeling connected to the earth and to him.
While my dad, Frank, was always so protective of his baby girl, Uncle Leo believed in my strength. He gave me the courage to pursue my passions, even when others were concerned for my safety. He confided in me about people who took advantage of him during his lowest times, knowing they preyed on his severe depression and PTSD. It hurt to see him in pain, but he always remained steadfast in his love for us.
I was there when the Conservancy pushed him out, and the hurt in his eyes is something I will never forget. I wondered if I should have followed him then and there, but he told me I needed to stay to protect my dad and the horses. He was the visionary for the Nokotas, the one with the eye for their spirit and strength. His dedication to them never wavered, and neither did mine.
It hurt to see people who called themselves his friends take advantage of him. Yet, Uncle Leo never raised his voice at me, always ensuring my happiness. We lived just a mile and a half apart, spending every day together. One of my fondest memories is of riding Bad Toe, a horse Uncle Leo used for races. He would throw me up on Bad Toe without a saddle, bridle, or halter, letting me connect with the horse in a way that was pure and free. He would tell me trust the horse and he will trust you. Boy would he get a snicker when we would ride three on Bad Toe and ride up to the window of the home and knock and wave!
Uncle Leo came up with the name Nokota to honor the ties between the Lakota and North Dakota. His love for the horses and our family was unmatched. When my dad was out in the fields, Uncle Leo had me by his side. I would run to him with my accomplishments, and his smile of pure joy made every moment worthwhile.
I held his hand when we took him off life support after the accident. In those final moments, I felt a slight squeeze, a part of him leaving with me. I closed my eyes, asking for his strength to accept whatever came next. As his breathing slowed, I felt his peace and spirit telling me he would always be with me, guiding me.
After his passing, Uncle Leo began to visit my dreams. In those dreams, he would send me messages, and I longed to piece them all together, finding solace in our continued connection. He had always known my heart belonged to the horses. He told me he saw the spirit of the horses and mine intertwined, and that I was meant to be there for them.
Uncle Leo’s legacy lives on in the Nokota horses and in my heart. He was a champion for the horses, a visionary, and a loving uncle who believed in me. I carry his teachings, his love, and his spirit with me every day, continuing his work with the Nokota’s. His impact on my life and the lives of those horses will never be forgotten.
Learn more about the Nokota Horses on our website by clicking our logo below
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