A Dream 50 Years in the Making: A Historic Moment for the Nokota Horses!

“Some people spend their lives waiting for change. Others dedicate their lives to making it happen. And sometimes, the greatest victories are the ones that take a lifetime.”

~ Unknown

Hello and Happy Thursday!

We have some EXCITING news and a few updates to share with you today!

In 2019, we were blessed to meet a man named Frank Kuntz.

I can tell you that Frank has made quite an impression on our lives. While we may have only been friends (or what I consider extended family!) for seven years, I honestly feel like we have known Frank and his family all of our lives.

For those of you who may not know Frank’s story, he and his brother Leo were among the very first TRUE advocates for the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Back in the 1970s, Frank and Leo recognized something special about the wild horses living within the boundaries of the park. They understood the historical significance of these horses and urged park officials to preserve this unique herd.

Unfortunately, their pleas fell on deaf ears.

When they could not convince the park to stop removing the horses, Frank and Leo did something extraordinary.

They began purchasing as many of the removed horses as they could.

Think about that for a moment.

Instead of simply accepting what was happening, these two brothers took it upon themselves to preserve a piece of North Dakota’s living history.

Eventually, they established a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving these horses, which have become known as the Nokota horse.

The Nokota horse would eventually be recognized as the honorary equine of the state of North Dakota.

Sadly, Leo passed away in 2018, leaving Frank to continue the work they had started together so many decades earlier.

For approximately 50 YEARS, Frank has dedicated his life to these horses.

Fifty years.

That is not just a commitment.

That is a lifetime of sacrifice, determination, and an unwavering belief that these horses and their history are worth preserving.

And now, after all these years, something truly remarkable is about to happen.

A Dream Coming True!

Frank has long hoped that these horses, believed by many to be descendants of Sitting Bull’s war ponies, could one day be returned to the Lakota people.

On November 12, 2026, approximately 100 of Frank’s Nokota horses will be released to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe!

YES! You read that correctly!

After decades of dedication, a dream that Frank has carried for so many years is becoming a reality!

And this HISTORIC event IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

We hope some of you will be able to attend and witness this incredible moment in the history of the Nokota horses.

The tribe plans to use the horses in a variety of meaningful ways to help heal the Horse Nation. These plans include programs to help veterans dealing with trauma, along with educational and economic opportunities.

And Frank’s involvement will not end with the return of the horses to the Lakota people!

He will continue serving as an advisor and consultant to the tribe, sharing the knowledge and experience he has gained from a lifetime spent caring for these horses.

I also want to make something very clear.

This is in NO WAY the end of Frank’s horse story!

Frank is a TRUE horseman, and I don’t think anyone who knows him could imagine a life where horses were not part of his everyday world!

He will still have a few horses remaining with him, along with approximately 34 mares at the Whiskey Road Preserve.

We could not be happier for Frank and his family!

The love, dedication, and sacrifices that Frank and Leo have made for these horses are extraordinary.

And I want to say something else.

When I think about what it means to be a wild horse advocate, I think about people like Frank.

People who don’t simply talk about saving horses.

People who dedicate their LIVES to making sure those horses have a future.

Frank inspires me to be a better advocate myself.

There is also something incredibly meaningful about seeing this happen now.

Frank is a Vietnam veteran, and as many of you know, he has faced his own health challenges over the years.

After spending half a century fighting to preserve these horses, I cannot think of anyone who deserves to see a dream like this come true more than Frank.

And if anyone deserves a little bit of a breather, it is certainly this guy!

You can learn more about the upcoming release on the Kuntz Nokota Ranch Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090066303428

Another Exciting Part of This Story!

You may remember that Anouchka Khazizov traveled here from France back in June for the Nokota Experience, an event we had the opportunity to participate in briefly.

Anouchka has been working on a documentary about that experience.

We understand that completion of the documentary has been temporarily put on hold because she will be traveling to Standing Rock to witness and document this historic release of the Nokota horses!

What an incredible addition to the story she is already telling!

You can learn more about her documentary here:

https://www.facebook.com/nokota.experience

These are certainly EXCITING times for the Nokota horses!

And all I can say is…

This has been a LONGGGGGG time coming!

I hope Frank takes a moment to look back at everything he and Leo have accomplished.

Because what is happening on November 12th is about so much more than moving horses from one place to another.

It is about honoring history, preserving a legacy, reconnecting horses with people, and seeing decades of dedication finally come full circle.

Congratulations, Frank! We could not be happier for you!

And thank you for reminding all of us that sometimes the things worth fighting for take a lifetime.

In Other News…

Our FINAL merchandise auction of 2026 starts THIS SUNDAY, November 1st!

The auction will run through November 15th, and we hope you will join us!

We still have several items to add to the auction, and we will be working on getting those posted over the next few days.

You can already get a sneak peek at some of the wonderful items available by visiting our auction website here:

https://chwha.betterworld.org/auctions/chwha-november-auction

We are also STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS of merchandise for the auction!

If you have an item (or items!) that you would like to donate, you can complete our donation form here:

https://chwha.betterworld.org/donate-an-item

You can also email us at info@chwha.org with the details.

As a reminder, donations to Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates are tax-deductible.

Why Your Support Matters

I want to take a moment to connect today’s exciting news about Frank to the work we are doing at Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates.

Frank and Leo’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when people refuse to give up on something they believe in.

For 50 years, they worked to preserve horses that might otherwise have been lost to history.

And while our advocacy journey at CHWHA has been much shorter, we understand just how much determination, persistence, and sacrifice it takes to stand up for these horses.

We have spent the last several years fighting to make sure the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park have a future.

And we are working hard to make sure that future does not depend on another generation of advocates having to fight the same battles all over again.

That is why we continue pushing for meaningful federal protection, science-based management, and a lasting voice for the public in decisions affecting this historic herd.

But as I have shared before, advocacy takes more than passion and determination.

It also takes financial support.

The proceeds from our November auction will help fund our ongoing advocacy work and help us secure matching funds for Giving Hearts Day 2027.

If you are unable to participate in the auction but would still like to help support our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

DONATE HERE: https://secure.everyaction.com/pIMNkwr21021HO0xWm0UOg2

DONATE THROUGH PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XNYNCNVLTULGC

No donation is too small, and every dollar helps us continue working toward a future where these horses are protected for generations to come.

Frank’s story reminds us that meaningful change does not always happen quickly.

Sometimes it takes years.

Sometimes it takes decades.

But that does not mean we stop trying.

Because these horses are worth fighting for.