They’re Preserving Wild Horses From The Northern Plains

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #6, Page #21

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If it weren’t for dedicated horse breeders, the wild horses that once roamed Theodore Roosevelt National Park and across the Northern Plains would be a footnote in history. The Nokota® breed preserves the traits of the horses developed by Native Americans.

    Despite attempts to eliminate the horses to keep Native Americans on reservations, horses were fenced into the park in the 1950’s. Later, when another elimination program began, people purchased some of the original horses. Brothers Leo and Frank Kuntz of Linton, N. Dak., bought 54 of them at a 1980’s roundup and named the breed, Nokota. Leo died in August, and his brother, Frank, is the current executive director and herd manager for the Nokota Horse Conservancy.

    Frank Kuntz explains that initially Leo was interested in crossbreeding the Nokota with his Quarter Horses to use them for horse racing, something the whole Kuntz family has been involved with. But Leo soon recognized the significance of preserving the breed.

    “One thing that amazed me and Leo is their brains. They are just smart. And they are hardy, sure-footed, sound and healthy,” Kuntz says. “When our family got involved 38 years ago there were less than 200 of the horses. Even today there are less than 800.”

    Described as a little larger and rangier than Spanish colonial horses, Nokotas are generally roan in color and heavily muscled with a square-set angular frame. They typically don’t require any vaccinations and if they have room to roam, they don’t need to have their hooves trimmed.

    “They are smart about not hurting themselves - a little like a mule,” Kuntz says.

    The Kuntz brothers struggled for 15 years before the Nokota Horse Conservancy, a 501(c)3 organization, formed in 1999. Contributions help pay pasture rent and maintain the herd. Many members care for horses of their own throughout the country, and tribes in North Dakota are working with the conservancy as well. For example, Standing Rock Indian Reservation residents appreciate the breed because it descended from Sitting Bull’s ponies. There are even some Nokota horses in France, Sweden and Belgium.

    Nokota horses are used for everything from trail riding and ranch work to show jumping, endurance racing, and fox hunting.

    “Once they are broke, people usually don’t sell them,” Kuntz says, noting prices for horses with papers range from $1,500 to $4,500. “We will soon post Leo’s horses on the Conservancy Facebook page. We’d like to find homes for the older mares and studs.”

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nokota Horse Conservancy, P.O. Box 761, Linton, N. Dak. 58552 (701 254-4205; www.nokotahorse.org).

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They’re Preserving Wild Horses From The Northern Plains LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules If it weren’t for dedicated horse breeders the wild horses that once roamed Theodore Roosevelt National Park and across the Northern Plains would be a footnote in history The Nokota® breed preserves the traits of the horses developed by Native Americans
    Despite attempts to eliminate the horses to keep Native Americans on reservations horses were fenced into the park in the 1950’s Later when another elimination program began people purchased some of the original horses Brothers Leo and Frank Kuntz of Linton N Dak bought 54 of them at a 1980’s roundup and named the breed Nokota Leo died in August and his brother Frank is the current executive director and herd manager for the Nokota Horse Conservancy
    Frank Kuntz explains that initially Leo was interested in crossbreeding the Nokota with his Quarter Horses to use them for horse racing something the whole Kuntz family has been involved with But Leo soon recognized the significance of preserving the breed
    “One thing that amazed me and Leo is their brains They are just smart And they are hardy sure-footed sound and healthy ” Kuntz says “When our family got involved 38 years ago there were less than 200 of the horses Even today there are less than 800 ”
    Described as a little larger and rangier than Spanish colonial horses Nokotas are generally roan in color and heavily muscled with a square-set angular frame They typically don’t require any vaccinations and if they have room to roam they don’t need to have their hooves trimmed
    “They are smart about not hurting themselves - a little like a mule ” Kuntz says
    The Kuntz brothers struggled for 15 years before the Nokota Horse Conservancy a 501 c 3 organization formed in 1999 Contributions help pay pasture rent and maintain the herd Many members care for horses of their own throughout the country and tribes in North Dakota are working with the conservancy as well For example Standing Rock Indian Reservation residents appreciate the breed because it descended from Sitting Bull’s ponies There are even some Nokota horses in France Sweden and Belgium
    Nokota horses are used for everything from trail riding and ranch work to show jumping endurance racing and fox hunting
    “Once they are broke people usually don’t sell them ” Kuntz says noting prices for horses with papers range from $1 500 to $4 500 “We will soon post Leo’s horses on the Conservancy Facebook page We’d like to find homes for the older mares and studs ”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Nokota Horse Conservancy P O Box 761 Linton N Dak 58552 701 254-4205; www nokotahorse org

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