Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates

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 horse 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.

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.

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 to advocate 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 of 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 501c(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 contact us directly.

On December 12, 2022, Theodore Roosevelt National Park announced their plans to eliminate the ENTIRE herd of horses from the park! Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates is committed to advocating to keep ALL 185 horses IN Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park closed its public comment period and they are not working on their Environmental Assessment.

The herd has gained support and we are grateful! They are NOT safe ~ yet!

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has been advised to keep pressure on the park while we wait for their answer.

There are several ways we are doing just that, BUT we need your help!

• We plan to pay for a billboard in Dickinson, ND. That cost is approximately $12,000 for a 1-year commitment. We can also add a second billboard in Bismarck for an additional $5,000.

• We are going to Washington DC! We have been asking to speak at the 2nd Annual Save Our Wild Horses Conference! While we are there, we will be speaking with as many federal legislators as possible! We need help funding this trip which includes giveaways and brochures to hand out as well as presentation folders for our meetings!

• We will be mailing out our “Fighting for the Spirit of the Badlands” window clings to local businesses asking them to display them in their stores as a sign of support for the horses staying IN Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The cost for Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates to carry out these plans is approximately $25,000!

Can you help us meet this goal?

Every $1 counts!

We are also advocating for a wild horse management plan and protection for these unique wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home! We are fighting for a management plan that is guided by science especially when it comes to decisions regarding the removal of horses and the administration of birth control. Many other wild horse management plans have proven to be successful with their science-based plans. We are asking for the same for this amazing group of wild horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home.

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates (CHWHA) is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of a future federal tax code. This corporation will not be operated for profit, but rather will be operated exclusively for exempt purposes.