North Dakota has a special place in my heart, as you know. It’s why I based my novel there.
Mom hails from there, and she used to take us kids back to see the relatives every other summer. Dad’s buried in the Catholic cemetery in Lefor, surrounded by Mom’s family. My heart is drawn to North Dakota.
Now there’s another reason to love it.
As a kid, I was horse-crazy, but since I lived in a southern California suburb, the only horses I ever owned were stuffed animals or plastic critters. However, we still had places around town, back in those days, where I could live the fantasy. I rode horses, fed horses, snuck into barns to visit them, drew them, and dreamed of them. I still go breathless at the sight of a beautiful horse.
Black Fox, a Nokota horse
I recently learned of a breed of horse that lives in North Dakota. The Nokota has been genetically mapped to Sitting Bull’s herd of war ponies. A couple of brothers, Frank and Leo Kuntz, are trying to save the few that are left. That’s Frank in the picture up top.
As one time, the brothers, both Vietnam vets, had prostate cancer, but they used their medical treatment money to support the herd. For more about them, check out this seven-minute video, and if you’d like to help, click here for The Nokota Horse Conservancy. Wouldn’t it be great to help preserve these living monuments to American history?
I’ve heard it said that older people become more outwardly focused. Whereas in our earlier years we work at developing ourselves and our families, in older age our concern turns to more global interests. For example, saving the planet instead of getting a promotion. People who turn to such larger issues tend to have more peace in very old age, feeling as if they’ve made their mark and left a legacy. I think Frank and Leo Kuntz are doing this, and I celebrate them. What unselfish examples of maturity.
LOVED this post Lynne and I also was a horse lover — i rode for years and last time I rode i was 55 years old. I am slightly self protective in my 60s — do not want to make a mistake and break something.
Will go there to the link and make a contribution to the Nokota horse.
A little aside: In the same vein, Denver has a fabulous theater performance of “Black Elk Speaks” at the Fox Theater in Aurora now through April 11. All the actors chosen for the play are Native American, Lakota or even descendants of Black Elk. It was both heart-wrenching and vital to learn and/or remember the history of the native tribes and what happened when America was settled by immigrants from Europe, and try to support them any way we can!!
Thanks for your comments and kindness, Heather. I too would be afraid to get on a horse these days, but I am still horse-crazy. I love the way they are trying to save the Nokota.
Interesting blog, Lynne. I just realized we have something else in common, as a kid I was horse crazy too. In fact I just HAD to have saddle shoes every year even when they no longer were in style because I was sure they had something to do with horses.
Oh, that’s funny, Pat. I had to wear them because it was part of my Catholic school uniform. But all my friends had small feet and got the cute patent-leather ones. I had to wear size 10 box-shaped clodhoppers. Oh, the humiliation.
Love to hear anything about my home state. Was not aware of the Nokota horses. Have always loved horses and did my share of feeding, curry combing, cleaning out hooves, riding (and falling off) of them during my growing up years. It is nice to hear about those brothers and the good work they have taken on.
Aren’t they something? I wish them well…the brothers and the horses.
This is very much in line with my current preoccupation with the wisdom of elders. Theirs is an admirable cause—-and somewhat romantic as well! I know little about North Dakota, but am learning about it through your writing.
Thanks, Diane. North Dakota benefited from the oil boom but had its heart broken as well. To salvage one bit of its history is to mend the heart a little.