November 2020
At the end of May, while riots and grief were overtaking my home town in Minneapolis, I found myself driving out to the prairies of North Dakota to see our beloved herd. I thought It was only a coincidence that my trip was scheduled during that time, but as I stepped into the mares’ pasture for the Nokota® horses, I immediately found peace and sanctuary.

I was able to reconnect with all those in North Dakota who care for the horses day in and day out, who have also become a second family. It was just another week full of projects for the Conservancy; eight foals were born to our herd, mares were sorted to the breeding pastures, and hair was gathered to do genetic testing on our rarest horses. In short, everything that was simple and good in the world quietly continued on. 

2020 has definitely become a year no one could have predicted. While we found so many of our events and horse expos cancelled across the country, you, our amazing supporters, continued to donate to keep the Nokota Horse Conservancy® going. You also kept spreading the word about Nokota® horses through social media, and sharing your own stories with others in personal and heartfelt ways. With so many hardships and uncertainty, knowing that we can depend on our community who are just as passionate as we are is a blessing. We know that you do this because you understand how important it is to preserve this incredible breed and to ensure that they have their rightful place in our history. Even in the darkest of times, we all know these horses deserve a bright future. 

As the year draws to a close and so much of our lives have become unpredictable, I think back to those precious days I spent with the Nokota® horses that make up our Conservancy herd. I know that we all come together to protect these horses because of the peace and truth they provide to us in our lives, especially when we need it most.

I know we will all be together soon, thank you for all you do!

Jerusha Steinert 
Vice President
Nokota Horse Conservancy®