Arlington pair use trust to rein in agile Nokotas
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Kristi O’Harran Herald Columnist |
Grace, power and beauty were never more evident than in the split second Chief surged straight in the air like an osprey.
Anyone who doesn’t gasp to see the magnificent feat has ice in his veins.
Chief, an 11-year-old Nokota stallion owned by Dale and Holly Offermann of Arlington, will astound viewers at Farm City Days, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Scherrer Ranch at 5300 Menzel Lake Road in Granite Falls.
Nokotas are one of the last remaining strains of the northern prairie horse and the last known strain of war and buffalo horses used by Chief Sitting Bull in North Dakota.
Consider that Chief will become airborne, with all four hooves off the ground, after a verbal request from Dale Offermann. The horse was trained through trust and bonding with its human, not threats or even sugar cubes. The Offermanns have day jobs but spend every other second caring for 17 horses and other critters on their 5-acre ranch.
"We use positive motivation," Dale Offermann said. "We let them know they are doing good."
When Chief folded to the ground like an eager puppy at dog obedience class, Offermann scratched the stallion’s tummy. Chief all but purred. This city girl was impressed. It was fun to watch Chief in his arena, prancing like a 2-year-old who won’t put on a jacket, before following Offermann’s suggestions.
"Come on, hurry up," Offermann said to the gorgeous gray beast. "Good boy."
Adorable, but overweight, ranch basset hounds Pebbles and Thelma seemed to want to waddle into the ring, too.
Chief pranced and spat out his rear legs. Sailing over a white wooden jump was an effortless glide. Wearing no bridle, Chief responded to coaxing such as "Hup, hup," or "This way." Dale Offermann snapped a small whip but it was never near the horse.
The couple came to this area from North Dakota. Dale Offermann wasn’t raised on a ranch, but always loved horses.
The three Nokotas he bought in 1990, including Chief and two mares, are now a three generation family of 12. Though Chief does a few shows each year, he is the king of the ranch who spends hours on trail rides in the back woods.
According to the Nokota Horse Conservancy, Nokota horses ran wild in the Little Missouri Badlands. When Theodore Roosevelt National Park in southwestern North Dakota was developed in the late 1940s, a few bands of wild horses were enclosed within the park’s boundary fence. By 1960, they were the last surviving wild horses in North America. During the 1980s, many park horses were sold at auction. Leo and Frank Kuntz of North Dakota, who have spent their lives preserving the Nokota strain, helped get the Nokota registered as a breed in 1991.
Nokotas are more square on the quarters than most breeds and that gives them the uncanny jumping ability. Artist Frederic Remington painted many Nokota horses with angular shoulders and strongly built legs.
The Offermanns recently took their stallion to North Dakota for shows. Chief, at 14.1 hands, is physically smaller than most domestic horses, but bigger isn’t always better. How could anyone not love their sass, strength and disposition?
When I visited the Rockin’ Bar H, Dale Offermann put Chief through his jumping routine and rearing exercise in which Chief stands on his hind legs for several seconds. Offermann said everything the Nokota does comes naturally, but it’s a matter of getting them to do it by speaking their language. Because Nokotas are accustomed to traveling in herds, they are extremely loyal.
"If you are fair to them, they won’t mind following you," Offermann said. "The training method we have makes you their friend."
To demonstrate, I watched Offermann work with a mare named Wishbone he is training for folks in Monroe. The horse, who was adopted out of the wild, plopped to the ground just like Chief.
Offermann spent some time scratching the mare’s belly and back. She looked as pleased as a cat on a couch as she rested her head in the human lap.
It was fun to learn that Chief has a special buddy on the ranch, Casper, a white donkey. They get supervised visits because Casper likes to nibble Chief’s mane. Gates are double clasped for Casper because the brilliant donkey can unlock anything.
Chief will perform at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the show sponsored by Snohomish County Granges. Find antique tractors, trolley and pony rides, entertainment and a petting zoo.
I said Chief will be performing. It’s more like the amazing Nokota will share talents in the arena with his best friend.
Kristi O’Harran’s Column appears Tuesdays and Fridays. If you have an idea for her, call 425-339-3451 or send information to oharran@heraldnet.com.
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