At the age of 14, Franz Kukuk became a stable hand at the State Stud in Warendorf . Between 1953 and 1954 he studied at the German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR), where he schooled renowned horses such as Kamax, Burnus, Heliotrop xx and Traumwunch xx.

Kukuk spent the winter of 1958 at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. After his return, he trained the foundation stallion Radetzki to Grand Prix level and made Damhirsch his ‘Parade Horse’.

From 1964 to 1991, Kukuk managed the stallion station in Warendorf and was responsible for the acquisition and dressage training of the stallions. Amongst the top international dressage riders he assisted was double Olympic gold medallist Nicole Uphoff.

Franz Kukuk was legendary for his in hand work, and after his retirement from the State Stud, he worked with the young horses at the PSI dressage barn until his death.