A group working to preserve North Dakota's official horse is struggling to survive.
The Nokota Horse Conservancy has about $150,000 in annual expenses. The Linton-based group has only $20,000 in the bank and is struggling to pay land rent, fuel and hay production costs for its 100 horses.
Director Shelly Hauge says the group "is above water, but we're flailing.'' The conservancy has turned to the crowdfunding website www.Indiegogo.com to try to raise money.
The conservancy has talked about dissolving, but Herd Manager Frank Kuntz says he hasn't given up on his dream of creating a sanctuary for Nokota horses.
The horses come from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Some believe they are descendants of ponies owned by Plains Indians, while others dispute that.