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With more than 307,000 horses in Ohio, more so than even Kentucky, and over 200,000 horsemen and women, the Ohio's Horse license plate hopes to take a chunk of the $5 million purse Ohio specialty plates bring in annually.

The plate passed the Ohio Legislature Wednesday, just in time for the Kentucky Derby this weekend. On Saturday, May 3, Beulah Park in Grove City, will host Derby days, and race fans will have a chance to sign up to buy the plate when it becomes available.

The Ohio's horse license plate will soon be available for purchase at the BMV, costing the owner of a car, truck or trailer an additional $30 annually. The Ohio Coalition for Animals will receive $20 from every plate sold. Funds will be dispersed throughout the state to assist with the challenges facing the horse industry of Ohio.

The Ohio Coalition for Animals is a nonprofit organization who will use the money generated by the sale of the Ohio's Horse license plate to fund educational, charitable and other statewide programs that will help horse owners.

“The issue of unwanted horses is an important and challenging issue and it affects all breeds and activities in the equine industry,” said Charles Ruma, owner of Beulah Park. “I'm happy to help get the word out that the Ohio's Horse license plate is available. The much needed funds from the sale of Ohio's Horse license plate can't come soon enough to help deal with the multiple issues facing the struggling horse industry in Ohio”.

According the Ohio Coalition for Animals, the following are a few of the issues causing the horse industry to suffer:

• Economic constraints have led to unwanted horses. While the minimum yearly cost to keep a horse is about $1,825, veterinary and farrier costs, as well as boarding costs for one horse can easily reach $5,000 a year.

• The drought-plagued summer of 2007 caused skyrocketing prices of hay with a dwindling supply.

• No government funding exists for rescue and adoption groups who depend solely on public support. The downturn in the economy, skyrocketing fuel and other living costs are claiming dollars that might have previously gone to horse nonprofits as charitable contributions.

• Affordable, accessible and humane ways to dispose of unwanted horses in Ohio is lacking. Federal legislation banning slaughter for human consumption has left 80,000 to 100,000 horses nationwide in neglectful situations or being transported to antiquated slaughter facilities in Mexico.

• With wagering down more than 30 percent since 2001,and dwindling purses paid out to winning horses and their owners, finding financial means to operate the state’s race horse farms is becoming harder all the time leading to more unwanted horses.

The “Ohio Agriculture” license plate program, actively pursued by the Ohio Farm Bureau, was also recently passed through the General Assembly. Read more about the program in the May 15 edition of Buckeye Farm News.