A new online directory is being developed with information about hay suppliers, equine veterinarians and other horse-related products and services by county within Ohio. The directory is part of an Ohio State University (OSU) department of animal sciences effort to offer targeted resources to those working with or within the state's sizeable horse industry.

"A lot of people in the horse industry aren't aware of our program, or aware of some of the changes we've undergone recently," says Kim Cole, extension equine specialist. For example, the department's new quarterly equine newsletter has news about upcoming horse-related events in the state, as well as equine-related educational information. The newsletter is available at horse.osu.edu/equineenews/.

An open house will be held Oct. 30 at the OSU Equine Facility, located off of Sawmill Road at 3658 Kays Road in Dublin, OH. Faculty and staff will be available to answer questions and veterinary staff and horse industry vendors will also be on hand.

More than 180,000 Ohioans are involved in the horse industry as owners, service providers, employees or volunteers, according to a 2005 study commissioned by the American Horse Council.

For more information about the open house or to find out more about the new online directory, contact Cole at 614-292-2625 or cole.436@osu.edu.