Suffolk Punch Horses in England
by Kathy Noble of Eugene, OR
In early September of last year, I visited the Suffolk area of England, to see Suffolk Punch horses firsthand and to attend the Suffolk Punch Spectacular. I also wanted to learn more about the history and origins of the breed, since I have a Suffolk Punch mare of my own.
The breed dates back to 1768 to a stallion known as Crisp’s Horse of Ufford. The pedigrees of modern Suffolk Punch horses can all be traced back to this horse. Once popular in the East Anglia region, their numbers greatly diminished in the late 1930’s due to the increased use of mechanized agriculture.
The United Kingdom currently has about 275 Suffolk Punch horses, and the breed is listed as critical by Britain’s rare breeds association, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The population of these horses in the US is quite a bit more, with over 1000 registered horses.
Currently, there are only 19 stallions registered by the English Suffolk Horse Society. A colt may be registered as a stallion, after passing a veterinary exam as well as passing inspection by two persons appointed by the Suffolk Horse Society. Each year, a few stallions are sent for semen collection and testing, as artificial insemination is gaining in popularity. A first this year, was a foal that was born in England as a result of AI. There are grants available for English breeders as a financial incentive to breed their animals, and hopefully increase the population. Various media campaigns in the past few years have brought attention to the rarity of the breed, resulting in increased interest in these horses and a waiting list for people who want to purchase a Suffolk Punch in England.
The Suffolk Punch Spectacular is a major fund raising event for the Suffolk Horse Society, and many owners throughout the UK bring their horses to the show. This year the Spectacular was held at Kentwell Hall, a grand estate complete with a moat surrounding the mansion. Throughout the day, the show ring was filled with horses, some pulling carts and wagons, others in halters lined up for display. The horses were not judged on conformation at this particular event, but were still groomed impeccably. Manes and tails are “plaited” (braided) with “bas” (raffia) as is traditional in the Suffolk region. Many of the Suffolk horses stood 16 hands high and the tallest was a 19 hand gelding. With big, round hindquarters, short backs, and thick, arched necks, they displayed the “Punch” body type for which they are famous. They are also well known for their strong hooves, with awards presented at various shows to the horse with the best feet.
Some of the horses were turned out in show harness with their many brasses shining in the sun. I later learned how expensive it was to outfit them in such a manner. A harness maker’s brochure I obtained at the Spectacular indicated a pair of driving reins would cost £140 (US $224 ), and a 28 inch collar would be £448 (US $716)!
I had the pleasure of touring the Hollesley Bay Colony, located in Woodbridge, Suffolk. The Colony is a prison and working farm of 2000 acres. Mr. Bruce Smith oversees the daily operations at one of the largest Suffolk Punch facilities in the UK. He gave a memorable horse drawn tour of the farm, and also took time to show me their current stallion, Fenland Eric. The prison farm has a substantial dairy and produces milk, meat and vegetables for other prisons in southwest England. The inmates provide the farm labor and also work with the horses while under supervision. The Colony has been breeding horses for over 100 years, and the “Colony” herd name is known throughout the UK and in the United States among Suffolk Punch breeders. A stallion of their breeding, Colony Millennium, was Champion at numerous Suffolk Punch shows this year.
Mr. Philip Morley, another Suffolk Punch breeder, was kind enough to show me his horses at his farm near Ipswich. He is currently President of the Suffolk Horse Society and has been breeding Suffolk Punch horses for many years. He currently has two mares: Milden Tess, and Milden Amber, a colt: Milden Charles and a stallion: Samford King Louis, all fine specimens of the breed.
I also managed to visit with Mr. Mike Clarke, and his daughter Allison, located in Worcestershire, near Birmingham. Their herd of Suffolk Punch horses includes mares, foals and geldings, along with their two stallions, Sibertswold Rupert and Easton King. Their farm is picturesque, with horses grazing contentedly on rolling pastures overlooking a scenic valley.
I spent an afternoon at the Suffolk Punch Museum, located in Woodbridge near Ipswich. The museum offered photographs, original paintings, and artifacts of early Suffolk farm life. Photos of breed champions, such as Morston Connaught, displayed the classic characteristics of the Suffolk Punch. The section devoted to blacksmith’s equipment was of particular interest to my tool-loving son, while I particularly enjoyed the scale model farm which showed the barns, sheds and layout of a typical Suffolk farm.
Just as I was getting used to driving on the left side of the road, negotiating roundabouts and having afternoon tea, it was time to head home to Oregon. I hope to make a return trip some day, but it will have to wait until after we’ve moved to our new farm (which is a story in itself). I feel fortunate to have met so many nice people on this trip, and to have seen so many lovely horses. It was an experience that I won’t soon forget.
