The immense and impressive Suffolk Punch has a rich history – it is the oldest breed of heavy horse in Britain to exist today while still closely resembling its ancestors. But the Suffolk Punch is also rare, with fewer than 3,000 registered horses in existence.

History

The Suffolk Punch has an impressive history, dating all the way back to the 1500s. The Suffolk Punch was first developed by English farmers in Norfolk and Suffolk who needed a strong, docile horse that could be used to work the farmland. The breed was originally referred to as the Suffolk Sorrel, and the horses were bred specifically for work, rarely changing hands – a fact which kept the bloodlines purer than those of many other breeds. The breed’s foundation included influences of the Haflinger, the Norfolk Trotter, the Norfolk Cob, and the Thoroughbred.

As the Suffolk Punch’s popularity and numbers grew, breed organizations were created to ensure that the Suffolk Punch’s bloodlines stayed pure. The Suffolk Horse Society was founded in 1877 and published the first stud book in 1880. After the breed was exported to Canada and the United States in the late 1800s, the American Suffolk Horse Association was created, founding a stud book in 1907.

The Suffolk Punch remained a popular workhorse until the mid-twentieth century, when the mechanization of farm equipment rendered it less efficient for farm work. Its numbers decreased dramatically, with only nine foals being registered with the Suffolk Horse Society in 1966. The Suffolk Punch, once highly popular in England, became the rarest horse breed in Britain during 2001.

Thanks to the work of breed enthusiasts, the Suffolk Punch’s numbers are increasing. The majority of Suffolk Punch horses are located in the United States (approximately 800 to 1,200 horses), with just 150 living in England.

Characteristics

The Suffolk Punch is fairly short for a draft horse, typically standing between 16 and 17.2 hands tall. Despite their smaller stance they weigh between 1,900 and 2,200 pounds, thanks to their large, broad bodies. The Suffolk Punch’s physical build reflects its power, with an arching neck, a broad back, and short, strong legs. This build makes it ideal as a workhorse, especially for agricultural tasks.

The Suffolk Punch’s most defining characteristic is its color: All Suffolk Punch horses have solid chestnut coats, with white only occurring sparingly on the lower legs and the face. Variations in the chestnut color are described as red, bright, dull dark, and dark liver. The Suffolk Punch has limited feathering on its legs.

The Breed Today

The Suffolk Punch is currently used as a workhorse, and its smaller stature in comparison to other draft breeds makes it popular for forestry work. Some use the Suffolk Punch to pull wagons, and it has been used as a cross to breed heavy sport horses.

To learn more about the Suffolk Punch, visit the Suffolk Horse Society’s website.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk_Punch

Original Source: http://blog.classic-equine.com/2014/05/the-suffolk-punch/