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The Suffolk horse is also known as the Suffolk Punch or the Suffolk Sorrel and is a heavy draught horse which was first bred in the 16th century to help with farm work. The Suffolk horse was developed in Norfolk and Suffolk by local farmers who needed a horse with power, stamina, health, longevity, and docility. The Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) has placed the Suffolk horse as number three on its list of farm breeds most likely to die out.
The Suffolk Punch stands at around 16.1 to 17.2 hands and is always chestnut in colour. Interestingly the traditional spelling which is still used by the Suffolk Horse Society is "chesnut". They tend to be shorter but more heavily built than other British heavy draught breeds, such as the Clydesdale or the Shire. They have a powerful, arching neck; well-muscled, sloping shoulders and a short, wide back. They mature early, are economical to feed, have great longevity and are very willing workers. As a result, the breed steadily gained in popularity peaking in the early 20th century.
However, as agriculture became increasingly mechanised, the breed fell out of favour leading to its current status as critically endangered.
The Suffolk Horse Society, formed in Britain in 1877 to promote the Suffolk Punch, published its first stud book in 1880 and this shows that there were more than 1,400 stallions and 1,124 mares registered in the UK, mostly in East Anglia at that time. In 2018 there are only 80 viable breeding females left in the UK and so desperate measures are now being taken to preserve the animal's future. These include the collection of genetic samples from stallions across the globe to ensure enough variance survives to kickstart the breed if traditional methods fail.
Nowadays the Suffolk Horse is still used for draught work with smaller farms being encouraged to consider horse power instead of tractor power. They are also used in commercial forestry operations and for cross-breeding to produce heavy sports horses. As a symbol of the county in which they were bred, Ipswich Town Football Club incorporate a Suffolk Punch in their team crest.
In the UK we are lucky enough to have beautiful native horses and ponies roaming our land. Some of the Native breeds originate from particular regions across the UK & Ireland and roam in semi-wild herds that are accustomed to their particular environments. They graze in harsh, vast landscapes where hill farmers with commoner’s rights are custodians of these breeds. They care for them, protect them, ensuring their safety, health and continuing the long line of ancient gene pools continue for these native breeds to thrive and be healthy. Other native breeds are traditional workhorses with a long history of working alongside men from agriculture to industry over the years.
Their environments are changing, from intensive agriculture, expansive building, fencing off vast areas of moorland which restricts grazing, lack of interest in native breeds from horse enthusiasts, hill farmers whose families have farmed their land for many generations are unable to pass down their farms to new generations due to financial pressures and changes to farming legislation. All these elements are diminishing the likelihood of a future in the wild for our rare native breeds.
I’m passionate about our rare native breeds and the natural habitats they live in. I have loved every minute of creating this wonderful book project. I hope that Wild Hearts will raise the profile of our native breeds who have grazed and shaped our land for hundreds of years – some of which are facing possible extinction.
At a time when our world is fragile and in need of great change and care from us all. I believe it’s so important to cherish all our environments, nature and animals. With a passionate message of conservation at its heart, once complete, I hope that my fine art horse photography art book aim will show people the heart and soul of these wonderful breeds and to encourage people to support these vulnerable breeds, either by protecting them in their natural environment or by buying a registered pony; a step which could help save these rare breeds.
| Print Size (ISO) | 45cm x 32cm, 17.7in x 12.6in (Fits A3 frame), 64cm x 47cm, 25.2in x 18.5in (Fits A2 frame), 89cm x 65cm, 35in x 25.6in (Fits A1 frame) |
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| Frame Option | Sanctuary frame, Unframed (print only) |
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