Horses : SUFFOLK PUNCH

Origin: Suffolk, England

Australian Status: 

International Status: both in its home country and globally, the Suffolk Punch is listed as Critical.

Arrived in Australia: They were here in the 1820's, and probably earlier. Many came here - they were the most popular draught here until the 1920's when Clydesdales gained ascendancy. Suffolks were used for crossing to breed harness and military horses. Their clean legs were favoured in both the dry outback and wet areas. Intrinsic to the development of Australia.

Australian Population: 4 breeding age mares and 5 fillies. 2 x 3 years old colts and 1 yearling colt as well as 1 gelding. Many thanks to the Australian Suffolk Punch Registry and Grading-up Registry for the current numbers.

History: A grand breed. Known for a superb gentle temperament. One of the most popular draughts in England and Australia in the heyday of horse power. A lifelong attachment to the breed was formed at Colony Farm in England where young men were trained with these horses in agricultural work before leaving for the colonies. Suffolk Punches have been continually bred at Colony farm for over 260 years, the first going there in 1759. The registration of Colony Maid 7927 in 1912 changed how all horses are registered - with a prefix, name, and number. Colony Farm is now The Suffolk Punch Trust-Colony Farm, being bought by the Trust by fundraising in 2006.

Complicating attempts to keep the breed going is an odd phenomena in recent times of the gender of foals being two thirds male; horses usually foal 50-50 in gender. There have been credible studies in other breeds such as wild horses in NZ about gender in foals and the reasons, worth considering. Importantly, a study of sheep proved a diet higher in Omega 3 to pregant ewes resulted in higher ratio of male lambs, while a diet higher in Omega 6 resulted in female lambs (thanks to Yvonne Hatch for for alerting me to this study). The research was undertaken by Dr. Ed. Clayton in Australia, and funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

A commendable policy of the Suffolk Punch Society (UK) is a grade system, where mares that for some reason have not been registered, may enter the studbook as Grade A, once they have passed inspection by two inspectors and show Suffolk colour and type. Grade B are the progeny of Grade A and a Suffolk Punch stallion. In this way numbers may be built up and inbreeding avoided. Grade C are the progeny of Grade B with a Suffolk stallion. These grades are for mares only, colts must enter the Part bred Registry which is properly kept separately to the Stud Book. There is a Section X for horses that don't meet studbook criteria (reason not given - will enquire and update) - Section X progeny cannot be registered. The UK Society maintains an International Register.

Bred immensely strong to plough, with as little feather as possible to avoid leg problems from damp. Nuggetty, good doers, hardy and four square - it was said you should be able to push a wheelbarrow between the front legs and out between the hind legs.

The Suffolk has the earliest recorded horses. The first recognised horse of the breed was a horse owned by Thomas Crisp of Ufford, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, England. Simply known as Crisp's Horse of Ufford he was 15.2hh and foaled 1768. The breed has grown bigger in modern times, many to a ridiculous height. By the 1770's the breed was well known. It was written about and described in 1300 and in 1500 so had been around for centuries. Believed to be descended from native horses/ponies and heavy draughts brought across from Belgium. All Suffolks today trace their line back, unbroken, to 1768 - making it the longest horse pedigree of all.

Famously, Herman Biddell collected all records of Suffolk Punches and published the first stud book in 1880 - it contains much humour and is a tremendous read. The horses were immensely important to East Anglia, where everything once was done by horse, and few could work in the soils which in part were sandy and in other areas chalky clay, and in the fens heavy and black; or cart on the roads which was heavy going in those times. In those times horsemen were important and revered, and had to know as much as a vet now, and more. George Ewart Evans recorded this lore in his book The Horse and The Furrow, which also tells of horse magic, a method of initiating young men into the horse world if they were thought worthy, a sort of workers guild for shared learning and support. Hence the Suffolk was part of an interwoven fabric of society, and of course those who knew and loved them brought them to the new colonies. After mechanisation came in Suffolk Punch numbers plummeted dramatically. The Suffolk Punch was part of the Suffolk Trinity - The Suffolk Punch, Red Poll Cattle and black faced-Suffolk Sheep. Later, the Large Black Pig came about by the Suffolk Black pig crossed to the Cornwall Blacks. There is a good insurance population of Suffolk Punches in America and Canada.

In May 2018 2 fillies and one colt came over to Bluegum stud in Queensland from America, from three different states there these unrelated young Suffolk Punches were donated by their breeders to keep the breed going here, a wonderful philanthropic gesture. A great example of international cooperation to save a breed.

Breed traits: Clean legged (little feather) draught. Minimal or no white. Height 16-17hh. All chesnut (the breed people never put 't' in chestnut for Suffolks). Gentle nature. Good doers.

Uses: Draught and harness, particularly agricultural and forestry uses.

Breed Organisation: Australian Suffolk Punch Registry and Grading-up Registry http://suffolkpunchaustralia.com/ - their website is full of great information. 

The Suffolk Punch Australia organisation has pure Suffolk Punches, and importantly, a grading up registery in place - a fabulous intiative to bring numbers back up which is working well. This is in keeping with sound conservation practises to keep a breed alive, the Registry is managing this exceedingly well - bright hope for the Suffolk in Australia. The Registry is thus creating an Australian Suffolk Punch. Also, Andrew Lucas of Warwick Park Suffolks, Lower Plenty, Victoria, is doing a lot to keep this breed going in Australia. He has successfully done embryo transplant and also has straws frozen.

Additional Notes:

Top photo: Ben, Suffolk Punch stallion Forgewood Benjamin, belonging to Andrew Lucas of Warwick Park Suffolks, Vic. Ben is hauling logs to help save habitat in the Yarra wetlands, and bit of water in the way did not stop him. Ben sadly died in a heat stroke recently, a tragic loss indeed. He had sired a colt, fortunately. Photo kindly supplied by Andrew. Middle photo: Suffolk Punch Nash by Leonie Bell ART, kindly supplied by Richard Crispin.

Page by Janet lane
(population and organisation information updated 03/05/2020 by A.Y.)

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