Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Horses and Ponies from the Celtic Regions: The Suffolk Punch

The Suffolk Punch is one of England's oldest horse breeds that has retained its original form. The ancestry has been long lost prior to the 1500's, when the historic records stop. In 1877, the Suffolk Horse Society was founded in order to preserve the breed - especially since all of the current individuals led back to one stallion. They were bred for heavy work, farm, and hauling. It was from hauling matches when the Suffolk horse earned the nickname "Suffolk Punch." Like all heavy work horses, populations dropped with the invention of the tractor. 
The height ranges from 16.1hh-17.1hh. The color is always Chesnut, no other color. And traditionally, Chestnut is spelled without the middle "t." Various shades, small white markings, and miscellaneous light hairs intermixed in the coat are allowed for registration.

Resources:
"International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds" by Bonnie Hendricks

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