They're dying out, as are Shires. There are less of them in the world than there are Panda's. Not that I would want one (a Suffolk Punch), as it'd cost an arm and a leg to keep/feed, but its a shame nevertheless.

So are pure bred Cleveland Bays, although they are popular crossed with TB's!

Coming to a National Park near you!

www.forestuprising.org.uk

e-mail forestuprising@live.co.uk

i know many of you will kick and beat me for this but i kind of feel that maybe these breeds shouldnt be saved. Suffolk puches are so heavy and i cant see that they would make good riding horses unless crossed with other breeds, otherwise is there a use for them anymore.

People breeding them just to keep the breed alive means that they breed from any and all suffolk punches even the unsound poorly built ones, and then we end up with loads of horses and no use for them - especially bad at the moment

Shires i can understand as they are not quite so heavy, but suffolk puches are built like bulldozers, and i cant see any use for them other than ploughing fields

I had the pleasure of being asked to take the photographs at the Wessex Heavy Horse Society annual show, and I can assure you that the standard of animal there was very high.
There are people out there that take the preservation of their breed very seriously indeed and are producing some truly fabulous animals.
I think it a great shame to let these breeds die out. The ones that I saw had a job of work and were a joy to behold, and their owners were obviously incredibly proud of them.




Such beautiful big beasts! Enjoy.

Years ago I had a Grade B Suffolk Punch/TB chesnut mare. Despite sensitive feet and making a noise she was a great jumper and hunter, I would love another with similar breeding.

I used to ride a pure bred puch a few years ago, she was used for ploughing and displays but I used to hack her a couple of times a week. She was the best natured, and even tempered horse I ever had the pleasure to be with. I for one would be very upset to see the breed disappear

Wonderful pics by the way!

http://www.freewebs.com/candygrooms/
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Funny you should say that Elaine - some friends of mine bought a TB brood mare at Ascot sales last year with the intention of sending her to a Suffolk Punch stallion this year. I'm sure the resulting foal will be for sale


http://www.nfstallions.info/     http://www.forestuprising.org.uk/

Isn't that the wrong way round Judy? Shouldn't the mare be the heavier of the two? Or is that just a myth put about by lightweight stallion owners?

I didn't say I agreed with it Elaine!!!! Mind you, the mare is 17hh and quite substantial. They reckon on getting a heavyweight hunter from the mating.


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Oops, did you think I was having a go - I wasn't, I was asking you because you seem to know a lot about breeding and I only know what I have gleaned over the years: very little practical experience in that sphere.

My father was brought up with Suffolk Punches being the local farm horses. He still loves them!

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...Boldly going where no werewolf has gone before...

They are gorgeous and also make fabulous sports horses when crossed with hunter/tb types. Think they are a very useful breed. I see them at ploughing matches along with the shires they do still get used

Elaine, no, I didn't think you were having a go


http://www.nfstallions.info/     http://www.forestuprising.org.uk/

It's such a shame they are decreasing. They make quite nice driving horses and ridden whether crossed or not. well unless your only 4ft then you might look like a pea on top lol

They are incredibly comfy to ride, especially bareback! Lovely, good-natured, friendly horses, brilliant around kids, too. As said, they make a truly excellent outcross, with the resulting offspring being very resistant to problems with soggy feet or mud fever.

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...Boldly going where no werewolf has gone before...

Hi everyone,

I read the bit in the paper about the suffolk punches, i love them and i hope they dont die out, on our trips to cornwall we have spent a lot of time at the shire centre at Redruth, and got to know Harry Gotts the man they were speaking to in the paper, he is a great person, he has some suffolk punches and shires a few he has rescued, we had the pleasure of going down to the beach at porthreath when the took the suffolk punches down there, it was fantastic seeing them in the sea and cantering on the beach, i will never forget it, he does a lot for the shire and suffolk punch breeds


love Karky1x

This is Edgar hes our resident odd ball ... he is new forest X suffolk punch and he has the kindest nature ... after meeting a pure breed suffock punch at 'Your horse live' i think its a shame as they are such gentle giants ...

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I recognise those chimneys!

Sam - How can you say that, People that love horses truly would save them all if they could, these horses are very beautiful, huge and comfy, they make fab alrounders horses.

I have a shire x tb and he is like a armchair but nothing compared to one of these.