Suffolk

It has the oldest breed society in England and the longest unbroken written pedigree of any breed of horse. 

Conformation, Colour and Characteristics: The Suffolk is always chesnut (spelt without the ‘t’) in colour, although the shade can vary from lemon to a very dark liver. Only a small amount of white is allowed on the forehead. Its conformation is very recognisable as the overall appearance is of a very large body on relatively short legs which gives the Suffolk its tremendous strength. There is no superfluous hair on the legs, which is an advantage in a working horse as excessive hair can cause skin infections.

The breed standard has never stipulated a height, but the preferred heights are in the region of 17.2hh for a stallion and 16.2hh for a mare.

Uses: Today Suffolks are being used commercially in forestry operations, on farms and for advertising purposes. Suffolks are now occasionally seen at some tourist attractions promoting the breed and as riding horses showing just how versatile they are. However, the breed reached the lowest point in its history during the 1960s. The Suffolk horse remains rare with only around 25 – 30 foals born each year. For more information, please contact the Suffolk Horse Society on www.suffolkhorsesociety.org.uk