SUFFOLK HORSE |
The Suffolk Horse is the oldest English breed of working horse. Interestingly the bloodline and hence breed characteristics of the Suffolk horse were established at Dickleburgh hall, which is adjacent to our Dickleburgh Moor site here in South Norfolk.
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Our Suffolk Horse (Punch) Breeding Project
Critically Endangered Suffolk Punch foal born by artificial insemination of sexed semen in bid to help save iconic regional horse breed.
BORN BY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATIONBorn by artificial insemination of sexed semen in bid to help save iconic regional horse breed
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BORN JUNE 2022The Otter Trust are delighted to announce the birth of a Suffolk Punch filly foal on the 15th June at Dickleburgh, South Norfolk
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SUPPORTING HERITAGE BREEDSThe Otter Trust have a long history of supporting UK native livestock breeds
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regional HETIGAGE breeds
The Otter Trust have a long history of supporting UK native livestock breeds and through our Earsham Wetland Centre and Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve we can support the regional breeds of East Anglia, including the Suffolk Horse, Red Poll Cattle, Norfolk Horn Sheep, Norfolk Black Turkey, Norfolk Grey Chicken, Norwich Cropper Pigeon, Ixworth Chicken and Silver Appleyard Duck.’
The Suffolk Horse (Punch) horse is the oldest English breed of working horse. In 1760 farmers decided to standardise the local breed of heavy horse. The best stallion was chosen, belonging to Mr Crisp of Ufford, and the best mare, belonging to Mrs Harris of Hoo. A colt foal was produced and sold to a Mr Gleed of Dickleburgh Hall. This horse was registered in 1775. From the bloodline of this stallion every Suffolk Punch horse in Britian can now be traced. The Suffolk Punch would have traditionally grazed and Dickleburgh Moor and used to farm the surrounding land.
Our Suffolk Punch Project
The foal was produced via artificial insemination of sexed semen, with the aim of creating genetically viable filly foals. This is a new procedure in Suffolk Horses and is potentially one of the ways that the breed can be saved from extinction (producing more females than male horses and ensuring that the rare bloodlines are producing females that can go on to breed). This procedure was completed by Twemlows Stud Farm and Stallion AI of Whitchurch, Shropshire.
The mare: Nedging Crystal is owned by The Otter Trust and grazed at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve and Earsham Wetland Centre.
The stallion: Gateridge Kelso, was selected as the best genetic match on the Sparks System. Kelso is current at stud at Bowland Irish Draught Horses, Closes Hall Farm, Bolton by Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire
The mare: Nedging Crystal is owned by The Otter Trust and grazed at Dickleburgh Moor Nature Reserve and Earsham Wetland Centre.
The stallion: Gateridge Kelso, was selected as the best genetic match on the Sparks System. Kelso is current at stud at Bowland Irish Draught Horses, Closes Hall Farm, Bolton by Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire
History
In 1760 farmers decided to standardise the local breed of heavy horse. The best stallion was chosen, belonging to Mr Crisp of Ufford, and the best mare, belonging to Mrs Harris of Hoo. A colt foal was produced and sold to a Mr Gleed of Dickleburgh Hall. This horse was registered in 1775. From the bloodline of this stallion every Suffolk Punch horse in Britain can now be traced.
Suffolk Punch Horses have grazed Dickleburgh Moor since 1768, when Mr Gleed of Dickleburgh Hall purchased a colt foal from Thomas Crisp of Ufford. The Crisp Horse is credited to be the judged ‘standard’ for the Suffolk breed and all modern horses are thought to have derived from this stallion. The Otter Trust purchased Dickleburgh Moor in 2016 and use traditional livestock to help manage the site. The Trust currently maintains 7 Suffolk Punches in South Norfolk, with two additional mares that are due to foal this year. The Otter Trust works closely with the Suffolk Horse Society and Suffolk Punch Trust to promote the Suffolk Horse. The Otter Trust has always had a strong association to the preservation of native domestic livestock and has maintained a selection of rare breeds on its sites since 1975.
Suffolk Punch Horses have grazed Dickleburgh Moor since 1768, when Mr Gleed of Dickleburgh Hall purchased a colt foal from Thomas Crisp of Ufford. The Crisp Horse is credited to be the judged ‘standard’ for the Suffolk breed and all modern horses are thought to have derived from this stallion. The Otter Trust purchased Dickleburgh Moor in 2016 and use traditional livestock to help manage the site. The Trust currently maintains 7 Suffolk Punches in South Norfolk, with two additional mares that are due to foal this year. The Otter Trust works closely with the Suffolk Horse Society and Suffolk Punch Trust to promote the Suffolk Horse. The Otter Trust has always had a strong association to the preservation of native domestic livestock and has maintained a selection of rare breeds on its sites since 1975.
Apprentice Position
‘The Otter Trust is also delighted to be able to announce a new apprenticeship position. Miss Maddie Flatman from Harleston has shown significant commitment to our charity over the past year, volunteering with both our livestock staff and conservation team. We are therefore delighted that she has agreed to join us as a trainee groom and will help us wit the development of our Suffolk Horse herd.’
Our Suffolk Horse Profiles
TRINITY ARABELLA “BELLABella joined us in May 2019 when she unexpectedly found herself looking for a new home. It took her a little while to settle into her new life. She is a very sweet and respectful girl who particularly likes to be scratched at the top of her neck behind her ears. She is broken to ridden work and has previously taken part in show jumping and dressage.
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NEDGING CRYSTAL “CRYSTAL”Crystal joined us early in 2020. She was for sale as part of a stud reduction, we were very lucky to be able to purchase her already in foal. Crystal is mum to Hope. Crystal is a very independent mare and prefers to spend time on her own rather than with human company. She was broken to harness as a youngster before being used as a broodmare. She makes an excellent mum and is very protective of her babies.
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SHORELANDS HOPE “HOPE”Hope is the first Suffolk foal we have had born here at the Otter Trust, daughter of Crystal. She is a quiet sweet girl who loves human company. We are hopeful that she will make an excellent ridden and driven horse in the future and be an fantastic ambassador for her breed as well as helping to breed the Suffolk’s of the future.
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COLONY ALFIE “ALFIE”Alfie is the tallest of our Suffolk’s standing at over 18hh. He came to us as a 2yr old along with his older brother Yale. He has been broken to ridden work and he also does some harness work. As he is such a big boy we have started him off very slowly to allow him time to grow and develop. He is a lovely natured boy who loves human company, he particularly like scratches and will usually return the favour, he can be rather cheeky at times and has been known to steal the odd hat and pair of sunglasses.
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COLONY YALE “YALE”Yale is brother to Alfie. He is broken to ridden work and he regularly competes in dressage and showing as well as being our main demo horse. Unfortunately, he is not too keen on being a driven horse, we have done a little ground driving with him, but he does not really enjoy it. He can be quite a sensitive boy when he is unsure of things especially strange noises, he does love human company and will happily be groomed and scratched for hours.
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WHITTON COMET “COMET”Comet is the darkest coloured of our boys, he’s quite uniquely coloured and has several dark brown spots in his coat, in summer they are more obvious. He came to us looking for a quieter life. He is broken to drive so he helps us with some work around our sites. He’ll quite happily move some timber or help bring in the hay. He is also particularly good for our conservation grazing projects as eating is Comets number 1 hobby.
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BAZOO UFFORD “UFFORD” & BLOCK FEN PRINCE “PRINCE”Both of these boys are currently on long term loan at Noahs Ark Zoo near Bristol although they will always have a home with us should they ever need it.
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ZOE - Exmoor PonyZoe is an Exmoor pony who certainly has plenty of character and personality. She knows exactly how to run rings around our Suffolk’s. An unlikely combination but she is great friends with Comet. She was originally a moor born pony and spent most of her early life as a companion pony without much human contact. She is a sweet mare but can be a little nervous and unsure around people at times.
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