A Suffolk farm has paid tribute to one of its most popular residents following a tragic accident.
18-year-old Whitton Poppy, who was in foal, was put to sleep on 2 November after becoming trapped in a ditch.
Despite the “herculean efforts” of staff, the farm’s vet and Suffolk Fire and Rescue to free her, the injuries to her legs were too serious for her to recover from.
“We are heartbroken at her passing,” said a Easton Farm Park spokesman. “She was a wonderful character who had a lovely life on the farm with her companion, Easton Lily, another Suffolk Punch.
“She met thousands of children during her life and did a huge amount to raise the profile of this majestic part of our Suffolk heritage.
“Poppy had four foals while with us, including Florence of Easton who has won numerous shows as a fine example of the Suffolk breed. She can rest easy knowing that she played a huge part in helping to secure the future of the Suffolk horse.”
Poppy had been at Easton Farm Park for 14 years.
“She’s been a great ambassador for the breed.” added Fiona Siddall, owner of Easton Farm Park. “She was kind, she was giving, she was very docile.
“We were very lucky to have her for as long as we did.”
Rare breed
The Suffolk Punch is the oldest English breed of working horse.
Classified in the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s ‘priority one’ category, the Suffolk Punch is deemed as being of most concern due to being rare and having increased inbreeding.
Suffolk Punch horses were once popular for working the land, but when tractors took over farm work their numbers went into decline.
Main image: Credit Ellie Piggott
