Two new rare breed Suffolk Punches have been welcomed to an East Suffolk farm.
Brackenhurst Hope and her dam, Easton Ruby, arrived at Easton Farm Park from Brackenhurst Stables at Nottingham Trent University, where they were reunited with Easton Lily, the dam of Easton Ruby and grand-dam of Brackenhurst Hope.
Credit: EP Digital Creations | Easton Farm Park
Easton Ruby was foaled at Easton Farm Park to Easton Lily on 5 June, 2014 and helped into the world by the farm livestock team before moving to Nottingham Trent University.
“Whilst there, she went on to make Suffolk Punch history, taking part in an extraordinary project combining the latest technology to assist in the continuation of this majestic and very rare breed,” said a Easton Farm Park spokesman.
Nottingham Trent University’s equine academic and technical teams bred from Easton Ruby, using sex-sorted sperm to determine the gender of the new foal. This was the first time this technique had been used to support the survival of rare breeds and was a ground-breaking project between the university, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and supported by the Suffolk Horse Society.
The semen of one of the best-matched stallions, Holbeach Iggy, was collected and sex-sorted by Stallion AI Services and Cogent, and Ruby was inseminated at Twemlows Stud in 2019.
Credit: EP Digital Creations | Easton Farm Park
In July 2020, Brackenhurst Hope was born, the first foal born using this combined technology, increasing genetically appropriate females to support future breeding for breed conservation purposes.
“Suffolk Punches are a critically endangered breed with all lineages originating from one horse, Crisp’s of Ufford,” added the farm spokesman. “These strong and beautiful draught horses were perfectly built for working on the land and played a crucial role in World War 1 with their muscular frames, stamina and minimal feather around their hooves, together with their docile temperament.”
There are now less than 150 breeding females left in the UK.
Members of the public can meet the three Suffolk Punches at Easton Farm Park this Easter.
Lead image credit: EP Digital Creations | Easton Farm Park
