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The Suffolk Punch is one of the breeds of draft horses. The Suffolk Punch has a powerful arching neck, strong upright shoulders, a short strong back, wide hipbones, and a high tail. Due to their extreme draftiness, the clean legs of the Suffolk Punch appear short. The Suffolk Punch has an average height of 16.1 hands, but many stallions stand 17 or more hands. It can weigh 1,700 to 2,000 pounds. All the animals of this breed are chestnut-colored, with shades ranging from light golden to dark brown. Some white markings occur, but they're less prominent than in other breeds. The Suffolk Punch descends from the medieval “Great Horse” brought to England in 1066 by William the Conqueror. It was developed in eastern England's Norfolk and Suffolk counties for farm work. The Suffolk Punch is one of the oldest draft breeds, possibly dating back to 1506. To plow the heavy clay soil of Suffolk, the farmers needed a horse with power, stamina, health, longevity, and docility, and bred for these attributes. Because the farmers used these horses on their land, they seldom had any to sell, which helped to keep the breed pure and unchanged. By its reputation for easy handling with power the name was also used for a British brand of lawn mower. |
