SUFFOLK HORSE 



and very often it is a combination of all three. It may 

 occasionally happen, however, that an obstacle, or obstacles, 

 on the road may almost bring a horse down, or he may be 

 suffering from leg weariness and exhaustion, but in such 

 cases a careful, competent coachman will usually succeed in 

 keeping him on his feet. A horse with bad fore-legs and 

 heavy shoulders, or one which plaits his feet when moving, is, 

 however, always liable to fall, and should never be ridden, 

 as it is bad enough to have such an animal in harness. An 

 awkward, under-bred horse as often as not comes down all 

 of a heap after a bad stumble with serious results to himself 

 and those about them, and to prevent him blundering a 

 bearing-rein may provide some assistance. (See Bleeding, 

 Broken Knees , Cuts, Driving, Lacing, Plaiting^ 



Suffolk Horse. — The Suffolk Punch, as he is generally 

 called, has been bred from time immemorial in East Anglia, 

 but the best modern specimens can be traced back in the 

 lame line to one stallion foaled in 1760. The breed is a 

 compound of Norman blood crossed with Suffolk cart mares, 

 and the colour is invariably chestnut. They are by far the 

 most nimble of the draught horses, and possess a great 

 reputation for docility, activity, and longevity. In appearance 

 they are long, low, and wide, with an attractive and refined 

 head, the stallions having a decidedly masculine look. The 

 neck is very powerful, and the crest strongly defined, the 

 shoulders long but not too sloping, and the middle-piece 

 very bulky (hence the soubriquet " Punch "). The legs 

 are short and flat in bone, which is of the best quality, 

 being very dense in character, and the pasterns short and 

 powerful. In height the Suffolk varies from i5f hands to 

 16.2 hands, and is of a bright chestnut colour, with no white 

 at all ; the legs are free from the hair which distinguishes the 

 other heavy breeds. They are remarkable for their endurance 

 and vitality, and will tug at a dead pull till they drop. The 

 interests of this breed are looked after by a strong society 

 which bears its name. 



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