CHAPTER XVIII 



THE SUFFOLK 



The native home of the Suffolk horse, or Suffolk Punch, as it 

 has been known, is in Suffolk County in the eastern part of 

 England. This county is flat in character with clayey soil, is 

 generally cultivated, borders on the seashore, and comprises 

 about fifteen hundred square miles. This is a thickly populated 

 community, the farms small and highly cultivated. The county 

 of Essex, which joins Suffolk on the south, may also be con- 

 sidered to some extent within the native territory of this breed. 



The early history of the Suffolk horse traces clearly back to 

 about 1 700. While Normandy horse stock has been assumed by 

 some as playing an early part in the formation of the breed, 

 no positive information exists on this point. In purity of blood it 

 is believed that the Suffolk surpasses any other breed in Great 

 Britain. The general evidence, as given by various authorities, 

 indicates that for several centuries this horse has been bred in 

 Suffolk with much purity. 



The pure-bred Suffolk foundation really dates back to a horse 

 of unknown sire, foaled in 1768, known as the " Crisp Horse," 

 being owned by a Mr. Crisp of Ufford, Sussex. To this horse 

 are traced all pedigrees of the breed that may be registered in 

 the studbook of either England or America. This history has 

 been clearly and fully traced and stands accepted by breeders 

 universally. The Crisp horse was a bright chestnut in color, 

 stood 15^ hands high, and proved a remarkable breeder. In the 

 development of the Suffolk since his time four attempts have 

 been made to introduce foreign blood and thus improve the 

 stock. In no case, however, has this blood held its own, but 

 has been completely absorbed and the breeding lost. 



The foreign blood used to improve the Suffolk was as follows : 



■I. The Blake strain. This came from the use of a Lincoln- 

 shire trotting horse with no Suffolk blood, known as Blake's 



160 

 Digitized by Microsoft® 



