The Suffolk Horse Society, founded in 1877, is the breed society for the Suffolk Horse, popularly known as the Suffolk Punch.
The Society:
- Is a registered charity and registered company
- Is the breed society for the Suffolk heavy horse and defines the breed standard
- Maintains the pedigrees of the UK population (and also of the nucleus populations in Australia and New Zealand)
- Publishes the stud book annually, registers animals into the stud book either by birth, by inspection or by a grading up scheme
- inspects and licenses stallions
- provides grants and premiums as a breeding incentive and all Suffolk horse owning Society members, from anywhere in the UK, are eligible to apply for those grants
- issues and registers prefixes/affixes for use by breeders
- promotes ownership of Suffolks by encouraging attendance at shows through offering turnout grants and awards and trophies
- appoints judges who have passed through its probationer scheme to the Suffolk horse judging panel
- provides practical training, open to all, in heavy horse skills
- is a passport issuing organisation recognised by DEFRA
Management
HRH The Princess Royal
Patron: Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
The Suffolk Horse Society is a registered charity and is managed by a body of Trustees, known as the Council, elected from amongst the members at the Annual General Meeting. Elected members serve for a four year term at the end of which they may seek re-election. The Society has a President who is chosen annually by the AGM and who serves for one year. The President is supported by a President Elect, who is also chosen by the AGM, and who takes on the presidency on an annual rolling basis.