Britain’s oldest surviving breed tilled the soil that fed a nation for centuries. Times have changed, today the critically endangered Suffolk Punch is looking for new purpose as it struggles to survive. One particular Punch has taken up a new job receiving eye popping reactions from the other participants.

Craikhow Hall Jensen is a nine-year-old Suffolk Punch stallion. His only occupation has been to serve as stud, at least until Bruce Langley McKim purchased him last year. McKim owns several endangered draft stallions. He does not believe in keeping stallions stalled instead he believes that each needs a job beyond breeding. Working with Jenson, McKim was riding him within three days. He was ‘easy as pie to break’. Ground poles were introduced to build confidence and Jensen quickly learned to jump. In February, McKim and Jensen made their debut at a local hunt in Illston.

“He was good as gold,” said McKim. “People were gobsmacked and the social media was huge. I think there was astonishment that you could take a horse like that out and he could be nimble enough to jump.”

The meet at Illston was the stallion’s first hunt, the first time ridden in public and the first time hanging out with a pack of hounds. It will not be his last.

“What I am doing with him isn’t what they were designed for, but that job doesn’t exist anymore. I’m not looking to change the breed, but I think they have to diversify.”

(L to R) Suffolk Punch stallions Whatton Albert, Thornfield Pendragon and Craikhow Hall Jensen arrived February 28, 2018 at Stallion AI Services for semen collections for the Rare Breeds Bank. Photo Courtesy: Horse Power Creative

Last week Jensen and two other Suffolk Punch stallions arrived at Stallion AI Services for semen collection. The trio were selected by the Suffolk Punch Trust to contribute to the Rare Breeds Bank. When he returns home, you may spot Jenson once again galloping with the hunt and jumping hedges to beat the band.