Rare foal born on estate for first time in 100 years

Suffolk Punch horses are considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust

A museum has been celebrating the first birth of a rare horse on the site for 100 years.

The Food Museum at Abbot's Hall in Stowmarket, Suffolk, is home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses - a breed considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

A female foal was born on Saturday and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924.

Emma Lodge, the growing officer at the museum, said that Juno and her mother, Faith, were doing "well".

Suffolk Punch horses were bred on the estate between 1909 and 1924

"We feel incredibly lucky to have such a rare breed animal at the museum and to play a part in the continuing survival of the Suffolk Punch," she added.

Juno is just one of 12 fillies born so far this year in the country and she could potentially help produce more of the breed in the future.

The estate's other Suffolk horses, called Zippo and Faith, came to the site in 2019 and 2022.

Suffolk Punch horses were bred on the 84-acre Abbot's Hall estate from 1909 to 1924 by the site's owner, Captain H.D. Longe.

The last foal bred on the estate was named Combs Vesta 4th. In Roman mythology Juno is the sister of goddess Vesta, which explains the connection to the new foal's name.

Lisa Harris, the Food Museum's collections and interpretation manager, said the team was excited to continue Captain's Longe's legacy by supporting the rare breed.

"The Suffolk horse is hugely significant in the history of food and plays an important part in telling the story of food production," she added.