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Two year fight saves Suffolk stud

The East Anglian Daily Times has helped save a Suffolk horse stud from closure, bringing victory for its two-year campaign.

The stud at Hollesley Bay Prison had been under threat of closure since early 2001 when the prison service decided it was not a core prison business and asked for someone else to meet the £40,000 annual running cost.

A trust was set up and the stud is now largely self-financing, with running costs such as feed, shoeing and veterinary bills covered by sponsorship and public appearances.

The Home Office has now agreed to keep the stud open and it looks likely that it will be financed and run by the Suffolk Horse Trust, with prison inmates still able to work with the horses as part of their rehabilitation.

Editor Terry Hunt said: “This is great news.

“The Suffolk horse is one of the most important icons of the county, and the tremendous amount of support we received for our campaign to keep the stud open showed just how many people care about this wonderful breed of horse.”

The newspaper’s campaign attracted worldwide support from people calling for the safeguarding of the Suffolk Punch, and more than 30,000 signed a petition to voice their concerns.

  • Breeding of Suffolk Punch horses began at the prison in 1938. It is the oldest breed of heavy horse in the world and it is estimated that there are only about 230 worldwide.

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