I have been working for Bunting and Sons for the past 11 years and I would like to make the following points, which may help to set the record straight.

I feel some of the work we do with Suffolk Punches has been very badly misinterpreted by some of those people who have been publicly stating their feelings against the proposed Horkesley Park heritage and conservation centre.

I am currently head groom at the stud and farm and I am very grateful my job means I can work very closely with our heavy horses.

I have 16 horses under my care and readers may be interested to hear we are very happy that one of our mares, Joy, gave birth to a healthy foal in the early hours of Saturday, May 14, thus swelling the numbers of this critically endangered species.

However, we are not just proud of our breeding programme, we are also helping to develop the next generation of horsemen and women at the yard.

We have a fully accredited apprentice scheme, which is giving employment to seven young people, and a further member of staff is undertaking the advanced apprentice qualification.

This means our yard is at the forefront of both breeding and working our horses.

They undertake work across the board, they are a working breed and that is what we use them for.

We are also at the forefront of training and developing the people capable of working with the animals, both now and in the future.

So, there is definitely one thing I do agree with the “antis” – a Suffolk Punch is not just for planning, it is my and my colleagues’ life’s work.

Chris Pratt
London Road
Great Horkesley