The Suffolk Punch Trust, which has been breeding Suffolk Punch horses at its Hollesley stud in Suffolk since 1759, announced it will be closing its visitor centre, cafe, and shop due to rising costs amid the challenging economic climate. The trust, dedicated to preserving Britain’s oldest heavy horse breed—classified as critically endangered—plans to restructure its operations to focus on the future development and economic sustainability of its core breeding program, known as the Colony Stud.

Despite cutting back public facilities, the trust emphasized its commitment to maintaining the stud and continuing its long-standing heritage of breeding Suffolk Punch horses. The decision reflects a strategic move to ensure the trust’s survival and the ongoing protection of this rare breed in a more financially sustainable manner.