English Suffolks – Donhead Hall Six

by R.J. & E.C. Hiscock

In September 2006 at the Great Dorset Steam Fair the “Donhead Hall” Stud produced six home-bred Suffolk mares to make up this team. They were “Donhead Hall” “Alexandra and Florin” (lead), “Stephanie and Anastasia” (swing) and “Constance and Imogen” (wheel). Five of these mares have bred, with two actually having foals present at the fair. The foals remained at the boxes for each of the seven displays the team performed.

A point of interest for your readers is that the “Donhead Hall” Stud at “Coombe Corner Farm” is the home of the first imported American bred Suffolk stallion in the U.K. “Garrettland’s Golden Eagle” 3036S, the sale of which, the breeder Sam Yoder of Oakland, Maryland, reported on in a previous issue of the Small Farmer’s Journal. The two foals mentioned above are two of four born to this stallion this year. We have named each foal after an American state. This year saw the arrival of the Donhead Hall “Virginia,” “Arizona” and “Texas,” joining “Nevada” and “Dakota” from last year. Incidentally, “Arizona” (foaled 3rd June) won the inter-breed foal class and was “Best Colt” at this year’s fair. Despite the politics and prejudices of a few in England, these Anglo-American Suffolk foals are gaining widespread support and popularity and hopefully will continue to do so in the future.