Phillips said the prison authorities have not adequately considered the income derived from these and other activities, including stud fees, that helps meet the costs of caring for the horses.
Hollesley Bay Prison has considered several options to prevent the stud farm from being broken up. The possibilities include forming a charitable trust and establishing a lottery. Stuart Robinson, governor of the prison, said the prison's managers are now talking with "interested parties on the basis of keeping the stud farm together and promoting the survival of the breed."
The Prison Service says it is not rushing to close the stud farm. "We have kept and promoted the horses for 63 years since we inherited them," said a spokesperson. "The farm will remain open until the horses have found a new home."
A History of Service
In Britain, heavy horses such as the Suffolk traditionally have been pictured on boxes of candy and cookies.
The Suffolk is descended from the great warhorses of medieval times. In the First World War, these powerful giants were used to haul the guns and medical wagons. For generations, they have also been used to work the land, but the mechanization of agriculture has eliminated the need for them and led to a decline in populations of the breed.
To protect the breed's gene pool, the prison stud farm's premier resident stallion, Colony Edward, will be the first British Suffolk to have its semen preserved for worldwide export.
Meanwhile, the Suffolk Horse Society is planning its major event, the Suffolk Horse Spectacular, to celebrate the horse and the bygone era it represents. Scheduled for September 16 at Kentwell Hall, in Long Melford, Suffolk, it will bring together lovers of these gentle giants.
Reflecting on the breed's past glory, Paul Heiney, a former farmer, says: "As a cart horse the Suffolk Punch is one of God's finest creatures. They deserve a better memorial than that provided by the chocolate-box lid."
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