Queen Elizabeth's horse breeding

(BANG) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth is helping to save a type of endangered British horse, by breeding them herself.

The queen is now the proud owner of two Suffolk horses - the oldest breed of heavy horse in Britain - after her original pony, Whitton Poppy, gave birth to the 9,000th foal to be registered by the Suffolk Horse Society (SHS) since the organisation was formed in 1877.

The newborn - who was born in May - has been named Sandringham Sailor II, after a Suffolk horse owned by the queen's father George VI.

Amanda Hillier, administrative secretary of the SHS, told Britain's Horse and Hound magazine: "It's lovely that he should have a special number like that.

"We are still a critically endangered breed according to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

"We are moving forward, but slowly."

Sailor's mother Poppy - who was bred on a farm in Ipswich - was presented to the queen by the SHS as a foal four years ago.

Sailor will be assessed when he reaches two-years-old and could become one of the Suffolk breed's rare registered stallions if he is found to conform to breed standards.

In 1913 there were more than two million Suffolk horses used on farms in Britain, but they are now considered by some to be more endangered than the Great Panda.

There are currently only 420 registered Suffolk horses remaining - 110 of which are geldings, which means they have been castrated and can no longer reproduce.

(C) BANG Media International

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Queen Elizabeth's horse breeding,