Country Critters

Country Critters, Suffolk Punch horses, Sterling, CT, is a small farm in Windham County and the Hartford area near Springfield. Bailey Hirschboeck has bred these gentle draft horses for more than a decade, maintaining registrations with regional equine associations and adhering to annual soundness and genetic health evaluations, as well as following guidelines from the Suffolk Horse Society.

Its horses graze on rotational pastures and live in open-front barns designed for shelter and airflow. Foals spend their first months within sight of mares in a family-oriented herd and join regular handling sessions to foster calm, confident temperaments.

The farm’s roots trace back to a mid-19th-century family homestead, and original stone walls still outline several paddocks. Country Critters participates in local plowing matches and volunteers Suffolk Punch horses for workshop demonstrations, reflecting practical involvement in preserving this rare breed. Visitors often note the farm’s quiet pace and the horses’ steady, dependable nature.