It is hoped that three Spanish Mustang stallions and one mare living in Great Livermere will be the start of an ambitious plan to breed them for endurance and Western riding in this country and across the continent.

Descended from the horses of the Spanish conquistadors, the breed was widely used during the days of the wild west for buffalo hunting, cavalry and the pony express mail service.

Although it is now listed as critical on the list of rare breeds, a handful of breeders have made it their work to preserve the species and it is now hoped it can be introduced to Europe.

Breeder Martine Lettau, a former teacher, hatched the plan after falling in love with the horses on a trip to Wyoming, in the US.

She said: "My first knowledge of the breed came from a contact I made on the internet and, after seeing pictures and reading about them, I was convinced this would be the horse for me."

Martine eventually came up with the plan to import the breed to Europe.

She said: "I went to Wyoming last summer to buy more Spanish Mustangs to import to the UK, but business was slow until we found this wonderful smallholding in Great Livermere.

"It was a dream come true and within a month I had sold two horses," she said.

Next year, Mrs Lettau hopes to launch the Spanish Mustang Register Europe Association, with the intention of starting a stud book and promoting the breed over here. She would also like to invite native American horsemen to Suffolk to demonstrate their riding skills and training methods.

Visitors are welcome to visit the stud. Make an appointment on 01359 269313.