Most warmbloods are metabolically very efficient and require less energy than thoroughbreds of the same size and age to achieve optimum growth. They are often predisposed to Developmental Orthopaedic Diseases (DOD) such as OCD, and the risks are increased by overfeeding and rapid growth. For this reason they often require less grain to achieve optimum growth and condition, and many growing warmbloods are best maintained on a low calorie, high protein, high mineral and vitamin balancer feed such as the Capstone Life Time balancer pellet. This product is a new development in the South African horse feed industry and is ideally suited to feeding warmbloods.
However some growing warmbloods do require some grain for optimum growth and a combination of Capstone Stud Time and Life Time balancer pellet is the best recipe.
This feeding guide outlines how to feed growing warmbloods with Capstone feeds according to age and condition. Young horses with DOD should usually be taken off grain and maintained only on the Life Time balancer pellet for a period of 30 – 60 days regardless of body condition.
These are recommendations for the average horse and you may need to vary the amount of Stud Time by 0.5 kg either way to achieve the right balance of growth.
Warmblood and thoroughbred crosses may need more Stud Time to maintain growth and condition.
Note: If you want to feed an oat free diet, Cool Time could be fed in conjunction with Life Time instead. New Capstone Flexi Time could also be used with or without Life Time. Please consult us, your nutritionist or veterinarian if in doubt.
Availability of good grazing will affect the feed requirements of these weanlings and yearlings and the amount of Stud Time they will need and the amount of hay they will eat.
Very lush pastures with high energy contents can produce rapid growth with ensuing problems and horses on such pastures will only require the Life Time balancer pellet as a supplement.
| LIFE TIME | STUD TIME | Foal Condition | |
| Creep feed – 3 months on | 0.5kg | 1kg | poor – moderate |
| 0.75kg | 0.5kg | moderate – good | |
| 1kg | 0kg | good – very good |
All these foals are to have access to good quality hay (eg teff) and lucerne
| LIFE TIME | STUD TIME | Foal Condition | |
| Creep feed 4 – 6 months | 0.5kg | 1.5kg | poor – moderate |
| 0.75kg | 1kg | moderate – good | |
| 1kg | 0kg | good – very good |
All these foals are to have access to good quality hay and some lucerne hay.
Before weaning ensure that foals are creep feeding at least half of this amount.
| LIFE TIME | STUD TIME | Foal Condition | |
| Weanling 6 months onwards | 0.5kg | 2kg | poor – moderate |
| 0.75kg | 1kg | moderate – good | |
| 1kg | 0kg | good – very good |
| LIFE TIME | STUD TIME | Foal Condition | |
| Yearlings & 2 year olds | 0.5kg | 2kg – 3kg | poor – moderate |
| 18 – 36 months | 0.75kg | 1kg – 2kg | moderate – good |
| 1kg | 0kg – 1kg | good – very good |
Young horses are to have free access to good quality hay and about 2 kgs of lucerne or lucerne chaff per day.