The Farm

the farm

                               

The Painted Appaloosa stud is situated on the farm "Hoekplaas” in the serene valley of the Van der Stell Pass near Botriver, Western Cape. Here we do not only breed Pure (Studbook proper) Appaloosas, but also Appaloosa sport horses and Appaloosa Miniature Horses.

Our appaloosa sport horses are bred through the selection of only the best appaloosa and warmblood mares. They are both tall and elegant with good conformation as well as temperament with an impeccable breeding. They are crossed with some of the most well known national and international appaloosa and warmblood stallions. Producing thus the perfect top quality horse with both athletic ability and colour to dazzle. The breeding of our horses are done by a qualified breeder.

Why do we use crossbreeding for our sport horse program? By crossbreeding you get the advantage of Heterosis obtained in the offspring of Warmblood x Appaloosa. Heterosis increases the chances of the foal performing better than both parents as well as increasing hardiness. Crossbreeding also utilizes the desirable characteristics of parental breeds as expressed in crossbred offspring as  well as utilization of complimentarity and provides the opportunity to make genetic progress in one generation that would require generations of selection to obtain. 

Here we keep our brood mares and their foals to mature in the natural way with ad-lib oat hay grazing in the winter and spring, with lucern and clover grazing in the summer and autumn all with supplementary feeding in the mornings and afternoons to meet their vitamin, mineral, protein and energy requirements. This is done by a qualified nutritionist to a sure a balanced diet and for the foals to achieve the correct growth pattern.

They stay out during sunny days with stables available for harsh weather conditions. In this way the brood mares get enough exercise and foals get to play as much as they like which is vital for their well-being and a healthy mind set. Young horses reach their maximum potential by providing the correct environment that results in a strong horse with a good immune system equipped to fight off illness.

Stallions are kept on a separate farm where they are being trained for specific disciplines and being stabled in the afternoons.

All horses are being dewormed and vaccinated on a routine basis with farrier work done by a professional farrier. We also have a vet specific for the horses on the farm at least once every 2 weeks. We also provide the service of backing, schooling and livery of horses for there new owners. We have 8 large solid build stables available for our livery clients as well as proper equipped facilities.

We care for our horses very much because they are part of the family and we only provide the best of care for all of them.

All our horses are registered with the Appaloosa Horse Breeders Society of South-Africa as well as SA Studbook. Also a member of the South-African Warmblood society.

      

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