Hard Keeper in the Barn? 9 Ways Höveler Pur.Muskel Helps

Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli built for horses that struggle to keep weight on — 15.0% raw fat delivering 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy, plus 20% raw protein, at just 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar. It is added to a complete ration, not fed by itself. $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.

Some horses go through feed like a furnace through kindling. You raise the grain, the horse heats up or drops the bucket, and the ribs remain. Hard keepers need dense, usable calories that do not come wrapped in starch. Pur.Muskel is built to that spec. Nine ways it helps.

1. 15.0% raw fat — calorie-dense, calm-delivering

Pur.Muskel lists 15.0% raw fat from linseed oil, flaxseed, and sunflower seed. Fat carries more than twice the energy of starch per gram, which is exactly what a lean horse needs.

Who this is for: horses that drop condition on any standard concentrate.

2. 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy

The mix supplies 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy and 11.9 MJ/kg metabolizable energy — measured figures, so you can raise the ration's energy deliberately rather than by pouring in more grain.

The benefit: calories you can plan around.

3. Low starch: 5.8%

Plenty of hard keepers also heat up when starch goes up. Pur.Muskel keeps starch at 5.8%, so the plan to add weight won't cost you a rideable partner.

Who this is for: thin horses that turn explosive on high-grain feeds.

4. 20% raw protein to build, not just pad

Weight on a working horse should land as muscle. Pur.Muskel supplies 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg digestible crude protein and 0.85% lysine — its stated Functionality is Muscle Building.

The benefit: topline and condition, rather than just cover.

5. Essential amino acids named in full

The panel lists lysine at 0.85%, threonine at 0.6%, methionine at 0.25%, and methionine+cysteine at 0.5%, supplied by soy flakes, pea flakes, and sweet lupine flakes. (The feed contains soy and is not soy-free; it is alfalfa-free.)

Who this is for: owners who read analysis panels line by line.

6. Gentle on the stomach, fussy-eater friendly

The fact sheet calls Pur.Muskel gentle on the stomach, and it suits metabolically sensitive breeds. Hard keepers are frequently the fussiest eaters, so a feed that gets eaten up matters just as much as what's inside it.

The benefit: dense nutrition in a form the horse actually eats.

7. Rates that scale with the work

Feeding runs from 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight in light work up to 0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g) in heavy work. As the horse returns to work and condition, the rate can scale with it.

Who this is for: owners rebuilding a horse through an offseason.

8. Fits a custom plan — no added vitamins or minerals

With no added vitamins or minerals, Pur.Muskel integrates into a custom feeding plan without repeating what your balancer or forage already supplies. For a hard keeper, whose whole ration is usually being managed, that flexibility counts.

The benefit: a single variable added, nothing doubled up.

9. Proven maker, backed purchase

Höveler has been making horse feed in Germany since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant. Bifid backs it with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team; the store is rated 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews.

Who this is for: owners planning to invest a whole season in bringing a horse back into condition.

How to feed it

Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed added to a complete ration — never a standalone complete feed. Rates per 220 lb (100 https://reduced-starch-horse-feed-dczj141.rivertonbrief.com/posts/buying-from-a-maker-you-can-trust-7-boxes-hoveler-pur.muskel-ticks-for-the-heritage-buyer kg) of body weight per day:

Work levelDaily rate per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight Light work0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) Medium work0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) Heavy work0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g)

Example: a 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily. Tune to body condition and training intensity, and keep forage alongside throughout. Weight loss that continues calls for a vet check.

Key specs at a glance: 44 lb bag, $52.99, raw protein 20%, raw fat 15.0%, digestible energy 14.1 MJ/kg, starch 5.8%, sugar 4.1% — a supplementary feed added to a complete ration. The complete breakdown lives on the Höveler Pur.Muskel 44 lb bag page.

Dial in the rate with the feeding calculator.

What an owner said

"Excellent performance 9" — Jessica, May 21, 2024 (9/10). Her comment notes the horses maintain stronger muscle condition.

Frequently asked questions

Will Pur.Muskel put weight on my hard keeper?

It is designed to support condition inside a full ration: 15.0% raw fat supplies 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy, and 20% raw protein builds muscle up rather than just adding cover. It is a supplementary feed rather than a complete feed — and persistent weight loss should be checked by a vet.

Will it make my horse hot?

The energy comes at 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar, from fat instead. Fat-based weight gain is the profile picked for horses that run hot on grain.

How much do I feed?

0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight in medium work — just 50–80 g per day for a 1,000 lb horse.

Does it contain soy?

Yes — soy flakes are one of the core protein sources. It is not soy-free. It is alfalfa-free, with no vitamins or minerals added.