Höveler Pur.Muskel: 9 Reasons It Suits Early Training
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli (pellet mix) designed to support muscle development, with 20% raw protein, 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, and only 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar. It is added to a full ration — never a standalone feed. A 44 lb bag costs $52.99. Last checked: September 2026.
Early training is a foundation phase, and the horse is paying attention to everything — including the feed. Young or newly backed, a horse in its first months of work is laying down the muscle patterns the whole working life rests on. Owners worry most about getting this phase nailed without pushing too hard. Pur.Muskel is designed to be the muscle-support piece of a complete plan for exactly this stage. Below are 9 reasons it fits early training.
1. 20% raw protein while the foundation is poured
Muscle formed during early training is muscle the horse keeps drawing on. Pur.Muskel supplies 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein, designed for muscle building. Digestibility is the figure that gets absorbed — the one that matters when the body is doing unfamiliar work.
Who this is for: owners of young or newly started horses whose first months under saddle shape the pattern.
2. Amino acids at declared levels for growing workloads
The label states lysine at 0.85%, methionine at 0.25%, methionine+cysteine at 0.5%, and threonine at 0.6%. Lysine is the first-limiting amino acid for muscle synthesis, so a complete profile counts most when muscle is being built from scratch.
The benefit: the raw materials for new muscle, at levels you can build a program around.
3. Low starch — the calm way to start a career
Early training goes sideways when the brain is ahead of the body. Pur.Muskel holds starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%, with 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy coming with 15.0% raw fat. The fact sheet specifically says the low-starch, low-sugar profile suits metabolically sensitive breeds.
Who this is for: riders backing or restarting horses who want energy without the fizz.
4. Gentle on the stomach through a big transition
New routines, new work, and sometimes new surroundings all land on the digestive system at once. Pur.Muskel is alfalfa-free and formulated to be gentle on the stomach, with 18.7% crude fiber and a muesli format that mixes meadow lyegrass, flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, and pea flakes.
Who this is for: owners whose horses find transition periods hard on the gut.
5. No added vitamins or minerals — the plan stays yours
Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals. In early training, when you may be tuning a balancer as the workload changes, a supplementary feed with a clean slate on micronutrients fits into a custom feeding plan without stacking anything twice.
The benefit: targeted protein and energy support inside a plan you own.
6. Rates that scale with the work, not ahead of it
Early training seldom starts at heavy work — and the feeding rates mirror that reality. Light work is 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily, rising to 0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g) for heavy work as fitness grows. A 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily.
Who this is for: owners who want the ration to grow with the training program, one step at a time.
7. Formulation depth from over 120 years of expertise
The ingredient list reads like a formulator's answer sheet: meadow lyegrass, soy flakes, flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, sunflower extraction meal, pea flakes, sunflower seed, apple pome, linseed oil, grape seed flour, and rosehip. Höveler has made horse feed since 1905 — more than 120 years of expertise, made in Germany.
Who this is for: owners who want a young horse's first feed to come from a maker with a long track record.
8. Ready for the day early training becomes competition
Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant. The ration you started the horse on is the one that takes it into its first classes — no feed change mid-career, no withdrawal worries, no re-training the palate under pressure.
The benefit: one feed from first rides to first shows.
9. $52.99 with service behind the bag
A 44 lb bag is $52.99, and at these rates it covers a long stretch of weeks. Through bifid you also get a 9.0/10 store-wide rating across 24,098 reviews, a 24/7 licensed vet team, and a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. (The store rating is bifid's, not this product's, which holds 4.55 from 2 reviews.) The full listing is on the product page.
Who this is for: owners bringing on a young horse who want expert help on call while the program unfolds.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — always added to a complete ration, never a standalone feed. Rates are per 220 lb (100 kg) 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)For example, a 1,000 lb horse in medium work receives 50–80 g https://grainfree-rationrmco356.sagecurrent.com/posts/7-reasons-hoveler-pur.muskel-suits-the-winter-workload daily. These gram ranges are small, so weigh the ration rather than going by the scoop. Forage always remains alongside.
Key specs at a glance: 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar, 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, 44 lb bag, $52.99.
As the workload steps up, work out your horse's exact amount with the feeding calculator.
What an owner said
"Noticeable difference in stamina" — Jessica, March 14, 2019 (Quality 4, Value 5, Price 4).
Frequently asked questions
Is Pur.Muskel suitable for a young horse just starting work?
It is formulated for muscle development in any horse, with low starch (5.8%) and sugar (4.1%) and a light-work rate of 30–50 g per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight. The fact sheet does not give a minimum age, so check with your vet before starting any young horse — bifid runs a 24/7 licensed vet team for questions like this.
Will it make a young horse hot?
The energy profile argues against it: starch is 5.8%, sugar 4.1%, and the energy is carried with 15.0% raw fat. The fact sheet describes the mix as suited to metabolically sensitive breeds.
Is it a complete feed?
No. It is a supplementary feed with no added vitamins or minerals, added to a complete ration that includes forage and a balancer.
Does it contain soy?
Yes. Soy flakes are on the ingredient list together with meadow lyegrass, flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, and pea flakes. It is alfalfa-free, but it is not soy-free.
What does a bag cost?
$52.99 for 44 lb through bifid, with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.