Höveler Pur.Muskel: 5 Reasons It Supports a Return to Work

Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli (pellet mix) formulated to support muscle development, with 20% raw protein and only 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar. It is added to a complete ration — never a standalone feed — and carries no added vitamins or minerals. A 44 lb bag costs $52.99. Last checked: September 2026.

Bringing a horse back after a break is slow science. The engine is game but the topline has softened, and the owner's worry is reconditioning muscle without overwhelming a body that has been on a break. The feed's job in this phase is targeted support, not a wall of concentrate. Pur.Muskel is built to be that muscle-support piece of a complete plan. Below are 5 reasons it supports a return to work.

1. Protein to rebuild what the time off softened

Muscle needs protein, and returning muscle needs a steady supply. Pur.Muskel provides 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein, designed for muscle building. Digestibility is the absorbed figure — precisely what a body rebuilding itself needs as work resumes.

Who this is for: owners bringing a horse back after a layoff, from a quiet winter to post-injury downtime.

2. Low starch keeps the restart level-headed

Fresh horses on new programs make mistakes. Pur.Muskel holds starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1% — a profile the fact sheet says suits metabolically sensitive breeds — while 15.0% raw fat and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy fuel the growing workload. Support the body without winding up the mind.

The benefit: steady, usable energy matched to a reintroduction program.

3. Gentle on the stomach during a changed routine

Coming back into work alters mealtimes, turnout, and workload https://jsbin.com/?html,output all at once. Pur.Muskel is alfalfa-free and formulated to be gentle on the stomach, with 18.7% crude fiber in a muesli of meadow lyegrass, flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, and pea flakes.

Who this is for: owners of horses that find times of change hard on the gut.

4. Rates that start small and grow with fitness

The feeding rates map neatly onto a return-to-work plan: light work is 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily, increasing to 50–80 g for medium and 80–100 g for heavy work as fitness builds. A 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily. The ration grows only when the horse does.

Who this is for: owners who want the feed to match the program instead of getting ahead of it.

5. One clean addition to the existing plan — at $52.99

Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals, so as a supplementary feed it adds protein and energy only, integrating into the complete ration you already feed. A 44 lb bag costs $52.99, with bifid's 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team. Höveler has made horse feed since 1905 — more than 120 years of expertise, made in Germany. The current listing is on the product page.

Who this is for: owners reintroducing work who want a single targeted change, at one known price.

How to feed it

Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — always added to a complete ration, never fed alone. 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 gets 50–80 g daily. These gram ranges are small, so weigh the ration rather than going by the scoop. Forage always stays 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 fitness returns and the work level changes, 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

Can I feed Pur.Muskel while my horse is only in light work again?

Yes — that is what the light-work rate is for: 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily. The rate scales up with fitness.

Will it help rebuild topline after time off?

It is formulated to aid muscle development, with 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein. Feed is one piece of that alongside the right exercise; the accurate way to say it is that it supports, rather than creates, the rebuild.

Is it a complete feed?

No. It is a supplementary feed with no added vitamins or minerals, added to a full nutrition plan that contains 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.