Hard Keeper in the Barn? 9 Ways Höveler Pur.Muskel Helps
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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 only 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 burn through feed like a stove through kindling. You add more grain, the horse gets hot or quits the bucket, and the ribs remain. Hard keepers need calorie-dense, usable fuel that do not come wrapped in starch. Pur.Muskel is drawn up to that brief. Nine ways it helps.
1. 15.0% raw fat — calorie-dense, calm-delivering
Pur.Muskel carries 15.0% raw fat from linseed oil, flaxseed, and sunflower seed. Fat carries more than double the energy of starch gram for gram, which is exactly what a thin horse requires.
Who this is for: horses that lose weight on every standard concentrate.
2. 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy
The mix provides 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 instead of by pouring in more grain.
The benefit: calories you can plan around.
3. Low starch: 5.8%
Many hard keepers also heat up when starch rises. Pur.Muskel keeps starch at 5.8%, so the plan to add weight won't cost you a rideable horse.
Who this is for: thin horses that turn electric on high-grain feeds.
4. 20% raw protein to build, not just pad
Weight on a working horse ought to land as muscle. Pur.Muskel carries 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 spells out lysine at 0.85%, threonine at 0.6%, methionine at 0.25%, and methionine+cysteine at 0.5%, coming from 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 pickiest eaters, so a feed that gets finished matters as much as what's inside it.
The benefit: dense nutrition in a form the horse really finishes.
7. Rates that scale with the work
Feeding ranges 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 comes back into work and condition, the rate can grow with it.
Who this is for: owners bringing back 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 forage or balancer already supplies. For a hard keeper, whose whole ration is usually being managed, that flexibility counts.
The benefit: a single variable added, nothing doubled.
9. Proven maker, backed purchase
Höveler has made horse feed in Germany since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant. Bifid pairs it with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team; the store rates 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews.
Who this is for: owners about to invest a season in bringing a horse horse feed to increase muscle mass back.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed mixed into a complete ration — never a standalone complete feed. Rates per 220 lb (100 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 muscle building feed for horses work gets 50–80 g daily. Tune to body condition and training intensity, and keep forage alongside throughout. Weight loss that continues warrants 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 formulated to support condition inside a complete ration: 15.0% raw fat supplies 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy, and 20% raw protein builds muscle instead of just adding cover. It is a supplementary feed rather than a complete feed — and weight loss that keeps going 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 rather than starch. Fat-based weight gain is the profile chosen 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.