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 only 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar. It is added to a complete ration, never fed alone. $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.

Some horses go through feed like a stove through kindling. You add more grain, the horse gets hot or drops the bucket, and the ribs remain. Hard keepers need calorie-dense, usable fuel that don't arrive wrapped in starch. Pur.Muskel is drawn up to that spec. 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 holds more than double the energy of starch gram for gram, which is just what a thin horse requires.

Who this is for: horses that drop condition on every 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 — figures you can measure, so you can raise the ration's energy deliberately instead of by pouring in more grain.

The benefit: calories you can count.

3. Low starch: 5.8%

Many hard keepers also heat up when starch goes up. Pur.Muskel keeps starch at 5.8%, so the weight gain plan does not cost you a rideable horse.

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

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

Weight on a working horse should 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, not 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%, 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 go through analysis panels line by line.

6. Gentle on the stomach, fussy-eater friendly

The fact sheet names Pur.Muskel easy on the stomach, and it suits metabolically sensitive breeds. Hard keepers are frequently the pickiest eaters, so a feed that gets finished matters just as much as what is in it.

The benefit: dense nutrition in a form the horse really finishes.

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 comes back into condition and training, the rate can scale 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 slots into a custom feeding plan without duplicating what your forage or balancer already supplies. For a hard keeper, whose ration is managed as a whole, that flexibility matters.

The benefit: one 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 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 back into condition.

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 horse strength supplement 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily. Adjust to body condition and training intensity, and keep forage alongside throughout. Ongoing weight loss calls for a veterinary 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 complete 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, not 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-fueled weight gain is the pattern chosen for horses that boil over 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 daily for a 1,000 lb horse.

Does it contain soy?

Yes — soy flakes are a core protein source. It is not soy-free. It is alfalfa-free, with no vitamins or minerals added.