Höveler Pur.Muskel vs a Forage-Only Ration: 5 Differences That Matter
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli bringing 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, and 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy to a complete ration — forage always remains the foundation. A forage-only ration is healthy and honest, but it leaves muscle support to chance. Pur.Muskel costs $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.
Forage-first feeding is the right instinct, and nobody is suggesting otherwise. The question is what happens when forage alone can no longer keep up with a working horse's protein and energy demands. Here are 5 differences that matter — and the supplement never replaces the hay.
1. Forage covers fiber; it doesn't cover muscle-building protein
Hay and pasture are fiber first. Pur.Muskel exists for the protein layer: 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, with lysine at 0.85% and threonine at 0.6%. When work ramps up, forage protein levels and amino acid balance often stop matching demand.
Who this is for: owners of forage-first horses whose topline quietly faded as training ramped up.
2. Energy on top of the hay, not instead of it
Pur.Muskel adds 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy and 15.0% raw fat in gram-scale doses — 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight in light work. A forage-only ration asks roughage to carry all of the work energy, which is precisely where hard keepers come up short.
The benefit: work calories arriving as a measured addition, with the hay untouched.
3. Low starch keeps the forage-first philosophy
Pur.Muskel holds starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%, is alfalfa-free, and is easy on the digestive system. Owners who feed forage only usually do it out of caution; a supplement with a metabolically friendly profile honors that caution rather than working against it.
Who this is for: metabolically sensitive breeds kept on conservative rations.
4. No added vitamins or minerals — your forage analysis stays in charge
Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals. That means it does not compete with the balancer you matched to your hay analysis. It is a supplementary feed, fed within a complete ration: forage and balancer stay the base, and Pur.Muskel covers the protein-and-energy role.
The benefit: targeted integration into the plan you built already, by design.
5. Show-legal support when the season asks more
Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, made in Germany by Höveler since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise. When competition season raises the workload, the forage-only ration is the first thing that needs help; this supplement is built to be that help. It holds a 4.55 rating from 2 reviews at $52.99 per 44 lb bag. The product page lists the full label.
Who this is for: owners who want the forage-first principle kept even at FEI level.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — always mixed into a complete ration with forage in the bucket, never fed by itself. For a horse on forage-first feeding, it layers onto the existing hay ration. 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)The feeding calculator layers the right dose onto your ration.
Key specs at a glance: 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar, 11.9 MJ/kg metabolizable energy — a supplementary muesli, alfalfa-free, no added vitamins or minerals.
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
Does Pur.Muskel replace any of my hay?
No. It is a supplementary feed by definition, so forage always stays alongside. It brings protein, fat, and energy on top of the forage base — the hay stays untouched.
My horse lives on forage and looks fine. Do I need this?
If the horse is in light work, holds condition, and does well on forage alone, you may not. Pur.Muskel is formulated for the point where training demand outgrows the ration — that is when the 20% raw protein and 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy start doing visible work.
Is a supplement with soy suitable for a forage-first horse?
Yes. Pur.Muskel includes soy flakes as one of its protein sources, along with flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, and pea flakes. It is alfalfa-free and gentle on the stomach, which fits conservative rations.
How fast is a 44 lb bag at low rates?
At light-work doses of 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight per day, a 44 lb bag goes a long way. Exact duration comes down https://sites.google.com/view/muscle-building-feed-for-horse/ to your horse's size and workload — the calculator gives the number.