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 a slow, careful process. The engine is willing but the topline has softened, and the owner's worry is rebuilding muscle without overloading a body that has been resting. The feed's job in this phase is focused support, not a firehose of concentrate. Pur.Muskel is designed to be that muscle-support piece of a complete plan. Below are 5 reasons it helps with a return to work.
1. Protein to rebuild what the time off softened
Muscle responds to protein, and muscle coming back 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 figure that gets absorbed — precisely what a rebuilding body needs as work resumes.
Who this is for: owners bringing a horse back after a layoff, from a quiet winter to downtime after an injury.
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 notes suits metabolically sensitive breeds — while 15.0% raw fat and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy fuel the growing workload. Feed the body without winding up the mind.
The benefit: steady, usable energy matched to a gradual comeback plan.
3. Gentle on the stomach during a changed routine
Coming back into work alters mealtimes, turnout, and workload all together. 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 transitions 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 advances only when the horse does.
Who this is for: owners who want the feed to scale with 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 muscle building feed for horses complete ration you already run. 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 — over 120 years of expertise, made in Germany. The current listing is on the product page.
Who this is for: owners reintroducing work who want one targeted change, at a known price.
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 gets 50–80 g daily. These gram ranges are modest, so use a scale 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 steps 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 appropriate 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 zero added vitamins or minerals, added to a full nutrition plan that includes forage and a balancer.
Does it contain soy?
Yes. Soy check here flakes are on the ingredient list alongside 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 from bifid, with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.