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 gone quiet, and the owner's worry is rebuilding muscle without overwhelming a body that has been on a break. The feed's job in this phase is focused 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 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 consistent supply. Pur.Muskel provides 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein, formulated for muscle building. Digestibility is the figure that gets absorbed — exactly what a body rebuilding itself needs as work resumes.

Who this is for: owners getting 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 fresh 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 revving 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 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 transitions hard on the gut.

4. Rates that start small and grow with fitness

The feeding rates line up with a return-to-work plan: light work is 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily, rising to 50–80 g for medium and 80–100 g for heavy work as fitness develops. 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 match the program instead of jumping 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 run. A 44 lb bag costs $52.99, backed by 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 bringing work back who want one 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 modest, so use a scale rather than scooping it. 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 https://sites.google.com/view/aminoacid-supplement-for-horse/ 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 rate for light work 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 support muscle development, with 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein. Feed is one part of that alongside appropriate exercise; the accurate way to say it is that it supports, rather than produces, 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.