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 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 targeted support, not a wall 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 needs protein, and returning muscle needs a steady 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 rebuilding body needs as work starts again.

Who this is for: owners bringing a horse back after a layoff, from a quiet winter off to post-injury downtime.

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 carry the growing workload. Support the body without winding up the mind.

The benefit: calm, 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 times of change 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, rising 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 match 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 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 a single targeted change, at one 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 receives 50–80 g daily. These gram ranges are modest, so use a scale rather than going by the scoop. Forage always remains 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 support muscle https://penzu.com/p/1f4cee5b2a2ba085 development, with 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein. Feed is one part of that alongside the right 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 includes 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.