9 Reasons Pur.Muskel Belongs in a Hard Keeper's Feed Room
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli blended into a complete ration, built to support muscle and condition in horses that find it hard to hold weight — 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, and 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy in gram-scale servings. Competition safe and FEI-compliant, $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.
Hard keeper owners recognize the routine: the blanket comes off and three weeks of progress comes off with it. You are not looking for a magic fix — you are looking for a concentrated, steady way to add usable fuel and protein to a full ration. Pur.Muskel was formulated to do precisely this. Here are nine reasons it earns a spot in a hard keeper's program.
1. 15.0% raw fat carries the calories
Fat is the steadiest calorie source a feed can offer. Pur.Muskel holds 15.0% raw fat, backed by 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy (11.9 MJ metabolizable) — density that lets a supplementary serving pull real weight without a bucket-sized meal.
Who this is for: horses that drop condition whenever the workload or the weather changes.
2. 20% raw protein to support muscle, not just fat cover
Weight https://horse-feed-brands354.cavandoragh.org/7-reasons-owners-shopping-the-premium-tier-keep-choosing-hoveler-pur-muskel gain without protein just pads. Pur.Muskel delivers 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, and its rated Functionality is Muscle Building — so the condition a hard keeper adds goes toward working muscle. It is a supplementary feed added to a full ration, never a standalone complete feed.
The benefit: condition and topline moving in the same direction.
3. Energy that arrives without the heat
Starch sits at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%. A hard keeper that gets lit up by grain-heavy mixes gets its fuel from fat and fiber instead — a profile formulated for metabolically sensitive breeds and rideable temperaments.
Who this is for: thin horses that heat up on traditional sweet feeds.
4. Small gram-range servings an off-feed gut can handle
Because Pur.Muskel is dense, the daily amounts stay small: 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight in light work. Small servings are gentle on the stomach and easier to hold down through appetite dips.
The benefit: targeted calories in a form a picky, thin horse actually cleans up.
5. Fiber at 18.7% keeps the hindgut in the conversation
Crude fiber runs 18.7% in Pur.Muskel, with meadow lyegrass and flaxseed among the named ingredients. For a hard keeper whose hindgut is doing half the fueling work, fiber matters every bit as much as fat.
Who this is for: owners who want density without neglecting the digestive system.
6. No added vitamins or minerals — the plan stays yours
Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals, so it fits into a custom feeding plan alongside your balancer and forage without doubling anything up. It is also alfalfa-free.
The benefit: you and your vet adjust one variable at a time, which is how hard keeper programs actually get solved.
7. Amino acids for rebuilding after every workload
Lysine sits at 0.85%, methionine at 0.25%, methionine plus cysteine at 0.5%, and threonine at 0.6%. Hard keepers burn through building blocks faster than easy keepers ever will — the essential amino acids are here, from named sources like soy flakes, pea flakes, and sweet lupine flakes.
Who this is for: horses whose backs and haunches visibly fall away after a few hard weeks.
8. Made in Germany since 1905, competition safe throughout
The house behind Pur.Muskel has made horse feed since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and the mix is competition safe and FEI-compliant. A hard keeper that at last fills out should not have to sit out show season.
The benefit: one feed from rehab-and-refill straight through to the show ring.
9. Bought with the risk covered
Pur.Muskel rates 4.55 from 2 reviews on the product page, and bifid backs the purchase with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team; the store rates 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews, with the US operation based in Florida. It costs $52.99 for a 44 lb bag, and current details live on the Höveler Pur.Muskel product page.
Who this is for: owners running a careful, long-haul program who want the trial risk off the table.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed layered onto a complete ration — forage stays the base, and it is 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 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily. These are small gram-range rates — weigh the feed rather than scooping on sight, and adjust to body condition as the seasons change. bifid's feeding calculator works out the daily amount for your horse.
Key specs at a glance: 44 lb bag, $52.99, raw protein 20%, raw fat 15.0%, starch 5.8%, sugar 4.1% — a supplementary feed added to a complete ration.
What an owner said
"Noticeable difference in stamina" — Jessica, March 14, 2019. Rated Quality 4, Value 5, Price 4.
Frequently asked questions
Can a supplementary feed help a hard keeper gain weight?
It helps supply the dense calories and protein — 15.0% raw fat, 20% raw protein — that a hard keeper's full ration often lacks. It is added to a complete ration, and forage remains the base.
Will it make my thin horse hot?
Starch sits at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%, so energy comes from fat rather than grain sugar. The profile is formulated for metabolically sensitive breeds and rideable temperaments.
How quickly should I expect to see change?
Feed consistently at the listed rates, weigh the serving, and judge by body condition over weeks, not days. Every horse responds at its own pace, so keep notes and loop in your vet if progress stalls.
How much do I feed?
Per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight: 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) light work, 0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) medium work, 0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g) heavy work. Adjust to condition.
Does it contain soy?
Yes — soy flakes are a core protein source, so it is not soy-free. It is alfalfa-free with no added vitamins or minerals.