Höveler Pur.Muskel: 7 Reasons It Earns a Place in Show Prep
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli (pellet mix) designed to support muscle development, with 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, and only 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar. It is competition safe and FEI-compliant, and it is added to a complete ration — not a standalone feed. A 44 lb bag costs $52.99. Last checked: September 2026.
Show prep has a deadline, and that is exactly what makes it nerve-racking. You have six or eight weeks to tighten the topline, steady the energy, and keep the gut settled through hauling and strange stables. Pur.Muskel is built to be the muscle-support component of a complete plan during that window. Below are 7 reasons it deserves a place in show prep.
1. Muscle is the prep currency — and protein is the tool
Judges see muscle before they notice movement. Pur.Muskel supplies 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg of digestible crude protein, designed for muscle building. In a six-week prep block, a declared, digestible protein level is the variable you can actually manage.
Who this is for: owners with a dated show who want the topline on their side.
2. Lysine at 0.85% — the first-limiting amino acid
Protein only builds muscle if the key limiting amino acids are there. Pur.Muskel states lysine at 0.85%, methionine at 0.25%, methionine+cysteine at 0.5%, and threonine at 0.6%. That full profile matters most in a short window, where every week of conditioning has to count.
The benefit: the muscle-building blocks at stated levels, not a vague "high protein" claim.
3. Energy that stays rideable on show day
A prep feed that leaves the horse hot and looky in the warm-up has missed the point. Pur.Muskel delivers 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy and 11.9 MJ/kg of metabolizable energy with starch held at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%, carried by 15.0% raw fat. The energy backs work without the hot edge.
Who this is for: riders who want a fit horse that still walks into the ring rideable.
4. FEI-compliant, so prep and competition use one ration
Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant. That means no last-week feed change — the single most disruptive thing you can make before a show. The ration that created the condition is the ration that takes it into the class.
Who this is for: competitors under FEI or affiliated rules who refuse to gamble on a late feed switch.
5. Alfalfa-free and gentle on the traveling stomach
Prep means hauling, clinic stables, and new routines — peak gut stress at the worst time. Pur.Muskel is alfalfa-free and formulated to be gentle on the stomach, with 18.7% crude fiber and ingredients like meadow lyegrass, flaxseed, sweet lupine flakes, and linseed oil.
The benefit: a feed designed around travel-week digestion.
6. No added vitamins or minerals — prep math stays clean
Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals. During prep you may be fine-tuning electrolytes or a balancer for show conditions, and a supplementary feed that adds no micronutrients of its own keeps that math clean. It integrates into a custom feeding plan without stacking anything you did not plan.
Who this is for: owners running a careful prep plan who want one variable changed at a time.
7. $52.99 for a 44 lb bag, with the whole prep window covered
At rates of 50–80 g daily for a 1,000 lb horse in medium work, one bag at $52.99 stretches across weeks of prep. The maker behind it is Höveler — making horse feed since 1905, more than 120 years of expertise, made in Germany — and bifid adds a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team. The full listing is on the product page.
Who this is for: owners who want a whole prep block of feeding at a single 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 small, so weigh the ration 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.
To time the ramp-up against your show date, work out your horse's exact amount with the feeding calculator.
What an owner said
"Noticeable difference in stamina" — Jessica, March 14, 2019 (Quality https://hoveler-performance-horse-feed-pckl633.evercolumn.com/posts/hoveler-pur.muskel-9-reasons-it-fits-leisure-horses 4, Value 5, Price 4).
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead of a show should I start Pur.Muskel?
The fact sheet does not state a lead time. What it does state is the role: a supplementary feed formulated to support muscle development, designed to be included in a full nutrition plan. If you are working to a fixed date, bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team can help you map out the ramp-up.
Can I change feeds the week before the show?
Switching any feed at the last minute is disruptive, which is why the FEI-compliant label counts — you can feed Pur.Muskel right through prep and competition rather than switching at the end.
Is it a complete feed for a prep ration?
No. It is a supplementary feed with no added vitamins or minerals, added to a complete ration that contains forage and a balancer.
Does it contain soy?
Yes. Soy flakes are in 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 44 lb bag cost?
$52.99 from bifid, with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team behind the purchase.