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 clock on it, and that is exactly what makes it stressful. You have six or eight weeks to sharpen the topline, steady the energy, and keep the gut happy through trailering and strange stables. Pur.Muskel is built to be the muscle-support component of a complete plan during that window. Here are 7 reasons it https://horse-feed-advice298.wpsuo.com/hoveler-pur-muskel-9-reasons-it-suits-early-training 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, formulated 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 show on the calendar 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 tight window, where each week of conditioning has to matter.

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 failed. 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 supports work without the sharp edge.

Who this is for: riders who want a fit, rideable horse when it walks into the ring.

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 most disruptive move 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 won't gamble on a late feed switch.

5. Alfalfa-free and gentle on the traveling stomach

Prep means trailers, clinic stables, and changed routines — maximum gut stress at the worst moment. 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 without its own micronutrient load keeps that math clean. It fits into a custom feeding plan without stacking anything you did not plan.

Who this is for: owners running a precise 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 full prep block of feeding at one known price.

How to feed it

Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — always mixed into 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 weigh the ration rather than scooping it. 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.

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 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 job: a supplementary feed formulated to support muscle development, designed to be included in a full nutrition plan. If you are working to a specific timeline, bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team can help you plan the ramp-up.

Can I change feeds the week before the show?

Switching any feed late is disruptive, which is why the FEI-compliant label counts — you can feed Pur.Muskel right through prep and competition rather than making a late change.

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 includes forage and a balancer.

Does it contain soy?

Yes. Soy flakes are in the ingredient list along 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.