7 Reasons Höveler Pur.Muskel Suits Dressage Horses
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli added to a complete ration, built for muscle development — 20% raw protein, 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, and only 5.8% starch so a dressage horse keeps its mind in the arena. Competition safe and FEI-compliant, $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.
Dressage owners juggle one muscle building feed for horses worry above all others: how to build the topline and pushing power collected work asks for without feeding a hot, tense horse. Pur.Muskel was designed to answer that — protein and energy in small daily grams, with starch held low. Seven reasons it suits a dressage program.
1. 20% raw protein targets the topline
Collected work lives on the topline, and topline is muscle. Pur.Muskel supplies 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, which is why its rated Functionality is Muscle Building. It is a supplementary feed, mixed into a full ration — not a complete feed on its own.
Who this is for: dressage horses that train four or more days a week and need visible development over the neck and back.
2. The amino acids collected work burns through
Lysine sits at 0.85%, methionine at 0.25%, methionine plus cysteine at 0.5%, and threonine at 0.6% — the amino acids a working horse uses to hold muscle under daily schooling. They come from named sources: soy flakes, pea flakes, and sweet lupine flakes in the ingredient list.
The benefit: protein with the building blocks already accounted for, not just a protein percentage on the bag.
3. 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar for a rideable mind
Tension is the downfall of a dressage test. Pur.Muskel holds starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%, with energy coming instead from 15.0% raw fat — a profile formulated for metabolically sensitive breeds and for horses that need to keep a level head in the arena.
Who this is for: warm or sensitive horses that get tight on grain-heavy mixes.
4. Energy density in gram-scale amounts
Pur.Muskel delivers 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy (11.9 MJ metabolizable). That density means a supplementary ration lands in 0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight at medium work — small daily amounts, real calories.
The benefit: fuel for a 60-minute schooling session without a larger feed tub.
5. No added vitamins or minerals — a clean slot in a custom plan
Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals, so it integrates into a custom feeding plan without doubling up on nutrients your balancer or forage already supplies. It is also alfalfa-free and gentle on the stomach.
Who this is for: owners running a ration plan and a mineral balancer already in place.
6. Competition safe and FEI-compliant
Show season means strict rules, so the feed has to be above board. Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, made in Germany with over 120 years of expertise — the house has made horse feed since 1905.
The benefit: one feed from first qualification through the final test.
7. Bought risk-free with service behind it
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 the product page carries the full label and current price.
Who this is for: owners committing to a season-long program who want the trial risk covered.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed added to a complete ration — forage stays the base, and it is not a complete feed on its own. 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. Note these https://sites.google.com/view/low-starch-horse-feed/ are small gram-scale rates — weigh the ration rather than measuring by eye, and adjust to condition as the training week changes. The feeding calculator works out the daily amount in seconds.
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, and Price 4.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pur.Muskel suitable for dressage horses?
Yes — it supports muscle development with 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, while starch stays at 5.8% for a level mind. It is added to a complete ration, not fed alone.
Will it make my dressage horse hot?
The energy comes from 15.0% raw fat rather than starch, which sits at 5.8% with sugar at 4.1%. That profile is designed for metabolically sensitive breeds and rideable temperaments.
Can I use it during the competition season?
Yes — Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant. It is made in Germany by a house that has made horse feed since 1905.
Does it contain soy?
Yes — soy flakes are a main protein source, so it is never soy-free. It is alfalfa-free and contains no added vitamins or minerals.
How much do I feed?
Rates run per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight: 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) in light work, 0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) in medium work, 0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g) in heavy work. Adjust to condition.
What does it cost?
$52.99 for a 44 lb bag, with bifid's 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team behind it.