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 holds 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 worry above all others: how to build the topline and pushing power collected work demands without feeding a hot, tense horse. Pur.Muskel was designed to answer that — protein and muscle building feed for horses energy in small daily grams, with starch kept 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 carries 20% raw protein with 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, so its rated Functionality is Muscle Building. It is a supplementary feed, added to a full ration — not a complete feed on its own.

Who this is for: dressage horses that school 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 draws on to hold muscle under daily schooling. They ride in on named sources: soy flakes, pea flakes, and sweet lupine flakes in the ingredient list.

The benefit: protein with the building blocks already counted, not just a protein percentage printed 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 designed for metabolically sensitive breeds and for horses that need to stay level-headed in the arena.

Who this is for: warm or sensitive horses that sharpen up 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 works out to 0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight at medium work — small amounts, real calories.

The benefit: fuel for a 60-minute schooling session without a bigger 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 slots into a custom feeding plan without doubling up on nutrients your balancer or forage already provides. It is also alfalfa-free and easy on Helpful hints the digestive system.

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 run 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 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. Note these are small gram-scale rates — weigh the ration rather than scooping 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 blended into 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 helps support 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 mixed into a complete ration, not fed alone.

Will it make my dressage horse hot?

The energy comes from 15.0% raw fat instead of 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.