Switching to Höveler Pur.Muskel Safely: 9 Steps for the Transition
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli for muscle development — 20% raw protein, 15.0% raw fat, 5.8% starch — mixed into a complete ration, not swapped in for it. Because the daily dose is small (30–100 g per 220 lb body weight), a transition is about precision, not volume. $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.
Switching feeds is where good intentions go wrong: owners stop the old product, start the new one cold, and wonder why the horse sours on it. Pur.Muskel makes the switch simpler than most — the dose is sized in grams — but the sequence still matters. Here are 9 steps to do it right.
1. Understand what you are switching into
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary product, not a complete feed. You are not replacing your horse's base ration; you are adding a targeted muscle-building muesli carrying 20% raw protein and 160 g/kg digestible crude protein. The switch is a supplementing, which is a far gentler event than a full feed change.
Who this is for: owners who assumed a new bag meant a new diet.
2. Know what leaves the shelf with it
If you were previously adding to the ration with other protein or oil products, this is the moment to count them. Pur.Muskel delivers 15.0% raw fat and 14.1 MJ/kg digestible energy in a small dose, so piling it onto an existing supplement pile can over-deliver what the ration already had.
The benefit: the new addition sharpens the plan instead of duplicating it.
3. Introduce the smallest rate first
Every work level starts at the bottom of its range: 0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight at light work, 50–80 g at medium, 80–100 g at heavy. Beginning https://sites.google.com/view/low-starch-horse-feed/ at the bottom gives the gut an easy first meeting with a new pellet mix.
Who this is for: cautious owners introducing anything new to a fussy or sensitive horse.
4. Weigh the first servings — a scoop will lie to you
The medium-work example from the fact sheet is 50–80 g daily for a 1,000 lb horse. That difference is impossible to see in a scoop but obvious on a kitchen scale. Weighing from the first day means the transition is measured rather than approximate.
The benefit: you can describe the transition in exact grams if you ever call the vet team.
5. Mix it into the existing meal rather than feeding it separately
Pur.Muskel is a pellet mix and muesli with meadow lyegrass, soy flakes, flaxseed, and linseed oil. Stirred into the horse's normal complete feed, it arrives as a familiar meal with a new component — which suits fussy eaters better than a strange standalone portion.
Who this is for: owners of fussy eaters who worry about anything new in the bucket.
6. Hold the rest of the ration constant during the change
Alter one variable at a time. Keep forage, the base feed, and the schedule the same while Pur.Muskel is introduced, so any change in appetite, manure, or demeanor has one obvious cause. Remember the product carries no added vitamins or minerals, so it won't disturb the micronutrient balance your base feed has already set.
The benefit: a tidy experiment, and a clean answer either way.
7. Give the muscle-building purpose time to show
The product's function is muscle development, and muscle is built over weeks, not days. Changes in topline and stamina come from sustained use, not a one-off portion. Judge the transition by how the horse eats at first, and by topline and stamina over the longer run.
Who this is for: owners tempted to pass judgment on a supplement after a few days.
8. Competing? The switch carries no competition risk on paper
Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, so making the switch mid-prep does not put a prohibited-substance question in front of you. Made by Höveler in Germany since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — the formulation is documented, not folkloric.
The benefit: you can change feeds inside a competition calendar with the paperwork already clean.
9. Keep the safety nets in view
bifid backs the trial with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and staffs a 24/7 licensed vet team, and the store holds a 9.0/10 rating across 24,098 reviews — the store's figure, not the product's, which stands at 4.55 from 2 reviews. A transition with those nets under it is a low-stakes decision.
Who this is for: owners who want an way out as clearly marked as the way in.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — always added to a complete ration with forage alongside, never fed on its own. 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)The feeding calculator pairs the rate to your horse.
Key specs at a glance: 20% raw protein, 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, 15.0% raw fat, 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar — a supplementary muesli, alfalfa-free, no added vitamins or minerals.
What an owner said
"Excellent performance 9" — Jessica, May 21, 2024 (9/10), rated Quality 5, Value 4, Price 5; her horses maintain stronger muscle condition.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I move a horse onto Pur.Muskel?
Because it is a supplementary product added to the existing ration in small gram amounts — starting at the low end of 30–50 g per 220 lb for light work — the introduction is simpler than a complete-feed change. Keep the rest of the ration constant and build to your horse's rate for its work level.
Do I need to stop my horse's current feed first?
No. Pur.Muskel is not a replacement for a complete feed; it is designed to slot into a custom feeding plan, with nothing added in the way of vitamins or minerals to clash with your existing balancer.
Will my fussy eater notice the change?
It is a tasty muesli with apple pome and rosehip among the ingredients, mixed into the normal meal. If the horse is hesitant, start at the low end of the work-level range and let the dose grow.
Is there a guarantee if the switch doesn't suit my horse?
Yes — bifid offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, along with a 24/7 licensed vet team for transition questions.