Höveler Pur.Muskel: 7 Reasons Fussy Horses Clean the Bucket — Apple Pome and Rosehip Lead the Way
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel pairs apple pome and rosehip in its ingredient list, and together with a low 5.8% starch muesli texture it is formulated to tempt picky eaters while helping muscle development. Supplementary feed, FEI-compliant, $52.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.
A feed your horse won't eat is a feed that cannot work. Every owner of a fussy eater understands the ritual: the nose pushed around the bucket, the partly finished ration, the worry that the quality ingredients are being wasted. Pur.Muskel responds with apple pome and rosehip in the mix and a format horses take to. Here are 7 reasons the bucket comes back empty.
1. Apple pome is in the ingredient list — palatability by design
Apple pome appears in the list right between sunflower seed and before linseed oil. This is deliberate https://horse-feed-brands012.inkharbory.com/posts/9-reasons-hoveler-pur.muskel-is-the-feed-for-holding-condition flavor architecture, rather than an accident of formulation: a recognizable, horse-approved note built into a muesli. Fussy eaters tend to vote with their noses, and apple is a vote-getter.
Who this is for: owners of picky eaters who are worn out by buying well-formulated feed the horse leaves behind.
2. Rosehip — the second botanical in the pairing
Rosehip sits toward the end of the ingredient list alongside grape seed flour. It lends the muesli its plant-diverse character and underscores the palatability story apple pome starts. Two botanicals in a 13-item list is a signal the formulation was composed, not compiled.
The benefit: an ingredient list put together with intent, from a firm that has made horse feed in Germany since 1905.
3. The muesli format itself helps fussy eaters
Pur.Muskel is a pellet mix — a muesli rather than a dense uniform pellet. A mix of textures keeps horses engaged across a whole ration, which matters when the daily amount is compact and measured in grams. A mix draws the horse in; a monolith invites picking.
Who this is for: owners whose horse pushes aside or abandons plain pellets.
4. Low starch means no reason for the nose to turn away
Some horses turn down feed because it smells sharp or hot with starch. Pur.Muskel holds starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1% — a soft, steady profile. Energy comes from 15.0% raw fat instead, supplied at 14.1 MJ/kg digestible.
The benefit: a ration profile that fits metabolically sensitive breeds and reluctant appetites alike.
5. Palatability without sacrificing the protein numbers
None of this flavor work weakens the muscle support: 20% raw protein, 160 g/kg digestible crude protein, lysine at 0.85%. Apple pome and rosehip travel with a serious protein package, so what your horse eats willingly is genuinely doing the job.
Who this is for: owners who need the two together — a horse that cleans the bucket and a ration that helps muscle development.
6. A small daily amount is easier to get into a fussy horse
Because Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed, the daily ration is small: a 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g. Even a picky eater can be won over by a modest, appetizing addition to the normal feed — much easier than swapping an entire ration in one day.
The benefit: integration into the existing ration, one small feed at a time, at $52.99 for a 44 lb bag.
7. It stays in the plan legally, season-long
Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, so the palatability advantage never has to end before a show. bifid backs the trial with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee — useful for a fussy eater, where the first week tells you most of what you need to learn.
Who this is for: competitive owners of picky eaters who want a low-risk first bag. The ingredient list is on the Höveler Pur.Muskel 44 lb bag page.
How to feed it
Pur.Muskel is a supplementary feed — added to 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 receives 50–80 g daily. Measure the ration; these are amounts in grams, not scoops.
Key specs at a glance: apple pome + rosehip in the list, 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar, 20% raw protein, 44 lb bag, $52.99.
Match the rate to your horse with the feeding calculator.
What an owner said
"Noticeable difference in stamina" — Jessica, March 14, 2019 (Quality 4, Value 5, Price 4 out of 5). The product rates 4.55 from 2 reviews overall.
Frequently asked questions
Will a fussy eater actually eat Höveler Pur.Muskel?
It is formulated to appeal: apple pome and rosehip are in the ingredient list, and the muesli texture gives variety. The small supplementary daily amount — 50–80 g for a 1,000 lb horse in medium work — also makes it easy to introduce.
Does the flavor come with added sugar?
No. Sugar is 4.1% and starch 5.8%. The palatability stems from the apple pome and the muesli makeup, rather than a sweet coating.
Can I feed it alongside my current feed?
Yes — that is the design. It is a supplementary feed added to a complete ration, with no added vitamins or minerals, so it slots in without conflict.
Is it competition safe?
Yes. Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, right through the season.
What if my horse doesn't take to it?
The first bag is covered by bifid's 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, and their 24/7 licensed vet team can handle feeding questions as you go.