Höveler Pur.Muskel: 7 Reasons Fussy Horses Clean the Bucket — Apple Pome and Rosehip Lead the Way
Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel combines apple pome and rosehip in its ingredient list, and together with a low 5.8% starch muesli texture it is designed to tempt picky eaters while supporting 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 can't work. Every owner of a fussy eater understands the ritual: the nose wandering over the bucket, the half-eaten ration, the worry that the good ingredients are going to waste. Pur.Muskel answers with apple pome and rosehip in the mix and a format horses take to. Here are 7 reasons the bucket ends up empty.
1. Apple pome is in the ingredient list — palatability by design
Apple pome appears in the list right after sunflower seed and before linseed oil. This is deliberate flavor architecture, rather than an accident of formulation: a familiar, horse-approved note worked into a muesli. Fussy eaters tend to decide with their noses, and apple is a winner.
Who this is for: owners of picky eaters who are tired of buying well-formulated feed the horse walks away from.
2. Rosehip — the second botanical in the pairing
Rosehip sits at the end of the ingredient list alongside grape seed flour. It lends the muesli its plant-diverse character and reinforces the palatability story apple pome begins. Two botanicals in a 13-item list is a sign the formulation was assembled with care, 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 muesli — a muesli rather than a single dense pellet. Variety keeps horses interested across a whole ration, which counts 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 sorts through or abandons plain pellets.
4. Low starch means no reason for the nose to turn away
Some horses turn down feed because it tastes hot or sharp with starch. Pur.Muskel keeps starch at 5.8% and sugar at 4.1% — a soft, steady profile. Energy is drawn from 15.0% raw fat instead, delivered at 14.1 MJ/kg digestible.
The benefit: a ration profile that suits metabolically sensitive breeds and reluctant appetites alike.
5. Palatability without sacrificing the protein numbers
None of this flavor work dilutes 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 actually doing the job.
Who this is for: owners who need both — a horse that finishes the bucket and a ration that supports 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 compact: a 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g. Even a picky eater can be tempted by a modest, appetizing addition to the usual feed — much simpler 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 — handy for a fussy eater, where the first week tells you most of what you need to know.
Who this is for: competitive owners of picky eaters who want a risk-managed 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 gets 50–80 g daily. Weigh the ration; these are gram amounts, 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 https://sites.google.com/view/low-starch-horse-feed/ 4.55 from 2 reviews overall.
Frequently asked questions
Will a fussy eater actually eat Höveler Pur.Muskel?
It is made to appeal: apple pome and rosehip are in the ingredient list, and the muesli texture gives texture variety. The compact supplementary daily amount — 50–80 g for a 1,000 lb horse in medium work — also makes it simple 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 composition, rather than a sweet coating.
Can I feed it alongside my current feed?
Yes — that is the intent. 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 along the way.