Struggling to Hold Condition? 9 Ways Höveler Original Sport Helps
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a premium, soy-free sports muesli formulated to help horses in regular work maintain condition. It supplies 15.1% crude protein with added amino acids (lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%), 12.6 MJ of digestible energy per kg DM, and 9.0% crude fat from linseed. Best for horses that work hard but tend to slip a rib. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
Some horses work well, eat well, and still look like they're melting by the middle of the season. Holding condition on a horse in real work is a ration problem, not a brushing one. Höveler has built feed since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and Original Sport is its answer for working horses that need condition support. Here are nine ways it helps.
1. Digestible energy at 12.6 MJ per kg DM
Condition starts with enough energy truly absorbed. Original Sport delivers 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy (11.0 MJ metabolizable), a serious fuel level for a reduced-starch feed. The benefit: more calories available for holding weight, not just for the arena.
Who this is for: horses that come out of each week a little leaner than they went in.
2. 15.1% crude protein with complete amino acids
Muscle is condition. The feed carries 15.1% crude protein, supported by added essential amino acids — lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, and methionine plus cysteine at 0.93%. That completeness is what converts protein into topline.
Who this is for: horses losing muscle over the topline as the season wears on.
3. 9.0% crude fat from linseed
Linseed, linseed oil, and sunflower oil push crude fat to 9.0%. Oil is a calm, dense energy source that supports weight and coat together without adding starch.
Who this is for: owners who have heard “just add oil” but want it already built in in the ration.
4. Reduced starch — 15% — so energy doesn't cost the gut
Putting on weight through straight grain can cost you digestive comfort. Original Sport keeps starch at only 15% and sugar at 4.6%, maintaining condition through fiber and fat instead.
Who this is for: hard-working horses that turn off their feed or get fizzy on high-starch rations.
5. Yeast and prebiotic fiber to support gut function
Diamond V inactivated yeast at 0.7% and fructooligosaccharide prebiotic fiber support a steady digestive system. A horse that digests well gets more out of every pound of feed — the unseen foundation of holding condition.
Who this is for: horses whose ribs show no matter what you feed.
6. High in vitamin E
The formula is high in vitamin E, an antioxidant that supports healthy muscle function in horses in consistent work. Hard-working muscles face more oxidative stress, and vitamin E is the standard nutritional answer.
Who this is for: sport horses giving real effort several days a week.
7. Grape seed antioxidants at 0.5%
Grape seed meal appears at 0.5%, a natural source of antioxidants that works alongside the vitamin E. Together they support condition and recovery in a working horse.
Who this is for: owners already buying separate antioxidant supplements and preferring it in the feed.
8. A defined feeding ladder you can actually climb
The feeding rates step cleanly with work: 0.55 lb, 0.88 lb, then 1.32 lb per 220 lb of body weight. When condition starts to slip, you have a clear, measured way to increase intake rather than guessing with scoops.
Who this is for: owners who want numbers, not folklore.
9. German craft with a safety net
Made in Germany by Höveler, https://soyfree-pelletsopsc571.keystonescope.com/posts/hoveler-original-sport-5-reasons-it-fits-the-return-to-work this muesli is competition-safe and FEI-compliant (verify rules with your event organizer). bifid backs every purchase with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 24/7 licensed vet team, and the store holds a 9.0/10 rating across 24,098 reviews.
Who this is for: owners trying a premium feed for the first time and needing the risk removed.
How to feed it
Rates are given per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day:
Work levelFeed per day per 220 lb (100 kg) Light work0.55 lb (250 g) Medium work0.88 lb (400 g) Heavy work1.32 lb (600 g)Hay ration: 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weight each day — forage always forms the base, and the concentrate supports what forage alone cannot in real work.
Key specs at a glance: 15.1% crude protein, 12.6 MJ digestible energy per kg DM, 9.0% crude fat, 15% starch, lysine 1.0%.
Work out your horse's exact daily amount with the Feeding Calculator, and adjust gradually rather than overnight.
If condition keeps drifting, ask the 24/7 licensed vet team for input — and the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee covers the trial. The full nutrient panel is listed on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a feed really help my horse hold condition?
A feed can help it. Höveler Original Sport combines 15.1% crude protein with added amino acids, 12.6 MJ/kg DM of digestible energy, and 9.0% crude fat — the raw materials a working horse needs to keep weight and muscle. Body condition also depends on dental health, parasite control, and workload.
How much should I feed a horse that keeps losing weight?
Begin at the rate for the actual work level — 0.55 lb, 0.88 lb, or 1.32 lb per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day — and adjust gradually. Use the Feeding Calculator for accuracy, and ask the 24/7 licensed vet team if condition continues to slip.
Is it suitable alongside plenty of hay?
Yes. The hay guideline is 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb of body weight daily, and forage should in every setup form the base of the ration. The concentrate fills in what forage alone cannot cover in hard work.
Will it make my horse hot?
The feed is reduced-starch at 15% with just 4.6% sugar, and much of its energy comes from oil and fiber. That design is intended to support steady, workable energy rather than spark.
Does it contain soy?
No. The formula is entirely soy-free, built on alfalfa, barley flakes, corn flakes, pea flakes, and linseed.