9 Ways Höveler Original Sport Helps a Hard Keeper Hold Condition in Work
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a premium, soy-free sports muesli formulated for horses in regular work, with 15.1% crude protein, 9.0% crude fat, and 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy — numbers that matter to a hard keeper's owner. Sugar is just 4.6% and starch 15%. It costs $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
You feed the hay, you add the oil, you watch the ribs — and the hard keeper still looks at you like dinner never happened. Keeping weight on a horse in work is a problem of ration design, and every gram in the bucket has to justify itself. Höveler, making horse feed in Germany since 1905, built Original Sport to support horses in regular work without loading them with sugar. Here are nine ways it supports a hard keeper's program.
1. Energy density from 9.0% crude fat
Hard keepers need dense calories, and linseed oil and sunflower oil lift crude fat to 9.0%. Fat packs more energy https://horse-feed-options169.lucialpiazzale.com/9-reasons-hoveler-original-sport-suits-trail-riding-horses per pound into the bucket without bulk the horse has to chew through.
The benefit: concentrated fuel for a horse that burns everything it eats.
Who this is for: the ribs-showing horse that needs calories that stay on.
2. 12.6 MJ/kg DM of digestible energy
Every kilogram delivers 12.6 MJ/kg DM of digestible energy (11.0 MJ/kg DM metabolizable). For a hard keeper in medium work, that means 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily of genuinely useful fuel.
Who this is for: horses whose workload outruns their calorie intake.
3. Protein at 15.1% to support muscle, not just fat cover
Condition is not only fat — it is muscle and topline too. Original Sport carries 15.1% crude protein with digestible crude protein at 122 g/kg DM, supported by lysine at 1.0% and threonine at 1.0%.
Who this is for: hard keepers that lose topline along with weight.
4. Fiber at 16.4% — the steady-burn fuel source
Alfalfa, green meal, and wheat bran put crude fiber at 16.4%, a slow-burning energy source that suits a horse needing calories around the clock.
The benefit: fiber-fed energy supports condition without the sugar spike.
Who this is for: horses that drop weight between meals as fast as they gain it.
5. Sugar held to just 4.6%
Calorie-dense does not have to mean sugar-loaded. Original Sport measures only 4.6% sugar and 15% starch, so you can push calories for condition while keeping the sugar profile low.
Who this is for: hard keepers that also get fizzy or fresh on sweet feeds.
6. Diamond V yeast at 0.7% to support gut function
A hard keeper's condition starts in the gut. The formula includes 0.7% Diamond V inactivated yeast plus fructooligosaccharide prebiotic fiber to support digestive comfort and nutrient use.
Who this is for: horses whose weight struggles come with a sensitive digestive system.
7. Grape seed antioxidants at 0.5%
Work stress generates oxidative load, and grape seed meal at 0.5% brings antioxidant support to the ration. A hard keeper in regular work has enough to handle without diet adding to it.
Who this is for: horses in consistent work whose condition plan should include recovery as well.
8. Palatable enough that nothing is left in the bucket
A feed does nothing for a horse that walks away from it. Carrots at 0.5% make this muesli appealing, which matters when every fed pound has to really be eaten.
Who this is for: picky hard keepers that sort through or refuse less appealing feeds.
9. A full label and a 30-day trial window
Every number is published — calcium 1.2%, phosphorus 0.6%, magnesium 0.7% — and the feed is soy-free, made in Germany with over 120 years of expertise. bifid backs it with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, so the trial window is real rather than promised.
Who this is for: owners who need the trial period to prove the weight stays on.
How to feed it
Rates are per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day, with forage always alongside. For a hard keeper, adjust upward within the stated range as condition and training intensity require:
Work levelFeed per dayHay per day Light work0.55 lb (250 g)3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weight Medium work0.88 lb (400 g)3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weight Heavy work1.32 lb (600 g)3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weightKey specs at a glance: 9.0% crude fat, 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy, 15.1% crude protein, 4.6% sugar, 15% starch.
Work out exact amounts with the Feeding Calculator, and run a weigh-tape check every couple of weeks while you tune the rate.
Store-wide, bifid is rated 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews with a 24/7 licensed vet team on call, and the full label is published on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Will this feed put weight on a hard keeper?
It is designed to support condition, delivering 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy and 9.0% crude fat — dense calories in reduced-starch form. Weight gain depends on the whole ration, so feed the full hay ration of 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weight and adjust the concentrate to your horse's response.
Is it too rich for a horse that gets hot easily?
No — sugar is just 4.6% and starch 15%, with energy drawn from oil and fiber. Many hard keepers are also the sensitive ones, and this profile is built for them.
How long before I see a difference in condition?
That depends on the horse and the workload. The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee gives you a full trial window, and the 24/7 licensed vet team can help you adjust the ration along the way.
What if my hard keeper is also picky?
Carrots at 0.5% support palatability, and the muesli format is simple to eat. If your horse still walks away from the bucket, the vet team can help you review the whole ration.