Feeding a Hard Keeper? 9 Ways Höveler Original Sport Helps
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a premium, soy-free sports muesli designed to help hard-working horses maintain weight and condition. It packs 12.6 MJ of digestible energy per kg DM, 15.1% crude protein with added amino acids, and 9.0% crude fat from linseed — at just 15% starch and 4.6% sugar. Best for the hard keeper that burns through every calorie you offer. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
Some horses eat like champions and still look like they live out in a gale. Hard keepers do not need more feed — they need more usable nutrition per bite per pound of feed. Höveler has engineered feed since 1905, over 120 years of expertise, and Original Sport is built on precisely that principle. Here are nine ways it can help your ribs-on-show horse hold what you work so hard to put on.
1. Dense energy: 12.6 MJ of digestible energy per kg DM
A hard keeper needs calories that truly arrive. Original Sport delivers 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy (11.0 MJ metabolizable) — serious density for a reduced-starch formula. The benefit: condition support without a third feeding of filler.
Who this is for: the horse that keeps staying thin no matter how full the bucket looks.
2. 15.1% crude protein to rebuild what work breaks down
Work breaks down muscle, and a hard keeper has nothing in reserve. The feed carries 15.1% crude protein to help maintain muscle mass through a full week.
Who this is for: thin horses that also shed topline first.
3. Complete amino acids, not just a protein percentage
Protein only works when it is complete. Added lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, and methionine plus cysteine at 0.93% make this a complete amino acid package — the gap between protein fed and protein used.
Who this is for: owners who have tried an ordinary sweet feed and seen the ribs remain.
4. 9.0% crude fat from linseed — the hard keeper's classic ally
Linseed, linseed oil, and sunflower oil push crude fat to 9.0%. Oil is an energy-dense way to support weight gain without a bigger volume of feed.
Who this is for: horses that need concentrated calories without a heavier bucket.
5. Low starch (15%) and low sugar (4.6%) protect the appetite
Loading a hard keeper with grain can backfire — an unsettled gut eats poorly, not more. With starch at 15% and sugar at just 4.6%, this ration is designed to keep the digestive system settled enough to stay eating.
Who this is for: hard keepers that go off feed when the grain goes up.
6. Yeast and prebiotic fiber to get more from every pound
Diamond V inactivated yeast at 0.7% and fructooligosaccharide prebiotic fiber support efficient digestion. For a horse that cannot afford to lose a calorie, that support is the multiplier effect.
Who this is for: hard keepers whose droppings suggest feed is passing through under-digested.
7. A feeding ladder that scales honestly
The rates step cleanly from 0.55 lb to 0.88 lb to 1.32 lb per 220 lb of body weight as work builds, with 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) of hay per 220 lb of body weight each day as the base. You adjust with numbers, not guesswork.
Who this is for: owners who want to track intake precisely against weight change.
8. High vitamin E for the working hard keeper
The formula is high in vitamin E, supporting normal muscle function in horses giving real effort. Thin horses in work are under double pressure — weight and workload — and the antioxidant support helps cover both.
Who this is for: the thin horse that works like a tank.
9. Guaranteed for 30 days, backed by vets around the clock
Not every hard keeper loves every feed, so bifid covers each order with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and staffs a 24/7 licensed vet team. Store-wide satisfaction is 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews.
Who this is for: owners tired of paying for bags the horse ignored.
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 is the foundation everything else sits on, so measure it rather than guessing.
Key specs at a glance: 12.6 MJ digestible energy per kg DM, 15.1% crude protein, 9.0% crude https://high-calorieivxq500.dovetailscope.com/posts/adjusting-hoveler-original-sport-to-your-horse-s-body-condition-7-checks fat, 15% starch, 4.6% sugar.
Calculate the precise ration for your hard keeper with the Feeding Calculator, then adjust against weekly weight checks rather than impressions.
If your hard keeper snubs it, introduce the muesli gradually over several days and lean on the 24/7 licensed vet team for transition help — the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee covers the trial. Full details are on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reduced-starch feed enough for a hard keeper?
Yes it is, because the energy comes from elsewhere. Höveler Original Sport supplies 12.6 MJ/kg DM of digestible energy through fiber (16.4%) and oil (9.0% crude fat, largely linseed), which are dense without the starch. Weight trends still come down to forage quality, teeth, and health — talk to your vet if weight keeps dropping.
How much should I feed my 1,200 lb hard keeper?
Base it on the level of work: 0.55 lb, 0.88 lb, or 1.32 lb per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day, scaled to your horse's actual weight. The Feeding Calculator gives the exact number.
Will it keep my horse sane and rideable?
The design points that way: 15% starch and 4.6% sugar, with energy arriving from fiber and oil. Many hard keepers get fizzy on grain-heavy rations precisely because of the starch load.
What hay should be fed alongside it?
The guideline is 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) of hay per 220 lb of body weight per day, adjusted to your forage and the horse's condition. Forage always forms the base for a hard keeper.
What if my hard keeper refuses it?
Every order carries the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee from bifid. Bring it in gradually over several days — hard keepers are creatures of habit — and ask the 24/7 licensed vet team for a transition plan.