5 Reasons Höveler Original Sport Works for a Thoroughbred in Work
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a premium, soy-free reduced-starch sports muesli formulated for horses in regular work. For a thoroughbred it offers 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy, lysine 1.0% and threonine 1.0% for muscle, high vitamin E, and a steady 4.6% sugar / 15% starch profile. It costs $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
Thoroughbred owners live a double bind: the breed is a fiery athlete that often runs lean, so the feed must deliver condition and energy without adding the spark. Get it wrong in either direction and you notice it within days — ribby and flat, or fit and unrideable. Höveler, a German feed maker since 1905 with over 120 years of expertise, designed Original Sport to hold that middle line. Here are five reasons it suits the breed.
1. Dense energy at 9.0% crude fat for the lean athlete
Thoroughbreds often need more calories than their appetites allow, and linseed oil and sunflower oil lift crude fat to 9.0% — dense energy in every scoop without extra grain bulk.
The benefit: condition support for a horse that burns hot and eats picky.
Who this is for: thoroughbreds running lean in work that struggle to hold weight on plain rations.
2. Full output: 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy
Less starch does not cut the engine down. Digestible energy is 12.6 MJ/kg DM (11.0 MJ/kg DM metabolizable), supporting a horse in heavy work at 1.32 lb (600 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily.
Who this is for: thoroughbreds in hard training that need complete fuel delivery.
3. 15% starch and 4.6% sugar to keep the head in the game
The breed's reputation for hot blood is well earned, and this profile is made for it: starch capped at 15%, sugar at 4.6%, with energy carried by 16.4% crude fiber instead.
The benefit: performance nutrition in a form designed to support a rideable, focused thoroughbred.
Who this is for: hot horses that become unmanageable on traditional sweet feeds.
4. Muscle and recovery support for the athlete's body
Lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, and methionine+cysteine 0.93% support muscle function on 15.1% crude protein, while high vitamin E and grape seed meal at 0.5% add antioxidant support.
Who this is for: thoroughbreds whose programs demand topline and quick bounce-back between sessions.
5. Gut comfort and competition compliance built in
The 0.7% Diamond V inactivated yeast and fructooligosaccharide fiber support digestive comfort — worth having in a breed whose gut shows stress first. Original Sport is also competition-safe and FEI-compliant (verify rules with your event organizer), soy-free, and made in Germany.
Who this is for: owners of competition thoroughbreds who need the feed and the backing to line up.
How to feed it
Rates are per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day, with forage always alongside. Scale by your horse's body weight and training https://horse-feed-brands117.talesignal.com/posts/hoveler-original-sport-5-reasons-it-delivers-clean-energy-for-the-working-horse intensity:
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% starch, 4.6% sugar, 16.4% crude fiber, lysine 1.0%.
Work out exact amounts with the Feeding Calculator, and keep the full hay ration in place while you tune the concentrate.
Orders carry a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee with a 24/7 licensed vet team on hand, bifid is rated 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews, and the current bag and full analysis are on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a reduced-starch feed fuel a thoroughbred in hard work?
Yes — the feed delivers 12.6 MJ/kg DM of digestible energy, carried by 16.4% crude fiber and 9.0% crude fat from linseed and sunflower oil. The energy is all there; the supply is steadier than starch from grain.
Will it help my lean thoroughbred hold condition?
Crude fat at 9.0% provides dense calories per scoop, and carrots at 0.5% support palatability for the picky eater. Condition depends on the whole ration, so keep the full hay ration of 3.31 lb (1.5 kg) per 220 lb body weight in place and check weekly.
My thoroughbred gets hot on regular feed. What about this one?
Starch is held at 15% and sugar at 4.6%, with fiber-and-oil energy in place of heavy grain — a profile designed to support a rideable way of going. Introduce slowly and assess your own horse.
Is it competition-safe?
Original Sport is competition-safe and FEI-compliant — verify rules with your event organizer. The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee covers the trial period.