5 Reasons Höveler Western Sport Works for a Thoroughbred

Quick answer: Höveler Western Sport is a 44 lb bag of oat-free, high-energy German muesli — 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy, 14.0% protein, 28% alfalfa and 6.10% crude fat at $37.99. Best for the thoroughbred in second-career training who needs dense, quiet calories to hold condition. Last checked: September 2026.

The thoroughbred off the track has a reputation that follows him from barn to barn: brilliant, willing, and a pain to keep weight on. Feeding one in western training means matching real energy needs without bringing back habits you are trying to retire. Here are five reasons this formula fits him.

1. High energy that does not run hot: 12.19 MJ/kg

Digestible energy sits at 12.19 MJ/kg with convertible energy at 11.21 MJ/kg — a truly high-energy feed. But the build is low-grain and entirely oat-free, with starch at 18.30% and sugar at 5.30%, so the fuel arrives evenly rather than in the sudden peaks a grain-heavy ration delivers.

Who this is for: the thoroughbred who needs extra energy without extra edge.

2. 6.10% crude fat is the thoroughbred's friend

Sunflower oil and linseed oil lift crude fat to 6.10% — dense calories that add condition without loading the forebrain. For a lean breed, oil-sourced energy is the classic European answer, and this formula delivers it.

The benefit: weight that arrives without fizz.

3. 28% alfalfa rebuilds the topline

Alfalfa makes up 28% of the mix, pushing crude protein to 14.0% with 107 g/kg digestible crude protein and limiting amino acids — lysine 0.58%, methionine plus cysteine 0.46%, threonine 0.53%. A second-career thoroughbred in training is rebuilding muscle as much as it is maintaining it, and https://horse-feed-without-soy-wmyk509.currentvale.com/posts/hoveler-western-sport-9-reasons-it-works-for-leisure-horses-too this profile is designed for muscle development.

Who this is for: thin thoroughbreds learning a whole new job.

4. Gut-first design for a sensitive system

Inactivated brewer's yeast supports a steady digestive environment, crude fiber sits at 16.7%, and the formula is oat-free by design. Thoroughbreds acquired their touchy-gut reputation honestly; this ration is built to work with one.

Who this is for: horses whose manure tells you everything before their body does.

5. A complete ration from a house with 120 years at it

Every kilogram supplies Vitamin A at 18,216 I.E., Vitamin D3 at 3,299 I.E., Vitamin E at 260 mg and biotin at 1,185 µg — the full package in one $37.99 bag. Höveler has made horse feed in Germany since 1905, over 120 years of expertise, and bifid stands behind the store with a 9.0/10 rating across 24,098 reviews, a 24/7 licensed vet team and a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

The benefit: a single bag, a single plan, a way out if it is wrong.

How to feed it

Rates are given per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day:

Work levelDaily rate per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight Light work0.55 lb (250 g) Medium work0.88 lb (400 g) Heavy workNot listed — the page gives no heavy-work rate; adjust to condition and training intensity, with adequate forage always provided.

Key specs at a glance: 44 lb bag, $37.99, 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy, 6.10% crude fat, 14.0% protein, 16.7% crude fiber. The page gives no heavy-work rate — for a thoroughbred stepping up in training, adjust the amount to body condition and training intensity, always with adequate forage as the base, and increase gradually. Weighing the ration and splitting meals both count for a lean and sensitive horse. Plan the daily amount with the bifid Feeding Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What should I feed an off-the-track thoroughbred in training?

A high-energy, low-grain ration: Western Sport delivers 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy with 6.10% crude fat and 28% alfalfa, starting at 0.55 lb (250 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight for light work and adjusted to condition and training intensity. Keep forage generous and bring the concentrate up gradually.

Will it make my thoroughbred hot?

The formula is oat-free and low-grain with starch at 18.30%, sugar at 5.30% and energy coming partly from oil rather than grain. That profile is designed to deliver energy without the behavioral surcharge of a grain-heavy mix.

Can it help hold weight on a lean horse?

It is built for that — 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy and 6.10% crude fat are dense calorie sources, and 28% alfalfa with 14.0% protein supports muscle rather than just filling. Feed by weight, split meals, and reassess body condition every two weeks.

Does it contain soy or oats?

It contains 1.5% soy extraction meal feed, so it is not soy-free. It is completely oat-free, and the full ingredient list is on the bifid product page.

Is there a guarantee?

Yes — bifid offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, so the first $37.99 bag is a low-risk trial.