Where the Protein Comes From in Höveler Original Sport: 5 Sources Behind 15.1%

Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport delivers 15.1% crude protein and 122 g digestible crude protein per kg DM from alfalfa, sunflower extraction meal, pea flakes, and linseed cake — soy-free, with added amino acids (lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%). Best for owners building muscle and topline on a soy-free ration. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.

Not all protein is equal, and increasingly, not all protein is wanted: soy sensitivity and soy-free preferences have gone mainstream in the barn. The question that matters is not just "how much protein" but "from what source". Original Sport answers both, with declared numbers and no soy anywhere. Here are the five sources carrying the work.

1. Alfalfa — the forage protein foundation

Alfalfa leads the ingredient list, and leafy alfalfa is one of the most dependable plant protein sources in horse feeding. In Original Sport it anchors a formula that tests at 15.1% crude protein and 122 g of digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter. Protein from forage comes packaged https://sites.google.com/view/soy-free-horse-feed/ in the fiber a working horse's gut is built to process. The benefit: the largest protein contribution arriving as forage, not powder.

2. Sunflower extraction meal — the soy-free workhorse

Sunflower extraction meal is a traditional European protein ingredient, and it is exactly the kind of source that lets a premium formula go soy-free without giving up protein quality. It sits alongside alfalfa in the ingredient list, adding to the ration's protein contribution at 15.1% crude protein. Who this is for: owners who have removed soy out of the ration and need it properly replaced, not tokenistically.

3. Pea flakes — recognizable protein in a visible form

Pea flakes are right there in the muesli, visible in the bucket — a whole-food-style protein and starch source that also adds texture variety. Along with their protein contribution, they make the feed more inviting to eat, which helps a horse in work actually finish its ration day after day. The benefit: protein visible in the bucket, from an ingredient with a good reputation.

4. Linseed cake — protein and fat in one ingredient

Linseed cake, the seed after oil extraction, brings protein alongside its share of the formula's 9.0% crude fat. That dual role is elegant formulation: one ingredient supporting both the 15.1% crude protein figure and the energy density that powers regular work. Who this is for: anyone who likes a formula where ingredients do double duty.

5. Added amino acids make the protein count

Raw protein percentage is only part of the story — the essential amino acids determine how usable it is. Original Sport adds lysine at 1.0%, threonine at 1.0%, and methionine plus cysteine at 0.93%, on top of the protein from the ingredient base. That is why the feed can state 15.1% crude protein and a muscle-function, recovery-focused formulation with a straight face. The benefit: quality markers declared on top of a declared quantity — the full protein picture.

How to feed it

Feeding rates for Original Sport, per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight per day:

Work levelFeed per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight daily 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 daily, alongside the concentrate.

Key specs at a glance: crude protein 15.1%, digestible crude protein 122 g/kg DM, lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, methionine+cysteine 0.93%, soy-free.

Match the rate to your horse and workload with the Feeding Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is 15.1% crude protein too much for my horse?

For a horse in consistent work, that level supports muscle maintenance — it is a performance feed by design. It is not intended as the sole ration for idle horses or growing stock; feed to the rate for the work level your horse is in.

Is the feed fully soy-free?

Yes — Original Sport is fully soy-free. Its protein comes from alfalfa, sunflower extraction meal, pea flakes, and linseed cake — the full panel is on the product page — with added lysine, threonine, and methionine plus cysteine.

What does "122 g digestible crude protein" mean?

It is the digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter — the portion of the 15.1% the horse can really absorb and put to use. It is a stricter, more honest number than crude protein alone.

Will this protein help build topline?

It supplies the building blocks — including lysine at 1.0% and threonine at 1.0% — to support muscle function alongside correct work and feeding at 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) at medium work. This is nutritional support; the training does the building.

Can I combine it with a protein supplement?

Assess the complete ration first. The 24/7 licensed vet team is glad to help you figure out whether anything should be added to the declared protein and amino acids.

Is it competition-safe?

Yes — competition-safe and FEI-compliant. Confirm specific rules with your event organizer.