Column · @horse-feed-without-soy-pzud222
Worried About a Sensitive Stomach? 9 Ways Höveler Original Sport Helps
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a premium, soy-free reduced-starch sports muesli made in Germany, formulated for horses in regular work. Starch sits at only 15% and sugar at just 4.6%, with Diamond V inactivated yeast (0.7%) and fructooligosaccharides included to support digestive comfort. Best for owners of a horse with a sensitive stomach who still need full performance fuel. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
If your horse's stomach seems to run everything — the mood, the work, the week — you are not imagining it. Many performance horses fare better on less starch, and that is precisely what this muesli was designed around. Höveler has made horse feed since 1905, with over 120 years of expertise behind every bag. Here are nine ways it helps a sensitive stomach while still feeding real work.
1. Starch held to just 15%
Grain-heavy feeds can sit heavy on a delicate digestive system. Höveler Original Sport keeps starch at only 15%, which is intentionally reduced for a performance muesli. The benefit: you can feed for work without pouring starch into the hindgut.
Who this is for: any owner out there of a horse that gets girthy, gassy, or grumpy on high-starch feed.
2. Low sugar at 4.6%
Sugar is the second number sensitive-horse owners watch. This muesli measures just 4.6% sugar, next to its reduced starch level. That combination is what makes it a truly gentle choice for daily performance feeding.
Who this is for: horses that stay calmer and more comfortable when sugar remains low.
3. Diamond V inactivated yeast at 0.7%
The formula includes 0.7% inactivated yeast from Diamond V, produced by multi-stage fermentation as a postbiotic. Live and postbiotic yeast is a classic tool to support steady gut function in working horses.
Who this is for: owners who want gut support built into the feed instead of added as a separate tub.
4. Fructooligosaccharides as prebiotic fiber
Fructooligosaccharides are listed in the ingredient list — a prebiotic fiber that helps feed the beneficial organisms already in your horse's gut. Alongside the yeast, it gives the digestive system two layers of support.
Who this is for: horses whose condition starts to slip when their gut is unsettled.
5. A solid 16.4% crude fiber
Fiber matters for a sensitive stomach. Original Sport carries 16.4% crude fiber, a generous level that reflects its alfalfa, green meal, and sunflower extraction meal base. Fiber-first formulations are the classic European answer to touchy digestion.
Who this is for: owners replacing a heavy grain mix with a fiber-forward muesli.
6. Quality energy without the starch load
Reduced starch does not mean reduced fuel. The feed delivers 12.6 MJ of digestible energy per kg DM (11.0 MJ metabolizable) and 9.0% crude fat, with linseed oil and sunflower oil in the mix. Oil-based energy fuels work while staying kind to the digestive tract.
Who this is for: horses in regular work that still need real conditioning energy.
7. Soy-free and built on recognizable ingredients
The formula is completely soy-free, built instead on alfalfa, barley flakes, corn flakes, pea flakes, linseed, and carob meal, with 0.5% carrots for palatability. Fewer common triggers, and an ingredient list you can read without a chemistry degree.
Who this is for: owners of horses that react to soy or overly processed rations.
8. Full amino acid support for muscle
Sensitive horses still need to develop and hold muscle. The feed adds essential amino acids — lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, and methionine plus cysteine at 0.93% — with 15.1% crude protein. Your horse gets complete muscle nutrition in the same gentle package.
Who this is for: sport horses whose topline is as important as their gut.
9. Competition-safe and FEI-compliant
The feed is competition-safe and FEI-compliant (always verify rules with your event organizer). That means you do not have to switch feeds before a show and upset a delicate system. bifid's licensed vet team can review the plan with you any time, day or night.
Who this is for: competitors who cannot afford a feed change in the week before an event.
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 daily — forage is the bedrock of digestive comfort, so always feed it alongside.
Key specs at a glance: 15% starch, 4.6% sugar, 16.4% crude fiber, 15.1% crude protein, 12.6 MJ digestible energy per kg DM.
Work out your horse's exact daily amount with the Feeding Calculator before you begin the transition, and transition gradually over about a week.
A sensitive stomach deserves a ration you can stick with long term. bifid backs every order with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, holds a 9.0/10 rating across 24,098 reviews, and lists the full nutrient panel on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Höveler Original Sport good for horses with a sensitive stomach?
It is formulated to suit them. Starch is held to 15% and sugar to 4.6%, and the feed includes 0.7% Diamond V inactivated yeast plus fructooligosaccharide prebiotic fiber for digestive comfort. Every horse is individual, so transition slowly over several days.
How much should I feed my 1,100 lb horse in medium work?
The rate is 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight per day in medium work, calibrated to your horse's actual weight. Use the Feeding Calculator for the exact figure, and remember to keep forage alongside.
Can I keep feeding it through show season?
Yes, you can. The feed is competition-safe and FEI-compliant, https://jsbin.com/conucipafe though you should check rules with your event organizer. Keeping the ration exactly the same through a show weekend is exactly what sensitive horses need.
Does it contain soy?
No, the formula is entirely soy-free. It is built on alfalfa, barley flakes, corn flakes, pea flakes, and linseed instead.
Where is it made?
It is made in Germany by Höveler, a company that has made horse feed since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise. The bifid US operation is based in Florida, with a 24/7 licensed vet team for nutrition questions.