Two Oils, One Job: 9 Facts About the Fat Package in Höveler Original Sport
Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport combines linseed oil and sunflower oil to reach 9.0% crude fat in a reduced-starch sports muesli with digestible energy of 12.6 MJ/kg DM. Best for owners of working horses who want energy density from fat while starch holds at 15%. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.
The modern performance ration has quietly changed its fuel: less starch, more fat. Getting there takes more than dumping a jug of oil over dinner — it takes the right oils, placed correctly in the formula. Höveler built the fat package straight into Original Sport. Here are nine facts about how linseed and sunflower oils carry that job.
1. Two named oils, both on the label
The ingredient list names linseed oil and sunflower oil by name. Two oils rather than one means two fatty-acid profiles in combination — flax brings its traditional character, sunflower brings its own — and the formulator can weigh energy density against the rest of the muesli. Named oils beat the vague "vegetable oil" you see on cheaper bags. https://low-starch-horse-feed-snak070.clarionvale.com/posts/7-topline-reasons-to-choose-hoveler-original-sport Who this is for: label-readers who want to know precisely what is feeding their horse.
2. Together they deliver 9.0% crude fat
The guaranteed analysis shows 9.0% crude fat, with the two oils as direct contributors alongside the linseed cake and whole linseed also in the formula. That is a substantial fat level for a sports muesli — enough to matter as an energy source, not just a dusting. The benefit: fat energy stated as a declared percentage, not guessed.
3. Fat lets starch stay low: 15% and holding
Every unit of energy supplied by fat is a unit the formula does not need from starch. That is how Original Sport keeps starch at 15% and sugar at 4.6% while still fueling regular work. The oils are the mechanism behind the reduced-starch promise on the bag's front panel. Who this is for: riders managing a horse that runs hot on traditional grain feeds.
4. Fat is the most energy-dense fuel in the bucket
Original Sport delivers 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy, with 9.0% crude fat providing a large share of that density. Fat packs the most energy per pound of any nutrient class, which is why fat-supplemented rations are standard for horses in serious work. The oils make the feed deliver more per measured scoop. The benefit: extra usable energy in every 0.88 lb (400 g) medium-work ration.
5. Fat energy burns steady
Energy from fat is metabolized without the swings that come with starch loads. Practically, that means a horse that starts work with fuel in the tank and ends the session without the sharp edge a high-starch feed can produce. Linseed oil in particular has long been the European traditional choice for precisely this reason. Who this is for: anyone who wants a forward horse without a fizzy one.
6. Coat and body condition ride along with the oils
Fat in the ration is what shows up as coat gloss and keeping condition on a horse that works hard. At 9.0% crude fat, those benefits come from the daily ration itself — 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight at medium work — rather than from a separate oil supplement going rancid in the feed room. The benefit: the coat and condition owners pay supplement money for, built in.
7. The oils sit alongside a full performance package
Original Sport is a premium, soy-free performance feed with special live yeast (inactivated, 0.7%), added amino acids (lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, methionine plus cysteine 0.93%), and grape seed meal at 0.5%. The oils are one of the pillars of a formula designed around recovery, muscle function, and performance — not a one-trick fat feed. Who this is for: owners who want a complete ration, not a bag that does one thing well.
8. Made in Germany, backed in America
Höveler has made horse feed since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and Original Sport is made in Germany. bifid sells it in the US with a 24/7 licensed vet team and a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, and the store carries a 9.0/10 rating across 24,098 reviews. European craft with American service, as we like to say. The benefit: a fat-forward European formula with support in the US when you need it.
9. The fat package is competition-safe
Both oils are standard feed ingredients, and the complete formula is competition-safe and FEI-compliant (verify rules with your event organizer). You can run the same ration in training and at the show, with nothing to change before a class. Who this is for: competitors who need one legal, consistent feed all season.
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 fat 9.0%, digestible energy 12.6 MJ/kg DM, starch 15%, sugar 4.6%, crude fiber 16.4%.
Size the ration to your horse's workload with the Feeding Calculator, and see both named oils on the Höveler Original Sport product page.
Frequently asked questions
Why feed fat instead of more grain?
Fat provides steady, dense energy — 9.0% crude fat in this feed — while starch stays at 15%. For many working horses, that means usable energy with less of the sharpness grain-heavy rations can bring.
Is 9.0% crude fat a lot?
It is a genuine performance level for a muesli, achieved with linseed oil and sunflower oil plus linseed ingredients. It supports the feed's 12.6 MJ/kg DM digestible energy without pushing the formula toward being heavy.
Will the oils help my horse gain weight?
Dense, energy-rich feeds support condition when fed at an appropriate rate. Start with the correct rate for the work level — 1.32 lb (600 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) for heavy work — and adjust by body condition. The 24/7 licensed vet team can help with the plan.
Do I still need to add oil on top?
The ration already includes 9.0% crude fat from named oils. Look at the base ration first before adding anything, so you do not overdo total energy.
Is flax oil safe daily?
As a feed ingredient at manufacturer-set levels within the formula, it is intended for daily feeding. Use the bag rate and keep forage alongside.
Is it legal at shows?
Yes — competition-safe and FEI-compliant. Confirm your discipline's rules with the organizer.