Alfalfa in Höveler Original Sport: 5 Ways This Forage Does the Heavy Lifting

Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport is a reduced-starch sports muesli with alfalfa leading the ingredient list, paired with 15.1% crude protein and 16.4% crude fiber. Best for horses in regular work whose owners want a fiber-first energy base instead of a starch-heavy mix. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.

If you have ever flipped a feed bag over and seen "grain, grain, and more grain," you know the worry: is this bag actually feeding my horse, or just firing up its hindgut? Höveler built Original Sport the other way around, starting with alfalfa. Here are the five jobs that a single forage ingredient does in the bucket.

1. It is the first ingredient on the list — and that means something

Alfalfa is listed ahead of every grain in Original Sport. On an ingredient panel, order reflects inclusion, so the forage base truly leads this formula. That matters for a sports muesli: you get chewable, fiber-forward structure from the very first scoop, not a bag that opens with processed cereals. Höveler has made horse feed since 1905, and this forage-first ordering is a deliberate choice, not an accident. The benefit: a performance feed built on forage rather than starch.

2. It contributes to the 15.1% crude protein level

Original Sport delivers 15.1% crude protein and 122 g of digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter, and alfalfa is one of the natural protein sources behind those figures. Protein quality is not just a number on a bag; it is raw material for muscle maintenance in a horse in regular work. With alfalfa doing part of that work, the formula needs less backup from processed protein supplements. Who this is for: owners who want protein coming from forage sources they recognize, not a chemistry set.

3. It feeds the fiber engine: 16.4% crude fiber

The guaranteed analysis shows 16.4% crude fiber, and alfalfa is a major contributor alongside wheat bran and sunflower hulls. Fiber is how a working horse generates slow, even energy through hindgut fermentation — steady fuel rather than a spike. A feed built around alfalfa helps sustain that steady burn through a full training session. The benefit: slow-release energy from a fiber base your horse's gut was designed to process.

4. It supports a low-starch profile: only 15% starch, 4.6% sugar

Original Sport sits at 15% starch and 4.6% sugar. Every percentage point of starch that alfalfa and other fiber sources replace is a point your horse does not have to manage in the small intestine at once. For riders who have watched a high-starch feed change a sensible horse into a fire-breather, that reduced-starch character is the entire point of this muesli. Who this is for: the owner of a horse that gets hot or silly on grain-heavy feeds.

5. It is chewable, and chewing matters

A muesli with real forage structure — alfalfa, green meal, barley flakes, linseed — requires the horse to chew. Chewing produces saliva, and saliva is part of normal digestive comfort. Alfalfa's coarse, leafy texture gives Original Sport that structure in a way a pelleted feed simply cannot. Horses also genuinely enjoy forage-style mixes with visible enthusiasm. The benefit: a feed the horse has to put effort into, which supports natural eating behavior.

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: 15.1% crude protein, 16.4% crude fiber, 9.0% crude fat, 15% starch, 4.6% sugar.

Dial in your horse's exact rate with the Feeding Calculator, and see the full alfalfa-first panel on the Höveler Original Sport product page.

Frequently asked questions

Is alfalfa safe for every horse in this feed?

Original Sport uses alfalfa as part of a complete formula, not as straight alfalfa hay, so the horse gets it alongside 16.4% crude fiber from mixed sources. Feed at the recommended rate and leave forage in front of the horse. If your horse has a specific dietary restriction, the 24/7 licensed vet team can talk https://best-horse-feed868.iamarrows.com/9-reasons-hoveler-original-sport-is-built-for-a-warmblood-in-work it through.

Does the alfalfa make this a high-protein feed?

The finished feed analyzes at 15.1% crude protein with 122 g digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter. That is a performance-level figure, delivered by alfalfa together with sunflower extraction meal and pea flakes. It is formulated for horses in consistent work, not for idle pasture pets.

Why alfalfa instead of just more grain?

Because alfalfa brings protein and fiber in the same package, which lets the formula stay at only 15% starch. More grain would push starch up; more alfalfa holds the energy steady.

Will my horse eat it if it is forage-based?

Palatability was engineered in: carrots at 0.5% and a mix of flakes and meals make it genuinely appetizing. Most horses adapt to a muesli format quickly.

Is it competition-safe?

Yes — Original Sport is competition-safe and FEI-compliant. Verify specific rules with your event organizer, as always.