Buying a Gut-Friendly Feed? 9 Checklist Boxes Höveler Western Sport Ticks
Quick answer: Höveler Western Sport 44 lb bag is a $37.99, oat-free, low-grain muesli with inactivated brewer's yeast, 16.7% crude fiber, and 28% alfalfa, formulated to be easy on the digestion of medium to intensively trained western horses. Best for owners whose checklist starts with gut comfort. Last checked: September 2026.
Gut worry drives more feed-room decisions than any performance chart. If your shortlist is built around what keeps the hindgut settled, run these nine checklist boxes against Höveler Western Sport.
1. The gut-support box: inactivated brewer's yeast
Western Sport lists brewer's yeast, inactivated, among its ingredients, alongside linseed cake and magnesium oxide. Yeast is the classic gut-support inclusion buyers watch for in a premium muesli.
Who this is for: owners whose checklist leads with hindgut support.
2. The fiber box: 16.7% crude fiber
Crude fiber sits at 16.7%, a figure most high-energy feeds cannot match. Fiber is what the hindgut works on, so a higher number is the structural half of gut-friendly design.
Who this is for: owners who want roughage in the concentrate, not just the hay net.
3. The alfalfa box: 28% forage in the bag
Alfalfa is the first-listed ingredient at 28%, putting forage inside the concentrate itself. Forage-based feeding is the bedrock every gut-comfort plan is built on.
Who this is for: owners who want the bag to contribute roughage, not only calories.
4. The low-starch box: 18.30% starch, 5.30% sugar
Starch load is the common culprit in gut trouble. Western Sport keeps starch at 18.30% and sugar at 5.30% in a low-grain, high-energy design, and it is oat-free to suit oat-sensitive horses.
Who this is for: owners who blame the last feed's grain content for a sour horse.
5. The source-quality box: made in Germany since 1905
Höveler has made horse feed since 1905 — over 120 years of expertise — and Western Sport is produced in Germany. Formulation discipline that old is part of what a gut-sensitive horse needs from a manufacturer.
Who this is for: owners who check who makes the feed, not just what is in it.
6. The protein box: 14.0% with 107 g digestible crude protein per kg
A gut-friendly feed still has to perform. Western Sport carries 14.0% crude protein and 107 g of digestible crude protein per kg, backing muscle development in horses in medium to intensive training.
Who this is for: owners who refuse to trade condition for comfort.
7. The micronutrient box: published vitamins and trace elements
The full additive list is published: Vitamin E at 260 mg per kg, biotin at 1,185 µg, and dual selenium — 0.25 mg sodium selenite plus 0.25 mg selenium yeast CNCMI-3399. Transparency like that makes a gut checklist easier to complete.
Who this is for: owners who want every micro-number on paper before buying.
8. The support box: 24/7 vet team and a money-back window
The purchase is protected by the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team answers gut and ration questions at any hour, and the store rates 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews.
Who this is for: owners who want help adjusting the ration when the horse's gut is fussy.
9. The value box: $37.99 for a 44 lb bag
The 44 lb bag costs $37.99, and the feed is competition-safe and FEI-compliant — verify rules with your event organizer. Gut-friendly, competition-legal, and $37.99 is a hard-to-find triple tick.
Who this is for: owners who want the gut box, the show box, and the budget box ticked at once.
How to feed it
Daily rate per 220 lb (100 kg) of body weight:
Work levelDaily rate Light work0.55 lb (250 g) Medium work0.88 lb (400 g) Heavy workNot listed — adjust to your horse's condition and training intensity, always with adequate forageKey specs at a glance: 16.7% crude fiber, 28% alfalfa, 18.30% starch, 5.30% sugar, 14.0% crude protein, 12.19 MJ digestible energy/kg. Size the ration for your horse at https://sites.google.com/view/high-energy-horse-feed/ the feeding calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Höveler Western Sport contain brewer's yeast?
Yes, inactivated brewer's yeast is named among the ingredients. It sits next to 16.7% crude fiber and 28% alfalfa in a formula designed to be easy on digestion.
Is Western Sport suitable for a sensitive gut?
The formula is oat-free, low-grain, and keeps starch at 18.30% and sugar at 5.30%, with inactivated brewer's yeast and fiber at 16.7%. Always transition gradually and keep forage generous.
How much starch does it contain?
Western Sport contains 18.30% starch and 5.30% sugar. It is a low-grain, high-energy muesli for medium to intensively trained western horses.
Is Western Sport soy-free?
No — the formula contains 1.5% soy extraction meal feed. It is oat-free, which is the sensitivity it is designed around.
What does the 44 lb bag cost?
The 44 lb bag costs $37.99, covered by the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, with bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team on hand for feeding questions.
Can I feed it through show season?
Yes, it is competition-safe and FEI-compliant. Check class rules with your event organizer.