Höveler Western Sport vs a Forage-Only Ration: 5 Gaps the Bag Fills

Quick answer: Höveler Western Sport fills the gaps a forage-only ration leaves in a working horse: 14% crude protein with 107 g/kg digestible crude protein, 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy, and a stated vitamin and mineral package including Vitamin E at 260 mg/kg. $37.99 for a 44 lb bag. Last checked: September 2026.

Nobody quarrels with hay. It is the base of every horse's diet, and Western Sport's own guidance insists on adequate forage alongside. The question is what happens when work ramps up and hay alone cannot carry the load. Here are five gaps a measured concentrate fills.

1. The energy gap: 12.19 MJ/kg of concentrated fuel

Digestible energy is 12.19 MJ/kg, with convertible energy at 11.21 MJ/kg. As a horse's workload rises from light to intensive, the total calories required climb faster than what a normal hay appetite covers. A measured concentrate — Western Sport runs 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) at medium work — closes that distance.

Who this is for: horses whose ribs begin showing when the calendar tightens.

2. The protein gap: 107 g/kg digestible crude protein

Western Sport provides 14.0% crude protein and 107 g/kg digestible crude protein, with lysine at 0.58%, methionine plus cysteine at 0.46%, and threonine at 0.53%. Muscle is built from digestible protein and limiting amino acids — the exact figures a forage-only ration leaves unspecified. The 28% alfalfa base is included for muscle development and peak performance.

The benefit: muscle and topline support with numbers you can check.

3. The mineral gap: stated calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium

Calcium 1.44%, phosphorus 0.50%, magnesium 0.23%, sodium 0.36%. Hay's mineral content varies cut by cut and field by field, and only an analysis of your hay tells you what it delivers. The concentrate prints its figures on every bag, so the ration's mineral floor is known.

Who this is for: owners who would rather avoid their horse's mineral intake being a seasonal surprise.

4. The vitamin gap: E, A, D3, and biotin, measured

Per kg: Vitamin E 260 mg, Vitamin A 18,216 I.E., Vitamin D3 3,299 I.E., biotin 1,185 µg, and the B complex — B12 at 280 µg, niacin 35 mg, folic acid 3.4 mg. Forage starts losing vitamins from the day it is baled. The concentrate restores them at stated levels, in every meal.

The benefit: a vitamin program that does not depend on how old the hay stack is.

5. The partnership gap: it is designed to sit on hay, not replace it

The feeding guidance says always provide adequate forage — Western Sport is built as a partner to hay, not a replacement. Light work runs 0.55 lb (250 g) per 220 lb (100 kg); medium work 0.88 lb (400 g). No heavy-work rate is listed, so set to condition and training intensity.

Who this is for: owners who want to keep hay as the centerpiece and put performance fuel on top.

How to feed it

Daily amounts per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight:

Work levelDaily rate per 220 lb (100 kg) Light work0.55 lb (250 g) Medium work0.88 lb (400 g) Heavy workNot listed — the page says to adjust to your horse's condition and training intensity, with adequate forage always provided

The page gives no heavy-work rate. Adjust to your horse's condition and training intensity, with adequate forage always alongside. Key specs at a glance: 14.0% crude protein, 6.10% crude fat, 16.7% crude fiber, 18.30% starch, 5.30% sugar, 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy, 28% alfalfa. Plan the ration with bifid's Feeding Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Does my working horse really need concentrate if hay is good quality?

As work rises from light to intensive, energy and protein demands rise with it. Western Sport adds 12.19 MJ/kg digestible energy and 107 g/kg digestible crude protein in measured meals — 0.55 lb (250 g) to 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) by work level. Good hay is the base; the concentrate covers what the base cannot.

Will adding concentrate mean feeding less hay?

No. The feeding guidance states adequate forage should always be provided. Western Sport is a concentrate built best soy free feed for horses to sit alongside forage, and the hay ration stays.

Is Western Sport suitable for horses that live mainly on forage?

For horses in lighter work, the 0.55 lb (250 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) rate adds the stated vitamins, minerals, and protein without a large concentrate volume. Adjust to condition, and consult the 24/7 licensed vet team if you are unsure.

How do I start adding it to a hay-only ration?

Introduce it gradually over 7 to 10 days, beginning small and building to the target rate for your horse's work level. Keep the hay steady so you performance horse feed can see what the change is doing. The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee backs the trial.

What if the work level is heavy?

The page gives no heavy-work rate. Set the amount to condition and training intensity, keep forage in front of the horse, and ask bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team for a sensible starting point.