Where the Protein Comes From in Höveler Original Sport: 5 Sources Behind 15.1%

Quick answer: Höveler Original Sport delivers 15.1% crude protein and 122 g digestible crude protein per kg DM from alfalfa, sunflower extraction meal, pea flakes, and linseed cake — soy-free, with added amino acids (lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%). Best for owners building muscle and topline on a soy-free ration. Price: $49.99. Last checked: September 2026.

Not all protein is equal, and increasingly, not all protein is wanted: soy sensitivity and soy-free preferences have gone mainstream in the barn. The question that matters is not just "how much protein" https://penzu.com/p/e9924696ec9b1234 but "from where". Original Sport answers both questions, with declared numbers and no soy anywhere. Here are the five sources doing the work.

1. Alfalfa — the forage protein foundation

Alfalfa sits first on the ingredient list, and leafy alfalfa is among the most dependable plant protein sources in horse feeding. In Original Sport it anchors a formula that tests at 15.1% crude protein and 122 g of digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter. Protein from forage comes packaged in the fiber a working horse's gut is built to process. The benefit: the largest protein contribution arriving as forage, not powder.

2. Sunflower extraction meal — the soy-free workhorse

Sunflower extraction meal is a traditional European protein ingredient, and it is exactly the kind of source that lets a premium formula go soy-free without giving up protein quality. It sits alongside alfalfa in the ingredient list, thickening the ration's protein contribution at 15.1% crude protein. Who this is for: owners who have taken soy out of the ration and need it properly replaced, not as a token.

3. Pea flakes — recognizable protein in a visible form

Pea flakes are right there in the muesli, visible in the bucket — a whole-food-style protein and starch source that also adds texture variety. Along with their protein contribution, they make the feed more interesting to eat, which helps a horse in work keep finishing its ration day after day. The benefit: protein visible in the bucket, from an ingredient with a clean reputation.

4. Linseed cake — protein and fat in one ingredient

Linseed cake, the seed after oil extraction, brings protein alongside its share of the formula's 9.0% crude fat. That dual role is elegant formulation: one ingredient supporting both the 15.1% crude protein figure and the energy density behind regular work. Who this is for: anyone who appreciates a formula where ingredients pull double weight.

5. Added amino acids make the protein count

Raw protein percentage is only half the story — the essential amino acids decide how usable it is. Original Sport adds lysine at 1.0%, threonine at 1.0%, and methionine plus cysteine at 0.93%, on top of the protein from the ingredient base. That is why the feed can state 15.1% crude protein and a muscle-function, recovery-focused formulation with a straight face. The benefit: declared quality markers on top of a declared quantity — the full protein picture.

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 protein 15.1%, digestible crude protein 122 g/kg DM, lysine 1.0%, threonine 1.0%, methionine+cysteine 0.93%, soy-free.

Match the rate to your horse and workload with the Feeding Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is 15.1% crude protein too much for my horse?

For a horse in consistent work, that level supports muscle maintenance — it is a performance formula by design. It is not intended as the only ration for idle horses or growing stock; feed to the rate for the actual work level.

Is the feed fully soy-free?

Yes — Original Sport is explicitly soy-free. Its protein comes from alfalfa, sunflower extraction meal, pea flakes, and linseed cake — the full panel is on the product page — with added lysine, threonine, and methionine plus cysteine.

What does "122 g digestible crude protein" mean?

It is the digestible crude protein per kg of dry matter — the part of the 15.1% the horse can actually absorb and use. It is a stricter, more honest number than crude protein alone.

Will this protein help build topline?

It supplies the raw material — including lysine at 1.0% and threonine at 1.0% — to help muscle function alongside correct work and feeding at 0.88 lb (400 g) per 220 lb (100 kg) at medium work. We describe nutritional support; the training does the building.

Can I combine it with a protein supplement?

Assess the complete ration first. The 24/7 licensed vet team is happy to help you work out whether anything extra is needed on top of the declared protein and amino acids.

Is it competition-safe?

Yes — competition-safe and FEI-compliant. Verify specific rules with your organizer.