Höveler Western Sport vs a Forage-Only Ration: 5 Gaps the Bag Fills
Quick answer: Höveler Western Sport fills the holes 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 climbs 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 a normal hay appetite can supply. 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 training calendar fills up.
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: topline https://jsbin.com/guqodevibe and muscle support with numbers you can verify.
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 changes cut to cut and field to field, and only a hay analysis tells you what yours delivers. The concentrate states 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 surprise that changes with the season.
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 begins losing vitamins from the day it is cut and baled. The concentrate restores them at stated levels, in every meal.
The benefit: a vitamin program that is not hostage to the age of the hay stack.
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 substitute. 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 at the center and add 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 tune to your horse's condition and training intensity, with adequate forage always providedThe page gives no heavy-work rate. Set 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. Lay out 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 climb 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 available. Western Sport is a concentrate built 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 big concentrate volume. Set 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, starting at a small amount and building to the target rate for your horse's work level. Keep the hay steady so you can tell what the change is doing. The 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee covers the trial.
What if the work level is heavy?
The page gives no heavy-work rate. Adjust the amount to condition and training intensity, keep forage available to the horse, and check with bifid's 24/7 licensed vet team for a sensible starting point.