Les Vogt Live

Excerpts from Les Vogt's Equine Insights (part of Wide World of Horses on RFT-tv), training programs, clinics and from everywhere else.

 A Bit about Bits
Here Les shares his knowledge about bits, how and why they work.  In the Tack Room section of the website you can hear him describe virtually every bit in the Performax Collection on each bit's product page.  To hear more about the theory behind the Performax Collection go to "Selecting a Performax Bit"

Pre-Signal

Les explains the concept of "pre-signal" and how a bit that has a lot of it can enhance your training program. The bit he uses as an example is #1105, from his collection of performance bits and spurs.

Release and Preload

Elevator Bits

Snaffle Bits

Training with the Mechanical Cow

Les describes how he uses the mechanical cow to supplement his training program. The full length version of this segment will also be part of the next level of Les Vogt's Cowhorse U series which will focus on training the horse for cow work.

Training with the Two Rein

NRCHA Hall of Fame Trainer Les Vogt explains the reason behind the two-rein phase in the traditional approach to bridling a reined cow horse. In the traditional approach the horse is first trained in the snaffle bit, and then moved to the hackamore for additional training. When that is done the transition into the bridle is made with the assistance of a bosalito, or small version of the hackamore. In this segment Les explains why this is important and shows how he uses the set up to reinforce the horse's neck reining.

Why You Shouldn't Worry about Falling Off

Here's a story Les told at one of his 09 clinics in Australia. We used part of this in one of our recent TV shows but I figured some of you would want to hear the whole story about how Les had 3 out of 5 horses in the finals at Salinas one year and walk out without a dime!

Horse Training Secret - Load and Unload

15X World Champion Les Vogt explains the theory of how your approach to any maneuver "loads" the horse up, and lets you allow him to "unload" in the maneuver. Take the stress out of everything you ask your horse to do by making sure that he's prepared and positioned for success! Applies to every type of riding including Les's specialties of reining and reined cow horse. 

Intro to Lead Changes

Les Vogt talks about training a horse for Lead changes. Sample from over 6 hours of video in Les Vogt's Cowhorse U Manuevers Level Program - for more info go to www.LesVogt.com. Great advice for reining training or horse training of any kind.
Les has won 15 World Championships in Reining and Reined Cowhorse events and is a NRCHA Hall of Fame member.

Les Vogt's Cowhorse U

Exerpts from Les Vogts Performance Training Program - designed to help riders understand the components of training a competition level reining or working cow horse. Les is a 15 time world champion in reining, working cow horse and reined cowhorse events. Copyrighted material. 

Professors talk about using Cowhorse U in the classroom

Pete Agalos (Cal Poly) and Chuck Mills (Feather River College) talk about their experiences with using the Cowhorse U program as the textbook in their colt starting classes. Interviews took place at the Les Vogt Shoot Out where teams from both schools were challenged to perform some of the exercises that are outlined in the program.

Spade Bits

Les Vogt talks about the spade bit: how it works and what makes a good one.