Hi Folks. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we appreciate all of the wonderful friends we have made over the year and all of the wonderful results we have been able to see through all the clinics we have given and products we’ve made up for you.
We had quite a Christmas rush. Our training programs were flying out the door – we gave the local postman a pretty good workout! It’s exciting to hear the results folks are getting from the Foundation Program and it’s great to see it getting in the hands of more and more people!
The CowhorseU Maneuvers Program, Level 2, is just now being introduced to the public. It takes all the skills that you developed in the Foundation Program and shows you how to use them to create some great maneuvers. Of course we spend a lot of time teaching riders how to evaluate and how to create maneuvers, and helps you troubleshoot different situations to make your horse as good as he possibly can be. In other words, it maximizes performance and teaches you how to ride too!
I’m doing a couple things different this year than I have in the past. I am attempting to be a team roper, I have been a “wanna- be” team roper for a long time, but I have never devoted myself to it. I have always heard everyone talk about how good it can be for show horses. It gives them a diversion, and gives them a job – something to do. They stay real sound (compared to the other things we ask them to do in the rein cow horse world). It keeps them fit, and it’s not boring for them or me. It’s exciting for both of us.
It’s really been quite an experience. It’s been humbling for me at times for sure. I am starting to see a little more progress on my part because I work on it every single day that the weather allows. So, I’ve got my little two horse trailer for sale if anybody wants it. I want $950 for it. It’s an old 89 circle j. I bought a used 3 horse pull-behind and I got a donkey. So now I am no longer a “wanna-be,” I’m a real team roper. Nancy is the donkey’s name. She is trained to gallop in circles. I heel the donkey a bunch on each of my show horses. It’s so awesome. I can’t believe how much it helps my horses and me. I leave the pen smiling – that is if I have a good day. I always feel better after I have roped a little. Hopefully I can share that with you guys. It’s such a healthy sport. I really, really enjoy it. So that’s enough about my roping.
We’re right in the process of booking all off our 2008 clinic dates now. If anybody is interested in hosting a clinic, call me 805-455-0162. I’m always interested in possible new clinic locations. It seems like each year, 80% of our clinics happen, and 20% don’t, so that means we’re still 20% open!
Recently we went to Whitefish Montana. We had a private clinic there with my friends Steve Wisler and Brian Murphy, and it was wonderful. We had a wonderful time. We worked with them for three days and had satisfaction of seeing a huge improvement and then we stuck around town as they just happened to have a beautiful big mountain called Big Mountain Ski Resort, so we skied for three days after the clinic.
It’s not easy when you’re not in condition for skiing. Your legs can get pretty sore when you ski 3 days in a row. But, that’s okay. We have to get fitter because we have another clinic coming up in Moab, Utah on February 15-16. Anybody that is interested needs to give me a call. And after that clinic, we are going to Dear Valley in Utah to ski for three more days. It’s a tough life.
In the meantime we’ll be headed to the Denver Wholesale Trade shoe in Denver, January 11 – 15th. It’s the largest western trade show in the world.
We have lots of new bits and spurs already designed, and lined out for this years’ show. Each year we try to come out with something new and better. I could not be happier with the feedback we are getting from our ads, our TV show, our clinics and just hearsay. We put our programs and products together because we really feel we have created something that many, many riders can benefit from. We love to help and we love to hear about the results you’re getting too! I get so many questions about other products too, that next year we’re going to be scouting some of the top manufacturers to find the best products we can – products that I have used or wouldn’t hesitate to use on my own horses, and make them available to you on our website. The first of these is the new saddle pad line that I really swear by. I have been through a lot of them and this is the only one I have ever found that is really worth paying for.
Another really exciting line of products that we’ll be adding to the website soon are Don Brown’s handmade hackamores and braided work. I’ve always thought that Don’s hackamores were sensational, the best I’ve ever used, but since I mentioned his work on one of my RFD shows, we got to talking and worked out an arrangement for us to offer his products for horsemen who really want the best while they can still get it. If you’re interested in having a hackamore with Don Brown “magic” let us know, and we can help you come up with an incredible tool for your horses. Don’s hackamore’s start at $500 but they are handmade one by one, buy a horseman-craftsman in his seventies, so in many ways they are priceless. If you want the best – this is what you want.
I would like to thank everybody again. We really appreciate having you on the team. Here’s to you. Look forward doing something for you in the year 2008.
God Bless You and Have a Happy New Year!
Mr. Vogt,
First I hope you had a merry Christmas and the new year brings you and yours prosperity and happiness.
I am a big supporter of the Cowhorse U program and your training. It has helped me and my horses immensely. I really look forward to level 2 but there’s a few more pennies gotta go back in the piggy bank after Santa went through it.
Anyway your mention of the hackamore caught my eye. Yeasr ago we used them to start colts, feeling it was a good way to stay out of their mouths. Of course back then we started colts a whole lot different than we do now.
Now I have come to appreciate the potential of the hackamore and love seeing an experienced horseman getting a horse to work in it. I also realize I don’t have the skills to help my horses with one. I find it a difficult skill to master without good instruction (which in our area is basically non-existent). Therefore I don’t use one feeling it would be unfair to my horses.
My question is do you have any intentions of offering a program dealing with the hackamore and it’s use? Or have any resources that might be available to us “eastereners”?
Again, thank you for all your help.
It’s nice to hear that you think Team Roping is good for horses. I was hoping it would be. Sometime I wonder if it stresses them out or if they really enjoy it. My buddy’s horse seems like he enjoys it. His horse, Shadow, is one of those gentle giants, completely calm and sweet, UNTIL he’s gets to the team roping arena. Then he’s dancing around the second you get him out of the trailer.
It’s interesting how well Shadow knows his job. He dances until he gets into the box. Then he holds steady until its time to explode out after that steer. I think he digs the competition as much as his owner does.
Question if you have time: On the same horse, do you use the same bit for team roping that you do for reining, or do you switch bits?
Glad you’re getting some time in the snow!