Comments on: Meeting My Horse-Trainer Idol: Les Vogt

By: MJ

MJ — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:20:17 +0000

Ooooh! Good to know. Thanks!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:22:08 +0000

One I asked was if the judge knew before-hand if the person showing was just schooling or really showing. He said, to be courteous, you should use 2 hands to let the judge know you’ll be schooling, but some people don’t & some judges do hold that against you later if you show again (although he said they really shouldn’t). But I suppose there is times when you intend to really show, but end up schooling if the horse messes up bad enough. I guess you would go to 2 hands from that point on.

By: MJ

MJ — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:06:40 +0000

Al, I know! I fully intended to call him Mr. Vogt; but when you meet him, he’s just so nice that you feel like you’ve known him forever. I knew I shouldn’t call him Les, but Mr. Vogt sounded so unfamiliar or something, so I went with what came most natural and respectful and just called him “sir.”

Amanda, I’m going to have to look that trainer up. What were the answers to the few sneaky questions? You’re not going to hold out on us are you?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:41:08 +0000

I’m glad you had a good time at the clinic MJ. That same weekend you were at the clinic I was at a reining show here in IL & got the privelige to meet Clint Haverty. I’d only heard of him, but knew he was well known in the reining horse world. He was a judge & was checking bits while I ran the out-gate so we sat next to each other. What a great guy. He’s into making tooling on breastcollars & briefcases & things so he would doodle on paper while the class went on & put it down to check the horses after. I tried not to bother him too much, but was able to sneek in a few questions I had on showing!

By: Al

Al — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:37:37 +0000

I’d sure like to meet Mr. Vogt sometime. Whether at a horse thing or just in town he seems like somebody I could get along with pretty well.

Some years back, when Two Eyed Jack was still around and doin his thing, me and a buddy used to talk about Howard Pitzer and some of things he done with Quarter Horse breeding and ranching.

Now my buddy was like me…a little rough around the edges. Didn’t have much use for people with “status”. I’m sure if we had ever met up with the president of the United States he wouldn’t have no problem callin him “pardner”, “hoss”, or somethin a little less respectful depending on how he felt about him.

But he always referred to Howard Pitzer as “Mr. Pitzer”.

So I suppose someday if we meet up I’ll say Mr. Vogt. Maybe come out there to Washington to see him with you all. Not sure how far that is. Probably have to saddle up pretty early to ride there from Illinois and get there in time.

By: MJ

MJ — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:16:02 +0000

I learned a TON! You should have been there. You would have loved it. He even did some cow work. Watching him was amazing. I’m actually really really glad I didn’t bring a horse this time. I think I would have been all locked up and too nervous to really absorb everything. But now that I know what it’s all about, I definitely want to go with a horse. He’ll be in Washington 3 more times this summer!

By: Al

Al — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:39:44 +0000

I’m glad to hear it worked out well for you. I know you were kinda worried about it as it got closer. Too bad Leo didn’t get to make the trip this time. Bet next time you’ll be at the clinic in a saddle.