Cowboy Method Spreadsheets - Original and Modified (2026)

Cowboy Method Spreadsheets – Original and Modified

By Kyle Risley
Last updated April 18, 2020

Experience level: Intermediate
Weeks: 14
Periodization: Wave Periodization
Meet prep program: Yes
Program goal: Powerlifting
Uses RPE: No
Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes

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While the Texas Method has long been a popular intermediate program for graduates of Rippetoe’s Starting Strength or other novice programs like Strong Lifts, a popular Texas Method variation to emerge has been the Cowboy Method.

Included here are the Original Cowboy Method and a Modified Cowboy Method.

Original Cowboy Method

The original variation was created by Chad Wesley Smith and consists only of squatting 3x per week – leaving it up to the individual lifter to program their own bench press and deadlift work (which is why Lift Vault offers Lift Specific Programs). The Modified Version (below) programs all 3 lifts.

For fans of 3x squatting programs with weekly progression, check out the Cowboy Method for squats! Need more than just squat programming?

Source

Cowboy Method (Squat Only) - LiftVault.com

Modified Cowboy Method

The Modified Cowboy Method adds bench and deadlift work, making it a bit simpler for a lifter to plug in their training maxes and have everything set up for them.

Source and Full Program Review by /u/cleti

Modified Cowboy Method - LiftVault.com

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.