Which are the best barrel racing saddle brands? There are several barrel racing saddle brands on the market. As a barrel racer, how do you know which brand to choose? Whether you’re just starting out, or an expert, it can be difficult to decide which barrel saddle is right for you. Barrel racing is such a competitive sport. The saddle you buy can affect your performance. Every rider is different. Therefore, what’s best for one rider, may not be right for another.
Below are the top four saddle brand options for barrel racing, all ranging in price and style. Hopefully one of them will be the one for you!
#4 Big Horn Barrel Saddles
Big Horn Antiquated Racer 1586
List Price: $1,909.60
Our Price: $1,598.00
Specifications
- Tree: Fiberglass covered barrel racing tree. 13” front with full quarter horse bars.
- Seat:14″, 15″, 16″ Exotic Elephant print padded seats.
- Horn: 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″, leather covered.
- Gullet: 6″ high (FQH – Wide) (QH – Medium).
- Cantle: 5″, tooled.
- Rigging: Stainless steel double C plate.
- Skirts: (14″-23″x11″) (15″-24″x11″) (16″-25″x11″)
- Stirrups: Aluminum with leather and footpad.
- Finish: Basket tooled, antiqued look.
- Weight: 26 to 30 lbs
If you’re a beginner, or on a budget, Big Horn Barrel Saddles may be the right fit for you! Big Horn Barrel Saddles are on the more affordable side of the four brands. It can be hard as a beginner to know what saddle is the right fit. You therefore may not want to make such a big investment on a pricey saddle.
Starting off with a more affordable saddle will help you figure out what you and your horse’s needs are. That information will be crucial for your next saddle purchase. How are Big Horn barrel saddles made? Big Horn Barrel Saddles are hand-made. The company that currently owns Big Horn Barrel Saddles doesn’t sell their saddles to the general public. They’re sold to their dealers.
Since you can’t order barrel saddles directly from Big Horn, to find their saddle brand, you’ll need to search online for saddle stores/websites that sell them. You can find big horn barrel saddles here.
#3 Billy Cook Barrel Saddles
13.5″ to 16″ Billy Cook Barrel Racing Saddle 1530
List Price: $3,006.00
Our Price: $2,505.00
Specifications
- Tree: Pro Barrel Racer rawhide covered
- Horn: 2″ tall rawhide braided, 1.5″ cap
- Swell: 12.5″ tooled with spots
- Cantle: 5″ natural rawhide silver laced Cheyenne roll, leather tooled overlay with spots
- Rigging: In skirt
- Color: Hot Oil
- Skirts: Artificial wool lined with SS spots
- Skirt Length: 25″
- Stirrups: 2″ bell natural rawhide laced
- Weight: Approximately 26 lbs.
Billy Cook Saddles was founded by Billy Cook in Greenville, Texas in 1953. These saddles are crafted by hand, not machine, on a saddle tree.
Billy Cook’s saddles combine affordability with high quality. They’re less expensive than Double J Saddles. If you’re looking for a custom built saddle, Billy Cook offers the option to order custom built saddles on their website.
The saddle company also has the “JR Collection” which is a saddle designed by Jody Ramer. Jody Ramer is a professional team roper and a horse trainer. If you’re a Jody Ramer fan, be sure to check out his saddle collaboration with Billy Cook right here!
#2 Double J Barrel Saddles
13″ to 17″ Double J Pozzi Pro Barrel Racer SBP730
List Price: $4,795.00
Our Price: $4,555.00
Specifications
Leather: Cognac Vintage
Tooling Pattern: Whirlwind
Border Pattern: Whirlwind Border on Seat Jockey
Horn: Leather
Front: Tooled
Seat & Color: Rough-out Hard-seat – Medium Oil
Seat Jockey: Part of Hard-seat – Border Tool
Cantle: Tooled
Rigging: 3 Way In Skirt – Rear Slot
Skirt: Tooled – FOAM Lined
Fender: Tooled
Stirrup: Brown Aluminum
Conchos: C998 – Brown Iron with Sterling Silver Overlay
Trim: Strings Front, Cantle and Rear
Weight: Approx 28 lbs
Double J Saddlery has been in business since 1991. It’s a family owned business in Yoakum, Texas. The saddles are made 100% in the shop, by hand. What’s so special about Double J Saddlery is that they can form a saddle to the shape of your horse’s back.
That’s great, especially if you have a horse that’s hard to fit. Conforming the saddle to the horse’s back helps to prevent injury and soreness for your horse, which translates to better performance when riding!
Double J Barrel Saddles are the most expensive of the four saddles, and with the least selection. Double J focuses on celebrity barrel racers. They’re particularly famous for Pozzi Pro Saddles, named after the famous rider Brittany Pozzi. This particular brand is for more elite riders – riders who are serious about their performance and competition.
#1 Circle Y Barrel Saddles
14″ to 17″ Circle Y Kelly Kaminski KK Faith Flex2 Barrel Racer 1524
List Price: $2,605.00
Our Price: $2,299.00
Specifications
- Seat Sizes: 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”
- Silver: Square copper silver cross
- Tooling: Floral
- Horn: 3” Neck, 2 1/4” Cap
- Tree: Flex2® Barrel Regular, Wide
- Skirt: 13” D x 25” L
- Swell: 13”
- Cantle: 5”
- Weight: 25 lbs.
Circle Y Saddles has been making saddles since 1960 in Yoakum, Texas. They have saddles called “Champion Team” that are designed by famous riders. The riders include: Kelly Kaminski, Sarah Rose, Martha Josey, Tammy Fischer, Cody Crow, Julie Goodnight, Kenda Lenseigne, and “Team Camarillo”. Out of the four saddle brands, Circle Y has the largest variety that ranges in price from moderate to expensive.
My Take Away on the Best Barrel Racing Saddle Brands
Finding the right saddle for you and your horse is vital, especially for competitors. The right saddle can prevent injury both to the rider and the horse. Budget is also a big factor in considering saddles, and it can be hard to find one at the right price.
Big Horn Barrel Saddles, Billy Cook Barrel Saddles, Double J Barrel Saddles, and Circle Y Barrel Saddles all offer a great variety of price and style. All of the four saddle brands are hand-made. So it is up to your price range, style preference, or even your favorite rider’s saddle design! I hope this article was helpful in your saddle search.
If you’d like to read more reviews on barrel saddles, I have the perfect on for you. Read my review on Martha Josey Ultimate Cash Barrel Saddle. Please leave your comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
Hi, i found your article extremely interesting as I am not familiar with the different saddle types that you describe. If i were to purchase a suitable saddle for my own use, what would you recommend? I am a male weighing approximately 13sr.my height is just under 6ft, and I am not at all experienced at riding, but would take it up occasionally at weekends, thanks.
Hi Alan. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for your question. The type of saddle you (or anyone else) would buy would be based on what you’d primarily use it for. So, you said you want to take up casual riding on the weekends. That sounds like you’d need a lightweight trail riding saddle. I think this would be the best type of saddle for you. As for the seat size, you’d have to ask the manufacturer. When you click the link on my site, it will take you directly to the manufacturer. There, you can either call their number, or use their chat feature and give them your height and size. Or, I can contact them directly for you and give them your stats, then ask them for the seat size you should buy. I hope that helps.