I couldn’t help get excited when I saw a Circle Y Martha Josey barrel saddles sale on the internet. I mean, what barrel racer wouldn’t get excited upon seeing a Martha Josey barrel saddles sale?
Martha Josey is a barrel racing legend. She’s an 11-Time NFR Qualifier Barrel Racer, a 1980 NFR World Champion, WPRA and NBHA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist Barrel Racer, and Clinician. She has also designed the Ultimate Barrel Saddle Collection.
Martha’s barrel racing saddles are specifically designed to help you ride in balance, go with the movement of your horse, time your horse’s movements, and allow you to sit the stop.
But, before I show you a few of Martha Josey barrel racing saddles, I’m going to explain to you the problems you’ll have (in general and in rodeo events) when you have a poorly-fit saddle.
Martha Josey Barrel Saddles Sale Solves Poor Saddle Fit
Poor saddle fit, in general, creates problems when riding, both for rider and horse. But in rodeo events, such as barrel racing, reining, cutting, or roping, poor saddle fit creates specific problems that prohibit the rider from achieving their goal.
And since barrel racing requires a horse and its rider to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time possible, the rider needs a saddle that will help her accomplish that goal.
A poor-fitting saddle will cause the rider to:
- Have a hard time keeping balance
- Have bad stops
- Have poor timing
- Fall forward
Martha Josey Barrel Saddles Sale – Great Barrel Racing Design
Very few saddles are designed to help a rider ride well. Even fewer saddles help the rider to sit that stop. Too many saddle designs hinder, rather than help, a rider’s balance, especially for the performance events where the horse has to make stops, sharp turns, and turn over his hocks.
The two main goals of a saddle are to allow the rider to ride in balance and allow the rider to sit the stop.
So, your saddle should also be designed so that it’s easy for you to assume the correct position. You shouldn’t have to fight or struggle to find and maintain the correct position.
Now, what are the basic design elements of a good saddle that will allow the rider to ride in balance and sit the stop?
- Correct tree size
- Good Seat Pocket & Leg Path
- Hanging of Stirrups
- Thickness of Fenders
- Angle and Height of Cantle
- Swell Height
Martha Josey Barrel Saddles Sale
Correct Tree Size – Everything starts with the tree. Since the tree is the foundation of the saddle, it needs to fit the horse’s back well.
If there’s too much flare at the top or bottom, that means too much pressure is going to end up some place else on the horse’s back, and the horse’s back will become sore.
No amount of padding will help if the tree is the wrong size. Make sure the tree fits the contour of the horse. If you want a lighter barrel saddle, get one where the bars are a little thinner.
Good Seat Pocket & Leg Path – One of the most important elements for balance in the saddle is the pocket. The pocket is the lowest part of the seat.
The lowest part of the seat should be 2/3 to 3/4 of the way back from the swells. The pocket should be close to the horse’s back. Across the plain of the pocket should be fairly flat. You see, the lower your center of gravity, the more secure in the seat you are, and the more balance you’ll have.
Another aspect of the pocket that’s important is the rise behind the pocket. The rise behind the pocket is what keeps you centered in the saddle, and off the cantle.
If the pocket forces you against the cantle, you’re going to have the cantle launching you every stride the horse lopes – and you’re not going to be able to sit the stop. The cantle in barrel racing saddles tend to be higher in inches than other rodeo event saddles for extra seat security.
Difference in Pockets – Some saddles have a short pocket and some saddles have a long pocket. The short pocket just means that the rise in front of the pocket starts pretty quickly. In some saddles, the pocket is longer, and the rise starts farther ahead.
It’s not a big difference, but it gives a different feel to the seat.
Leg Path – The leg path goes down from the seat down to the fenders and into the stirrups. The leg path has to be shaped right.
The measurement between the edge of the cantle and the back edge of the swells, that’s basically the measurement for the leg path.
Some measurements can vary. It can be longer, or it can be shorter. But the main thing to be aware of is whether there is a nice groove from the seat, down to the stirrup leather.
Stirrup Leathers – Your stirrup leathers should be hung pretty far forward and shouldn’t be too long. They should be hung 1.5 to 2 inches behind the swells if you want to have a secure seat, ride in balance and sit that stop.
If your stirrups are too long, you end up having to ride on your tippy toes, which makes you less secure in the seat. The shorter your stirrups, the more secure you are in the seat.
Fenders – The leather on the fenders can’t be too thick. Otherwise, it will hinder your ability to communicate with your horse. Plus, it makes the saddle too heavy.
Also, while it’s fine to have roughout seat for your barrel saddle, it’s better to have smooth fenders. If your fenders are roughout, your knees become raw.
Angle and Height of Cantle – The angle of the cantel is important. Barrel racing saddles tend to have higher and steeper cantle but not too steep.
If the cantel is too steep, then, when you need to sit down, as you approach the barrel, and you’re going at the barrel full speed, and it’s time for your horse to slow down and to be able to make the turn, you need to be able to sit and lower your center of gravity.
Barrel saddles tend to have higher cantles than other saddles for extra seat security.
Swell Height – The height of the swell in a barrel racing saddle needs to be high because it helps keep the rider secure in the seat during the fast, jerky, and violent turn of the horse around the cloverleaf pattern.
Short Skirts – short skirts make the barrel saddle lighter.
Martha Josey Barrel Saddles Sale
Now that I’ve explained to you the design elements of a good barrel racing saddle, here are some Martha Josey barrel saddles sale I found online that you can buy with a money-back guarantee.
By the way, these are just a few Martha Josey barrel saddles that are on sale. You can find cheaper Martha Josey saddles at the Horse Saddle Shop.
13.5″ to 17″ Circle Y Josey Cash Desert Edition MJ49
This is one of Martha Josey’s Ultimate Barrel Saddle Collection.
Her Cash Desert Edition is stylized with cactus tooling, has roughout hardseat and angle cut skirts. 13-inch swell width and 5-inch cantle for a secure seat, which will keep you in the correct position.
This saddle also features the new Rider Buckle – a locking stirrup leather buckle that prevents the sleeve from sliding off the stirrup leather buckle during a run.
Every Josey Ultimate is built with these key features:
Horn: 4-inch forward slanted horn which helps to push down into your turn and pull up when coming out of your turn
Center Pocket Seat: This helps center and balance the rider and keeps the rider in stride with the horse
Pay Window Swells: keeps rider in correct position to hold the horn and keeps the horn available
Cantle: Stops you from getting behind the horse’s stride. The seat is dished so you sit in the seat and not on it, allowing you to stay in stride with the horse.
Free Swing, Forward Hung Stirrup Leathers: keeps the feet forward preventing the rider from being thrown forward and off balance
Stirrups: 3” wide aluminum rubber grip stirrups for comfort and balance
Rigging: rawhide slots or 3-Way Adjustable with several rigging options and positions to best suit fitting of the horses of different conformation
Ultimate Wood Tree: designed to Josey’s personal style and preferences
Specs
Available Seat Sizes: 13 ½”, 14”, 14 ½”, 15”, 15 ½”, 16”, 17”
Hardware: Antique Patina Flower
Tooling: 3/4 Cactus with Border
Rigging: 3-Way Adjustable In-skirt
Horn: 4” Neck, 2” Cap
Tree: Ultimate DURAhide™ Regular and Wide
Skirt: 13” D x 25” L
Swell Width: 13”
Cantle Height: 5”
Weight: 26 lbs.
13.5″ to 17″ Circle Y Josey-Mitchell Lightweight Game Changer MJ02
This is a lightweight barrel racing saddle made with all the Josey Ultimate features and original Josey tree.
Every Josey Ultimate is built with these key features:
Horn: 4” forward slanted horn helps to push down into your turn and pull up coming out of your turn
Center Pocket Seat: for centering and balance keeps rider in stride with the horse
Pay Window Swells: keeps rider in correct position to hold the horn and keeps the horn available
Cantle: keeps you from getting behind the horse’s stride. The seat is dished so you sit in the seat and not on it, allowing you to stay in stride with the horse
Free Swing, Forward Hung Stirrup Leathers: keeps the feet forward preventing the rider from being thrown forward and off balance
Stirrups: 3” wide aluminum rubber grip stirrups for comfort and balance
Ultimate ‘Wood Tree: designed to Josey’s personal style and preferences
Specs
Seat Sizes: 13 ½”, 14”, 14 ½”, 15”, 15 ½”, 16”, 17”
Hardware: Royal Round
Tooling: None
Rigging: 7/8 In-Skirt C
Horn: 4” Neck, 1 ¾” Cap
Tree: Ultimate DURAhide™
Regular and Wide
Skirt: 11D X 24″ L
Swell Width: 13”
Cantle Height: 4 ½”
12″ & 13″ Circle Y Josey-Mitchell Youth Avenger MJ80 w/Free Pad
This youth saddle solves the #1 problem for young riders: being thrown forward on a run. This saddle is built with forward hung fenders. It’s a saddle that helps young riders learn balance and confidence.
Specs
Seat Color: Blue Halo, Chocolate Suede with Turquoise Quilting, Chocolate Suede with Pink Quilting, Grey Suede with White Quilting, or Copper Mauve
Leather Color: Chocolate or Antique
Tooling: 1/2 Floral Tooling with Border
Tree: Ultimate DURAhide Regular and Wide
Hardware: Rockin’ Out Floral Cross
Rigging: 3-Way Adjustable In-Skirt
Swell Width: 13″
Cantle Height: 5″
Horn Size: 4″ Neck, 2-1/4″ Cap
Skirt Size: 13.5″ D x 22.5″ L
Weight: 26 lbs
You’re probably thinking, “Martha Josey Barrel Saddles Sale? These saddles are expensive!” Well, yes, and no.
A good-quality saddle is always going to be on the more expensive side. And Martha Josey barrel saddles, even if they’re on sale, are going to be expensive because of their high quality.
However, if you’re looking for an even cheaper Martha Josey barrel saddles sale online, click here for a used Martha Josey barrel saddles sale. Buying a used, high-quality saddle is often the next best thing to buying a brand new saddle.
Was this post helpful in helping you decide to buy a barrel racing saddle? If so, please leave your comments and feedback below. Do you want to see other, high-quality barrel saddles. Click here to find Double J Barrel Saddle Sale.
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