Barrel Saddles

Martin Saddlery
Barrel Saddles
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Made to Fit Your Horse

Barrel racing has advanced tremendously over the past decade. We are breeding horses that are stronger, faster, and more athletic than ever before. Martin barrel saddles are made with that in mind to give you the competitive edge you need to win. If you ride better, you compete better.

Built for Strong Horses

Stingray

The Martin Stingray is built for the strong, powerful horse that drives hard through the turn. It has a compact seat, a straighter, higher back, and a deeper scoop. The cutout and swells let your thighs fit up underneath and set your stirrups slightly forward, so the saddle keeps you back on your pockets and in the middle of your horse instead of getting thrown forward or falling behind. That security lets you sit through the power of the turn, keep your horse's hind end engaged, and still get up and leave the barrel with your horse, without hanging on its face. Top barrel racers including Sherry Cervi, Ashley Schafer, Emma Abbott, and Joy Wargo reach for the Stingray on their strongest horses.

Seat Sizes Available: 12.5" - 16"

Starting at $4,219
Ready to Ship Build Your Martin Stingray Deep Dive
Sherry Cervi

"Mind in the middle. This saddle helps keep my body in the middle of my horse."

Emma Abbott

"I feel like this saddle helps me stay back in the saddle and legs forward."

Ashley Schafer

"On a horse that's really strong leaving a turn, I feel really secure in this saddle."

Joy Wargo

"A horse that tends to want to roll me up on the front end, I'm going to choose the Stingray over the BTR for that horse."

Built for Riding With Your Hips

BTR

The Martin BTR is built for barrel racers who want to sit deep and ride the back of the saddle through the turn. Compared to the Stingray, the BTR sits you up a little more, which helps you keep a balanced, upright position. The stirrups hang slightly forward, so it's easy to keep your feet in front of you and stay balanced, shoulders over hips over heels, without getting pushed forward or left behind. Riders find it lets them use their seat and hips to rate their horse into the turn, so their hands don't have to do all the work. It holds up to serious use, too. Joy Wargo has ridden the same BTR every day for six years, two to four hours a day, and Ashley Schafer runs in hers more than any other saddle she owns. As Joy puts it, "I feel like this saddle helps me sit deeper in the turn."

Seat Sizes Available: 12.5" - 16"

Starting at $3,992
Ready to Ship Build Your Martin BTR Deep Dive
Jolene Montgomery

“I really like that freedom of movement in the fenders of the BTR, and I like that I can get to the back of the saddle.”

Ashley Schafer

"I run in the BTR more often. I like to be able to have my shoulders above my hips, above my heels. This saddle is set just a little forward so it's easy for me to keep my feet correct."

Joy Wargo

"I feel like this saddle helps me sit deeper in the turn, more balanced the way I ride these horses. I love these horses. I ride 25 head all in the same saddle."

Emma Abbott

"I have the liberty to actually sit back on my pockets, but then also lean forward through the run."

Built for a Steady Seat

FX3

The Martin FX3 is built for barrel racers who want to sit square and stay put through the turn. Its balanced seat lets you settle your pelvis and ride centered instead of perched on top. Cutaway swells give your legs room to come up and hold, which keeps you from getting slapped around when you leave the barrel. Your feet stay in front of you, so you can brace for the turn and stay pulled coming out of it. Where many barrel saddles have a "swing set" wobble, the FX3 gives you a steady seat you can ride hard and trust. Barrel racers can choose a pencil roll for extra support up front or a 2" leather roll, and pairing it with a front and back cinch keeps the pull even across the bars so the saddle sits level. 

Seat Sizes Available: 12.5" - 16"

Starting at $4,141
Ready to Ship Build Your Martin FX3 Deep Dive
Kimmi Byler

"I chose to start riding in this saddle after I had to have two lower back surgeries. This saddle allows me to bring my legs up in the cutout swells."

Confidence in Every Ride

Guardian

The Guardian barrel saddle provides superior security, made with youth riders in mind, but it's for adults too. It’s designed to give the rider a secure seat, combined with a substantial swell and leg cut-out. Forward-rigged fenders feature the patented SPRS® (Stirrup Positioning Rig Slot) that holds fenders in a forward position and offers resistance, keeping the rider in the seat pocket. The horn is angled forward to help maintain position without interference.

Seat Sizes Available: 11" - 14.5"

Starting at $3,905
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Jayci Byler

"The reason why I love this saddle is because it gives me enough room in the seat. It helps me be able to feel out my horse, especially my futurity horses."

Kimmi Byler

“I pick my saddle based on the horse I’m riding. If I’ve got one that’s a little droppy, a little front-endy, or a colt that wants to get quick and jump out from underneath me, I go to the Guardian. It keeps me square and locked in, so I’m not having to get behind.”

Compare the Lines

Martin Barrel Saddles

Martin barrel saddles give a true balance, sit you square, and allows you to pick the style you need to maintain stability to ride with clear cues throughout your run.

Stingray
BTR
FX3
Guardian
Rider Position Forward-hung SPRS®. Weight in the stirrups brings you back to center, and the cutout and swells keep your legs in front so your feet can't drift back. Our most forward SPRS®. Stirrups swing freely and keep your feet in front of you, so you can sit deep and ride the back of the saddle through the turn. Fenders hang straight down and slightly forward. Your feet stay in front of you, and you can get to the front or sit down and back. Full forward, and it rides just like a BTR. Forward-rigged SPRS® adds resistance to keep you in the seat pocket.
Seat & Feel A deep pocket rotates your hips "like a recliner" and pushes you to your pockets through the turn and the push-off. The saddle does the positioning work, so you can sit and ride. Flatter seat with a low swell and cantle. A sporty, cutter-style ride with room to move with your hips and get back in front quickly when your horse leaves. Higher swell, flat seat and cutaway leg cutouts. It sits flat, low and square, so you can settle your pelvis, brace for the turn and stay pulled coming out of it. The BTR build plus an oversized swell that lets you lock your legs under. The BTR's freedom, with a security net.
Best For Finished horses where you're along for the ride, and strong horses that drop hard or roll you over the front. Our #1 seller for riders at every level, and good for riders getting left behind or thrown forward. Futurity trainers, advanced competitive riders and young horses in training. Trainers, colt riders, anyone riding multiple horses who need to ride aggressively on unpredictable or hard-dropping horses, someone looking for a saddle to help keep them in position while they season horses. Riders who want the BTR's feel with added security and confidence. It lets you school young horses and get on top of them, and suits anyone wanting extra core support, from youth to older riders.

From the Martin Team

Which Martin Barrel Saddle Is Right for You?

Listen to CJ Murphy, Director of Sales at Martin Saddlery, go through the differences in the Stingray, BTR, FX3, and Guardian. 

Explore

Ready to Ship Barrel Saddles

FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chestnut 14" | 14847
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chestnut 14" | 14847
$4,085.00
$4,085.00
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chocolate 14.5" | 14533
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chocolate 14.5" | 14533
$3,945.00
$3,945.00
Guardian Barrel Saddle, Natural 12.5" | 14691
Guardian Barrel Saddle, Natural 12.5" | 14691
$4,460.00
$4,460.00
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FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chestnut 14" | 14847
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chestnut 14" | 14847
$4,085.00
$4,085.00
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chocolate 14.5" | 14533
FX3 Barrel Saddle, Chocolate 14.5" | 14533
$3,945.00
$3,945.00
See Ready to Ship
Guardian Barrel Saddle, Natural 12.5" | 14691
Guardian Barrel Saddle, Natural 12.5" | 14691
$4,460.00
$4,460.00
See Ready to Ship
Build Your Martin Barrel Saddle

From the Stingray to the Guardian, design a saddle that fits you, your horse, and your style.

Build Your Saddle

Barrel Saddle

FAQs

Choosing a barrel saddle is a big decision, and every rider and horse is different. We've answered the questions we hear most often, from choosing the right model to sizing and fit. If you still have questions, our team is here to help you find the saddle that keeps you balanced and confident on every run.

Which Martin barrel saddle is right for me?

It depends on how you like to ride. If you want the saddle to do the positioning work, the Stingray is our most popular choice. If you ride several horses or aren't sure of your style yet, the FX3 is our most versatile saddle. Advanced riders who want maximum freedom love the BTR. If you want that same freedom with added security and confidence, look at the Guardian. The best starting point is to think about whether you like your feet underneath you or out in front, and whether you ride a short or long stirrup.

Why do Martin barrel saddles weigh what they do?

Martin barrel saddles weigh anywhere from 33-38 pounds, and much of that comes from the leather. Every Martin is built with Hermann Oak leather, a heavy, vegetable-tanned American leather made in St. Louis since 1881. It's thick and strong, and it holds its shape through years of hard riding.

A lighter saddle can be tempting, but it often means giving up some of that quality. Martin has long been a trusted standard for quality and fit, which is why many professionals ride 20+ head a day for years in the same Martin saddle. In the end, your position matters more than a few pounds, and every Martin barrel saddle is built to help you ride your best.

What is the SPRS, and will it restrict my legs?

SPRS stands for Stirrup Positioning Rig System, and it's built into every Martin barrel saddle. It gives your legs a home base without trapping them. When you put weight in the stirrups, your feet come slightly forward and you settle back to center, so you don't have to think about your position. The angle varies by model, which is a big part of why each saddle rides differently.

Should I buy a bigger saddle for my child to grow into?

We recommend fitting your rider in the size that fits them now. A saddle that's too big won't hold them in the right position, and that's the whole point of a Martin barrel saddle. Martin saddles hold their resale value well, so when your child outgrows one, you can sell it and put that money toward the next size.

What gullet size does my horse need?

Martin trees are built to fit the majority of performance-bred barrel horses, and most do great in a standard 7" gullet with the right pad. If your saddle rocks side to side in the turns or your horse is getting sore, a wider gullet may help, because it gives the bars more contact with your horse's back. Talk with us or a Martin dealer about what you're seeing, and we'll help you find the right fit.