BTR Deep Dive

BTR Deep Dive

A deep dive into Martin's BTR barrel saddle. All you need to know in one spot.

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Balance

Freedom

Movement

A Closer Look at the Martin BTR

The BTR: Balance, Timing & Rhythm

The Martin BTR (Balance, Timing & Rhythm) is a barrel saddle designed with input from Jolene Montgomery and other futurity trainers. Its forward-hung stirrups and flatter seat let riders sit toward the back of the saddle, use their hips, and move with their horse without feeling locked in place. Built with young horses in training in mind, it’s best suited to experienced riders who prefer freedom of movement over a more restrictive, secure feel.

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Lighter, Lower, Sportier

With a lower-profile swell and cantle, a flatter seat, and full forward fenders, the BTR gives you the freedom to move with your horse and the control to stay with them through every stride.

Balanced Position

Full forward fenders let your stirrups hang slightly forward, so it's easy to keep your feet in front of you and stay stacked, shoulders over hips over heels.

Seat Control

A flatter seat lets you rate your horse with your seat and hips, giving you stability and control through the quick transition from the drop to acceleration.

Free Movement

A lower-profile swell and cantle give you plenty of room to shift your weight and move with your horse, for a sportier ride.

Built for Young Horses

A narrower, straighter tree fits the shape of young horses in training. It's available in 6.5, 6.75, and 7 gullet.

Available BTRS

Developed With Jolene Montgomery

Behind the BTR

Jolene Montgomery helped design the Martin BTR because she wanted to sit farther back in the seat without feeling tipped forward. Its forward-hung stirrups and freedom of movement in the fenders let her ride where she wants to be, with room for her shorter stirrups. She’s ridden the BTR for more than ten years and uses it on about 15 head a day. As a co-founder of Between The Reins alongside Ashley Schafer and Joy Wargo, she also shares the everyday training that goes into developing barrel horses.

"I've ridden the Martin BTR for 10 or 12 years."
"I helped with the design because I like to sit farther back in the seat."
"I ride like 15 head a day, so it goes on multiple horses a day."

Jolene Mongtomery

Why she picks the BTR: Jolene helped design the BTR and has ridden it for more than ten years. She likes to sit farther back in the seat, and the BTR was built to let her do exactly that.

Never Tipped Forward

Jolene never wants to feel tipped forward. With the forward-hung stirrups, she stays back in the saddle where she wants to be.

Freedom in the Fenders

Jolene loves the freedom of movement in the BTR's fenders and the way she can get to the back of the saddle.

Bigger Seat, Shorter Stirrup

Jolene rides a slightly bigger seat because she likes her stirrups short. In a tighter seat, her thighs would hit the swells, so the bigger seat gives her the room she needs.

Fifteen Head a Day

Jolene rides about 15 head a day, so her BTR goes on multiple horses every day. Her current saddle is a little over a year old, and she hasn't had any trouble with it.

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Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Jolene Montgomery

In this video, Jolene walks through the Martin BTR, a saddle she helped design and has ridden for 10 to 12 years. She covers the seat, swells, fenders and seat sizing, and she explains how each one keeps her balanced and gives her room to move while she rides up to 15 head a day.

Ashley Schafer

Why she picks the BTR: Ashley owns Stingrays too, but she runs in the BTR more often because it's easy for her. The stirrups set slightly forward, so she can keep her feet in front of her and sit deep through the turn.

Feet Up in Front of Me

The BTR's stirrups hang just a little forward, so it's easy for Ashley to keep her feet up in front of her. She never wants her feet to get back behind her in a turn.

Riding the Back of the Saddle

Ashley likes to sit deep and ride the back of the saddle around a turn. That's how she wants to sit, and the BTR puts her there.

A Little Bigger Seat

Ashley rides a 14½" seat, bigger than many riders choose. She can almost hold herself in the seat, while a smaller seat pushes her forward and doesn't feel as secure.

Standing All the Way Up

 She doesn't ride her stirrups super short, but she never wants to reach for them either. She sets them so she can stand all the way up in her saddle without flying over the horn.

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Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Ashley Schafer

In this video, Ashley walks through her Martin BTR, the saddle she runs barrels in most often. She covers the seat, seat size, stirrup position and stirrup length, and she explains how each one helps her sit deep in a turn and keep her feet in front of her.

Joy Wargo

Why she picks the BTR: Joy has ridden the same BTR every day for six years, two to four hours a day, and she and her team ride 24 to 25 head in it. She owns four versions of the BTR and two Stingrays.

Sitting Deeper in the Turn

Joy feels the BTR helps her sit deeper in the turn. It keeps her at the back of the saddle whether she's making a run or just riding.

Staying Balanced

The BTR helps Joy stay balanced the way she rides her horse, day after day and across a big string.

Heel in Front of My Hip

Joy likes a bend in her knee with her heel sitting a little in front of her hip. That position keeps her in the back of the saddle.

A Snug 14

Joy rides a 14" seat, with her leg nearly touching the swell. It's a snug, secure fit that keeps her right where she wants to be.

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Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Joy Wargo

In this video, Joy walks through the Martin BTR she has ridden every day for the last six years. She covers seat size, leg position and stirrup length, and she explains how each one helps her sit deeper in the turn and stay balanced from the back of her saddle.

Emma Abbott

Why she picks the BTR: Emma rides the BTR in a 14" seat because she wants a little extra room. That room gives her the freedom to sit back, ride with her hips, and move with her horse.

Room for My Whoa

The extra room lets Emma sit back on her pockets when she asks for her whoa, then move forward when her horse is ready to go.

Riding With My Hips

Emma barely has to move her hands. She picks up and comes back with her hips, and her body does much of the work through the run.

Shortening the Stride

Going into the barrels, Emma sits down to shorten her horse's stride into the turn. A seat with some room lets her make that move.

Four Fingers of Room

Emma's rule of thumb for stirrup length is about four fingers of room under you when you stand up in the saddle. That way you're not reaching for your stirrups, but you can still come up off the saddle.

Build My BTR

Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Emma Abbott

In this video, Emma walks through her Martin BTR. She covers seat size and stirrup length, explains how the extra room in the seat lets her move with her hips to rate her horse into the barrels, and shares a four-finger rule of thumb for setting stirrup length.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BTR stand for?

BTR stands for Balance, Timing & Rhythm. Designed with input from Jolene Montgomery and futurity trainers, the Martin BTR gives riders room to sit deep, use their hips, and move with their horse. It has a cutter-style feel that supports a position toward the back of the seat without locking the rider in place.
How does the BTR help with rider position?

The BTR’s forward-hung stirrups make it easier to keep your feet in front of you instead of letting your legs slip behind you in a turn. Its seat lets you sit back in the pocket and use your seat and hips through the transition from rating to acceleration. For riders with a strong core and an independent seat, that freedom helps support a balanced, quiet ride.
 Is the BTR right for every horse and rider?

The BTR is best suited to experienced riders who want freedom of movement rather than a saddle that holds them in position. Its narrower, straighter tree was designed with young horses in training in mind, with gullet options of 6.5, 6.75, and 7 inches. Larger or heavily muscled horses may need a different fit, while riders looking for more security may prefer the Martin Stingray.
How should I choose my BTR seat size?

Choose a seat that gives you room to sit back and move with your horse without leaving you struggling to stay with them during acceleration. Your stirrup length matters, too: riders who prefer shorter stirrups may need to go up a half size for thigh clearance. Don’t size up automatically, your riding position and ability to stay centered should guide the choice.
Should I choose a lighter saddle over a Martin barrel saddle?

A Martin barrel saddle may weigh 3–5 pounds more than some lighter alternatives, depending on the models and configurations being compared. But weight shouldn’t be the deciding factor. A saddle that fits your horse and supports a controlled leg position can be a better choice than a lighter saddle that leaves you off-center or struggling to stay balanced. Prioritize horse fit and rider position so you can stay centered, ride quietly, and move with your horse rather than constantly correcting yourself.

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Choose your seat size, leather, tooling and finish, and we'll build a BTR made for you and your horse.

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