Joy Wargo

Martin Saddlery Professional

Joy Wargo
Hometown

Mountain View, Wyoming

Discipline

Barrel Racing

RIDES

Martin BTR & Stingray

Martin Pro Since

2017

The Story

From the Ground Up

Joy Wargo is an accomplished barrel horse trainer and competitor who has been developing futurity horses since 2007. Raised on a ranch near Mountain View, Wyoming, Joy grew up around horses and learned early the value of putting in the time to build a horse from the ground up. After competing through high school and earning a rodeo scholarship to the University of Wyoming, she and her husband, Trent, built their program through a commitment to making their own horses and continually investing in the next opportunity. Today, their training program is based in Collinsville, Texas.

An AQHA World Champion, AQHA Reserve World Champion, BFA Reserve World Champion, and multiple 1D champion, Joy is respected throughout the barrel racing industry for producing consistent, capable equine athletes built for longevity. Her program has developed horses that have gone on to succeed in futurities, rodeos, and major events, including The American Rodeo. She also co-founded Between the Reins with Ashley Schafer and Jolene Montgomery, sharing her training approach and experience to help barrel racers develop their horses and grow as riders. Through her training, clinics, and educational work, Joy remains focused on helping riders improve their horsemanship, build confidence, and put the horse first.

Learn More: Between the Reins

My Martin

Why Joy Wargo Rides the Stingray

“I choose the Stingray for a horse that tends to roll me forward or needs me to really ride the hind end through the turn. The cutout gives my thighs more room, and the deeper seat and more forward stirrups help me stay back on my pelvis. That position helps me keep the horse’s hind end engaged and stay with a strong horse instead of getting thrown over the front.”

My Martin

Why Joy Wargo Rides the BTR

“I ride the BTR because it helps me sit deeper through the turn and stay balanced the way I like to ride. I run a 14-inch seat. My leg nearly touches the swell, I keep a bend in my knee, and my heel sits just in front of my hip so I stay toward the back of the saddle when I run. I switched to Martin a handful of years ago and now have four BTRs and two Stingrays. We ride 24 or 25 head in the same saddle, and I’ve spent two to four hours a day in this BTR for the last six years.”

Ride What Joy Rides

The Same Saddles. Built for You.

Joy's saddles are made in our Greenville, Texas shop. Yours starts with the same leather, the same trees, and the same hands. Take inspiration from Joy's setup, then make it your own.

Build My Martin Saddle Shop Ready to Ship

Barrel Racing

Meet the Pros

Ashley Schafer

Barrel Racer
Comanche, Texas

Leading Pink Buckle Incentive Rider, More Than $1 Million in Career Earnings, Futurity, Derby, Slot Race, and Rodeo Champion.

Meet Ashley

Dena Kirkpatrick

Barrel Racing
Post, Texas

AQHA World Champion, BFA World Championship Futurity Champion, BFA World Championship Futurity All Three Go-Rounds Winner, EquiStat Top 10 Futurity Rider for 10 Consecutive Years.

Meet Dena

Emma Abbott

Barrel Racing
Lafayette, Georgia

Abbott Equine Horse Training in Bluff Dale, Texas, Producer of Successful Rodeo Horses, American Qualifiers, and Futurity Winners, Multiple Horses with Lifetime Earnings Exceeding $300,000.

Meet Emma

Jayci Byler

Barrel Racing
Bellville, Texas

National High School Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Champion, National High School Finals Rodeo Short Round Winner, National High School Finals Rodeo Barrel Racing Average Champion.

Meet Jayci

Jodee Miller

Barrel Racing
Santo, Texas

Old Dort Days Futurity and Derby Champion, 2024 Elite Extravaganza Derby Champion, 2024 San Antonio Wildcard Round Winner, Breeders Challenge Futurity Top 5 Finisher, Multiple American Rodeo Semifinals Qualifier, 2025 American Rodeo Contender Finals Qualifier.

Meet Jodee

Jolene Montgomery

Barrel Racing
De Graff, Ohio

BFA World Futurity Champion, EquiStat Rider of the Year, More Than $3 Million in Earnings as a Trainer and Jockey.

Meet Jolene

Joy Wargo

Barrel Racing
Mountain View, Wyoming

AQHA World Champion, AQHA Reserve World Champion, BFA Reserve World Champion, Multiple 1D Champion.

Meet Joy

Kimmi Byler

Barrel Racing
Bellville, Texas

Barrel Horse Trainer, Former Racehorse Development Specialist, Co-Owner of Byler Performance Equine, Performance Horse Conditioning, Rehabilitation, Recovery, and Aquatic Therapy Specialist.

Meet Kimmi

Sherry Cervi

Barrel Racing
Marana, Arizona

4X WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion (1995, 1999, 2010, 2013), 19X Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifier, 3X Wrangler NFR Average Champion, First Woman to Surpass $3 Million in WPRA Earnings, 2018 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inductee.

Meet Sherry