Performance Deep Dive

Performance Deep Dive

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

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Fit

Feel

Freedom

From Herd Work to Fence Work

The Martin Performance Saddle

The Martin Performance saddle has a little more rise in the seat to help keep you back in the stops, with a stirrup adjustment system that helps keep your feet a little more forward. The stirrups adjust easily for herd work, fence work, and reining. It’s available with a cutter horn or dally horn, and in-skirt rigging for less bulk against your leg and more freedom with your stirrup leather, or traditional rigging.

It’s the saddle of choice for Todd Crawford and Luke Jones. Crawford likes the way it fits the horse and rider, with a good seat and a consistent feel from one saddle to the next. His come ready to ride without a lot of time spent breaking them in, and he can adjust his stirrups for each event.

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Built for the Horse and Rider

The Martin Performance saddle helps keep you back and on your pockets in the stops, with a little more rise in the seat and a stirrup adjustment system that keeps your feet a little more forward. From herd work to reining and fence turns, it lets you hold your legs where you want them and adjust your stirrups for each event.

Fits the Horse and Rider

A really good seat and feel that lets you sit down over the horse and sit back to run to the stops.

A Little More Rise in the Seat

Helps keep you back a little more, especially if you have trouble staying back in your stops.

Keeps Your Feet a Little More Forward

Helps keep your heels down and your legs from getting jerked back underneath you in the stops, while still letting you hold your legs close to the horse’s side for herd work.

Stirrups That Adjust Easily

Lots of holes to adjust—shorter for herd work and fence work, and longer for reining or just riding around.

Available Performance Saddles

Todd Crawford

Why he rides the Performance: Todd likes that each saddle feels the same and comes ready to ride without a lot of breaking in. The seat lets him sit down over his horse and sit back to run to the stops, while still letting him hold his legs close to the horse’s side for herd work. He adjusts his stirrups from event to event—shorter for herd work and fence work, and longer for reining.

The Same Feel in Every Saddle

“You can get on one and the next one and the next one. They all feel the same.”

Ready to Ride

“You don’t have to spend a lot of time breaking them in.” They come from the factory with a really good seat and feel.

Sit Back for the Stops

The seat lets Todd sit down over his horse and sit back to run to the stops, without keeping him from holding his legs close to the horse’s side for herd work.

Easy to Adjust Between Events

Todd changes his stirrup length two or three times between events—shorter for herd work and fence work, and longer for reining or just riding around.

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Trusted by the Best in Performance Horse

Todd Crawford

In this video, Todd Crawford walks through his Martin Performance saddle. He talks about the seat, stirrup adjustment system, and consistent feel from one saddle to the next, and explains how he adjusts his stirrups for herd work, fence work, and reining.

Luke Jones

Why he rides the Performance: Luke likes the way it fits both him and his horse, especially for fence work and reining. The rise in the seat helps keep him back, while the stirrups help keep his feet a little more forward for stops and fence turns. His saddle has a seven-inch gullet, a dally horn, and in-skirt rigging for less bulk against his leg and more freedom with the stirrup leather.

Fits the Horse and Rider

Luke rides a seven-inch gullet with a dally horn. “To me, it fits the horse and myself really well.”

A Little More Rise in the Seat

Helps keep you back a little more, especially if you’re having trouble staying back in the stops.

Feet a Little More Forward

The stirrups help keep your feet a little more forward when running to a stop or making fence turns—the work Luke rides this saddle for most.

Less Bulk Against Your Leg

Luke’s saddle has in-skirt rigging, which allows less bulk against your leg and a little more freedom with the stirrup leather.

Build My Performance Saddle

Trusted by the Best in Performance Horse

Luke Jones

In this video, Luke Jones walks through his Martin Performance saddle. He covers the seat, stirrups, seven-inch gullet, dally horn, and in-skirt rigging, and explains how the saddle helps keep him back in the stops and his feet a little more forward for reining and fence work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Martin Performance saddle designed for?

The Martin Performance is built for cow horse work, including herd work, reining, and fence work. Its seat and stirrup setup help the rider stay in position through stops and turns.
How does the Martin Performance saddle help you stay back in the stops?

The seat has a little more rise to help keep you back, while the stirrup adjustment system helps keep your feet a little more forward. Todd and Luke both talk about how this can help non-pros who struggle to stay back in their stops.
Can you use the same saddle for reining and cow horse events?

The Martin Performance can be used for both. Todd adjusts his stirrups for each event—shorter for herd work and fence work, and longer for reining. Luke also rides his Performance for reining and fence work. Martin lists the Performance for cow horse, fence work, cutting, and ranch versatility.
What is the difference between in-skirt and traditional rigging on the Martin Performance saddle?

Luke describes the in-skirt rigging as having less bulk against your leg and allowing a little more freedom with the stirrup leather. The Performance is also available with traditional rigging. He rides both and says the choice comes down to preference.
What horn options are available on the Martin Performance saddle?

The Martin Performance is available with a cutter horn or a dally horn. Luke shows his saddle with a dally horn and a seven-inch gullet, a setup he says fits both him and his horse well.

Build Your Performance Saddle

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

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