Stingray Deep Dive

Stingray Deep Dive

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

Shop Ready to Ship

Deeper Security

Centered Position

Powerful-Horse Support
A cowgirl rides a palomino horse around a barrel in a rodeo arena, with a large crowd of spectators seated in the background and arena signage including Montana Silver Smiths, Priefert, and Vegas.

Inspired by a Champion

The Martin Stingray: Inspired by Sherry Cervi’s Legendary Mare

Named after Sherry Cervi’s legendary mare, MP Meter My Hay “Stingray,” the Martin Stingray Barrel Saddle honors a horse whose heart left a lasting mark on the sport of barrel racing. A two-time WPRA World Champion and two-time Wrangler NFR Average Champion, Stingray proved herself on the sport’s biggest stage—making her name one riders recognize and respect.

It was only fitting that a saddle designed by Sherry Cervi was named after her special mare.

Build Your Stingray Saddle

Handcrafted to Keep You With Your Horse

Thoughtful design details work together to help you stay deep, balanced, and secure through every turn.

Deeper Seat Pocket

A deeper, more supportive pocket helps you sit into the turn and stay connected when your horse drops and leaves hard coming out of a barrel.

Forward Stirrup Position

Forward-hanging stirrups help keep your feet from sliding too far behind you, supporting a more balanced position from approach to exit.

Thigh-Friendly Cutout

The cutout creates room for your thighs to move naturally, helping you stay secure without feeling restricted in the saddle.

Higher, Straighter Cantle

A slightly higher, straighter back provides added support when you need to stay deep, hold your position, and ride through a powerful turn.

Available Stingrays

Sherry Cervi

Why she picks the Stingray: Sherry rides the Stingray on horses that really drop and come through the turn strong. It keeps her on her pockets with her feet in front of her, so she can stay balanced in the middle of her horse and still leave the barrel with it.

Sitting on My Pockets

This saddle really allows Sherry to sit on her pockets. When she's going around the barrel, the saddle is pushing her to her pockets.

Can't Get My Feet Back

Sherry can't get her feet back because they're actually blocked. A good thing that helps you ride correct! With her feet more forward, she doesn't get behind her horse near as bad.

No Constriction

The cutout and the swells allow your thighs to fit in really nicely. There's no constriction, and she still has the ability to move her legs.

Benefits Both

It doesn't really matter what level of a rider you are or what level of a horse you're riding. Sherry feels like this saddle benefits both.

Build My Stingray

Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Sherry Cervi

“What I love about the Stingray is how it lets me sit on my pockets and keeps my feet from slipping behind me when my horse drops and turns. The cutout and swells give my thighs room without restricting my legs, so I can sit through the turn, then get up and leave with my horse. It helps me keep my body in the middle, and I feel like it benefits riders and horses at any level.”

Ashley Schafer

Why she picks the Stingray: Ashley chooses the Stingray for a very strong horse leaving or coming through a turn. The smaller 14-inch seat and straighter, higher back make it easier for her to hold on and stay with her horse, especially at the third barrel.

A Smaller Seat Than My BTR

Ashley rides a 14-inch seat in the Stingray, where her BTR is a 14.5-inch. In the bigger seat she can almost keep herself pushed back, but on a strong horse she goes down to the smaller seat.

A Little Straighter, Higher Back

It has a little straighter, higher back than the BTR, so it has a little more security to it and can keep you in the saddle.

Easier to Grab and Hold On

On a horse that's very strong leaving a turn or coming through a turn, Ashley feels a little more secure. With the smaller seat, it's easier for her to grab and hold on, and not hold on her horse's face leaving the turn.

Stay With Your Horse

This saddle is really good for someone that's maybe not quite as strong in the core, where it's a little harder to stay with your horse leaving the turn.

Build My Stingray

Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Ashley Schafer

“I choose the Stingray for a horse that comes through a turn and leaves really strong. The straighter, higher back and smaller seat help me feel more secure and stay with my horse instead of getting behind. It gives me a place to hold without holding on my horse’s face, and I think that extra security can really help riders who don’t have as much core strength.”

Emma Abbott

Why she picks the Stingray: Emma rides the Stingray on her race-bred horse, who is big and powerful in the turns. It sits her back with her legs a little more forward, so she stays deep through the turn and stays with him when he pushes off.

Helps Me Stay Back in the Saddle

The Stingray sits Emma back, or helps her stay back in the saddle, and has her legs just a little bit more forward.

Extra Depth

It gives her that extra depth to stay on her pockets as her horse is going around the turn. She can go a little bit deeper and sit through the power of his turn.

Keeps Me in Position

When her horse is taking off from those turns, it keeps her in position. She's not having to work quite as hard to stay back there.

Stay Deep in My Seat

Going around those barrels, she can stay deep in her seat, and when he goes to push off, she can stay there as well.

Build My Stingray

Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Emma Abbott

“I chose the Martin Stingray for this horse here because he’s big and powerful in the turns, and it helps me stay deep on my pockets with my legs a little more forward. I don’t have to work as hard to hold my position through the turn or when he pushes off. I can still get up and help him between barrels, but this saddle lets me sit deeper and stay seated a little longer when I need to ride through his power.”

Joy Wargo

Why she picks the Stingray: Joy chooses the Stingray for a horse that tends to roll her up over the front, or one where she needs to ride the hind end through the turn. The cutout, deeper seat, and forward stirrups keep her farther back on her pelvis.

A Little Cut Out

It's a little cut out, so Joy can get her thighs a little bit farther up underneath.

The Scoop Sits Deeper

The scoop in the seat sits a little deeper.

Stirrups Hang Forward

Her stirrups hang a little bit more forward, so it helps her stay farther back on her pelvis.

Ride the Hind End Through the Turn

On a horse that tends to want to roll her up over the front end, or one she needs to really ride the hind end through the turn to keep engaged, Joy chooses the Stingray over the BTR.

Build My Stingray

Trusted by the Best in Barrel Racing

Joy Wargo

“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.”

Dena Kirkpatrick

Why she picks the Stingray: Dena helped develop the Stingray and has ridden in it ever since. As a rider with shorter legs, she appreciates how the saddle helps her grip and stay in position on powerful horses. “I can ride really good having these high powered horses.”

Better Grip

Dena helped develop the Stingray with better rider grip in mind—especially important for her as a shorter-legged rider on big horses.

A Deeper Seat

The saddle helps her stay seated deep and secure on her Goodbye Lane horses, which are quick through the turns.

Horse Comfort

With big, powerful horses, she prioritizes a saddle that fits their backs well and helps keep them healthy.

Adjustable Rigging

She likes being able to adjust the rigging so the cinch hangs straight down, especially on horses with large, sloping shoulders where the saddle can pull up toward the withers.

Build My Stingray

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Martin Stingray barrel saddle designed for?

The Martin Stingray is designed for riders who want a more secure, deep-pocket feel through the turn and leaving a barrel. It can be especially helpful for horses that make a strong move through or out of the turn, helping the rider stay balanced, centered, and connected without feeling restricted.


The Stingray can benefit riders at many levels—from riders developing their position to experienced competitors looking for added security on a strong, athletic horse.
How is the Stingray different from the Martin BTR?

The Stingray offers a more compact, deeper-pocket feel than the BTR, with a higher, straighter cantle and a more defined seat shape. Its swell cutout gives the rider room to position the thigh farther forward, while the more forward stirrup placement can help support a balanced, secure riding position.

The BTR has a flatter, more open feel that allows quick adjustment from the turn into acceleration. Many riders appreciate having both styles available and choose the Stingray when they want more security on a particularly strong horse.
Can the Stingray help riders who want more support leaving the turn?

Yes. The Stingray’s smaller, deeper seat pocket is designed to help riders feel more secure as the horse drives out of the turn. That added support can be especially valuable for riders who are still building core strength or who want help maintaining their position during a powerful departure.

Rather than needing to brace or pull forward, the saddle is intended to help the rider stay seated, balanced, and in rhythm with the horse’s movement.
Why is the Martin Stingray heavier than some barrel saddles?

The Martin Stingray is built with quality materials and construction designed to hold up to the demands of serious riding, training, and competition. It may weigh more than some lightweight barrel saddles, but that added substance supports the saddle’s durability, structure, and secure feel.

For many professional riders, a Martin saddle is a long-term investment—one they can ride in all day, across multiple horses, and rely on for years. The goal is not simply to build the lightest saddle possible; it is to build one that delivers comfort, balance, fit, and lasting performance.

A lighter saddle alone will not make a horse run faster. Rider position, balance, timing, and a saddle that helps you stay with your horse matter far more. The Stingray is designed to give you that confident, secure position through the turn and leaving the barrel.
How should the Stingray fit my horse?

The Stingray likes to sit a little bit further off the withers. You want a little room so you're not binding the wither, and you should be able to get your hand underneath the swells and the pad. The cut out helps give you a little more room. Emma Abbott starts with the front cinch, goes snug, and tightens again after she walks her horse off.

Build Your Stingray

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

Start Building