I’ve run barrels for a few years now. And yes, the saddle matters more than cute tack. If you’re still sorting through options, keep in mind Martha Josey’s emphasis on a deep seat and forward-hung stirrups—a quick primer worth skimming in this rundown of what to look for in a barrel saddle. I learned that the hard way, with sore hips and a sliding pad. You know what? The right saddle feels like a seat belt. The wrong one feels like a bar stool on ice.
For the full back-story on how I dialed in the rig that finally stuck me to the pocket, check out the deeper breakdown in My Barrel Racing Saddle: The One That Kept Me In The Turn.
Here’s the one I keep grabbing: my Double J Pozzi Pro barrel saddle, 14.5-inch seat, regular tree, roughout jockeys, suede seat. The deep-pocket design—highlighted in the Double J Pozzi Pro Barrel Saddle spec sheet—does exactly what I need when I knife into a turn. I also spent a full season on a Circle Y Josey.
That long stretch reminded me of the year I spent chasing big-track action—much like the journey captured in I Spent a Season Following John Stewart in Horse Racing—Here’s How It Felt. I can tell you how each one behaved when it got real. Because it did. More than once.
My setup (because little stuff counts)
- Mare: Willow, 14.3-hand Quarter Horse, catty and quick.
- Gelding: Blue, 15-hand, bigger shoulder, longer back.
- Cinch: 28-inch mohair.
- Rigging: 7/8.
- Pad: 3/4-inch wool felt (5 Star).
- Stirrups: aluminum with rubber tread.
- Back cinch: snug but not tight.
This is the stuff no one brags about on Instagram. But it makes or breaks your run.
First ride feel
The Pozzi seat has a sweet pocket. Not too deep. Not flat. The cantle holds you when you sit, but it doesn’t trap you. The fenders hang a bit forward, so my feet found the stirrups fast. I liked the horn height for my free hand. I could grab and go without jamming my wrist.
On Willow, the tree cleared her withers. No pinches. No white hairs later. The saddle didn’t rock much. The pad stayed put in hard turns. I still checked my cinch like a nervous mom, but it held.
The leather broke in by week two. The roughout gave me grip without chewing up my jeans. It squeaked a little at first. A drop of oil fixed it.
Real runs that told me the truth
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Friday night jackpot, fresh drag, deep dirt. I spotted my first barrel late (my bad), and Willow still snapped it. I felt the seat catch me in the pocket. No sliding. My time dropped four tenths from the week before, with the same pattern and a clean track. I didn’t ride better. I rode safer.
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County fair arena, hot and slick, second barrel got wide. I reached for the horn. My hand stuck just enough. No overreach. We left the barrel up. That horn angle saved me from a classic tip.
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Fun run on Blue, the gelding. He’s thick in the shoulder. The regular tree was a hair snug on him. He sweated heavy around the front. After three runs, I saw a dry spot high on the left. Not great. I swapped to a thinner pad next time. Better, but still not perfect. Blue liked the Circle Y Josey tree more.
What I loved
- Grip without glue. Roughout + suede seat = steady.
- Forward stirrups. I could stand and sit quick.
- Pocket that holds, but lets me move.
- Light enough to throw on alone. Mine’s about 25 pounds.
- Clean skirts. No weird bulk under my leg.
What bugged me
- Price. Mine was used and still spendy.
- Stirrup leathers stretched uneven after a month. Not a ton. I had to punch a new hole on one side.
- Conchos backed out once. Blue Loctite fixed it.
- On slow trail days, the seat felt narrow on my hips after an hour. It’s a barrel saddle, not a couch.
The Circle Y Josey side story
I ran the Josey for a season. It held me tight in the turns. Great for a green horse that drops a shoulder. The seat felt deeper. The fenders were stiffer and took longer to break in. My knees talked to me after a long day. Also, it weighed a bit more than the Pozzi. On Blue, the Josey fit better. On Willow, the Pozzi won by a mile.
Funny bit: the Josey’s rubber stirrup tread was so grippy that I had trouble resetting my feet mid-run. Great until it’s not. I swapped to a smoother tread and it was fine.
Fit talk (the not-so-fun part that matters)
- Willow (short back, medium withers): Pozzi regular tree + 3/4-inch pad was money. Even sweat marks. No saddle roll.
- Blue (wider shoulder): Needed a wider tree. The thinner pad “worked,” but it wasn’t fair to him for a full series.
Let me explain. You can’t pad your way out of a tree that’s too narrow. Check sweat patterns. Feel for hot spots. Your horse will tell you, even if you wish it would just fit.
If you’re curious how other corners of the industry wrestle with “fit” and perspective, my seat-level look at a recent rule change in I Tried Historical Horse Racing—Here’s How Louisiana’s Ruling Felt From My Seat offers a different—but surprisingly relatable—angle.
Hauling to new arenas sometimes throws curveballs you don't see coming. When I trucked the rig all the way to a clinic near Lille, France, I needed a fast way to link up with locals who could point me toward reliable overnight stabling and a decent warm-up pen. I fired up PlanCul Lille and within an hour I had messages from area riders offering spare stalls, feed-store directions, and even a dinner invite—local know-how that saved me hours of wandering and let me focus on keeping my horse fresh for the next run.
Likewise, when our circuit rolled into Chico, California for a Labor Day jackpot, some of the trailer-parked crew wanted a laid-back way to unwind once the time-onlys wrapped. They pointed me toward this guide to Chico swingers—a quick browse lists upcoming meet-ups, venue reviews, and etiquette tips so you can gauge the social vibe and decide if it’s a fit before you ever unhook the trailer.
Little quirks and care
I oil the seat and fenders light. Not soaked. I wipe dirt off the skirts with a damp cloth. One day, the horn cap rubbed my glove and left a tiny blister. Only once. My fix? A strip of athletic tape for the weekend. Classy? Nope. Smart? Yup.
When weather keeps me out of the arena, I still feed the competitive itch by breaking out a tabletop diversion that scratches the racing itch—I Rolled My Way Through a Horse Racing Dice Game has become the go-to in our trailer tack room.
The back cinch billets stretched a hair after two wet shows. I re-holed them and let them dry slow. No sun bake.
Times and feel
My average in our local 2D sat around 16.9 on the old saddle. With the Pozzi, most runs fell at 16.5–16.6 when I kept my head on straight. Some of that was me. Some was Willow growing up. But here’s the thing: I didn’t fight my seat anymore. I could ask for more speed without bracing my legs. That’s worth real time.
Who this saddle fits (and who it doesn’t)
- Great for riders who like a steady pocket, quick feet, and a horn you can trust.
- Nice for shorter-backed horses.
- If you’ve got wide shoulders or a big, flat back horse, try a wide tree. Or test a Josey tree. Your horse will thank you.
For me: I’m 5'5", about 135 pounds, and a 14.5-inch seat sits right. Shorter legs? Get pre-turned fenders or twist them. Your knees will be happier.
Value talk
New price can sting. Used ones hold value. I sold the Josey for close to what I paid. The Pozzi cost more, but I haven’t wanted to sell it once. That says a lot. If you need a sanity check on current prices—or want to compare the latest