When you hear the name Martha Josey, two images come to mind. The barrel racing legend who won every championship barrel racers can win, and the hands-on teacher who has mentored over 200,000 students in her 50+ years teaching about her sport.
Martha began her domination of the barrel racing scene in the 1960’s. Right out of the gate she qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1968, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1998. Throughout her 4 decades competing at the top of her sport, Martha earned world championship titles in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, the National Barrel Horse Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Then in 1988 the USA Olympic Team called and asked Martha to represent them at the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games, and after the dust settled she walked away an Olympic Medalist. Martha has been inducted into numerous Hall of Fames, notably the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
During her years competing, Martha felt called to share her hard-earned knowledge with other aspiring barrel racers. Being self-taught, Martha knows the value of being mentored in this sport that is only getting more and more competitive. So, in 1967 Martha and her beloved husband R.E. Josey held their first barrel racing clinic. Fast forward 52 years and the Josey Ranch is now synonymous with superior barrel racing instruction. Martha and her team have trained over 200,000 students and many of them have gone on to win big in the barrel racing arena. A few notable names that got their start at the Josey Ranch are: Fallon Taylor, Mary Walker, Jimmie Smith, Lynn McKenzie, and Angie Meadors.
One thing that stands out about the instruction at the Josey Ranch is that Martha and her team teaches that preparation and care outside of the arena is just as vital to success as training inside the arena. Beyond learning how to practice perfect, the Josey Ranch offers demonstrations during every clinic on how to care for your horse’s legs, how to ensure your horse is getting the nutrients he needs, how to haul safely in your trailer, and what equipment is best for you and your horse.
The Josey name is known for quality and success. That extends to the types of products and equipment that they advocate for. Martha has never pushed products or companies based on an endorsement or sponsorship alone. Instead, Martha is fiercely loyal to the products that truly make the difference in her performance. It is this commitment to quality that has helped the Josey Ranch craft champions. Students come to our clinics and learn the most effective way to keep themselves and their equine partners in the best health for peak performance. For many students, this is the first time they learn about that level of care and how it can help them in the arena. Because of Martha’s commitment to only recommend the highest level of products and equipment, she has held longtime partnerships with several major companies including Purina, Big Tex, Circle Y, MVP, Fiber Energy Products, and Priefert.
David Nelson, Director of Purina’s Ambassador Program, says this about Martha and R.E.
“R.E. and Martha have been fantastic long time partners with Purina. They have a high standard for products they endorse, if the product meets their rigorous standards, Martha and R.E. will strongly recommend it to the thousands of students that pass through the Josey Ranch each year.”
Martha always says that it is easy to share about a product with her students when she believes it is the best product in the field. This is why the Josey Ranch has fed Purina for over 50 years and why Martha partnered with Circle Y to create a superior barrel racing saddle. However, Martha is always on the lookout for the latest innovations. More recently, she has partnered with Polylast Rubber Flooring Systems because of their padded antimicrobial flooring that allows liquid to filter out. Martha loves this flooring in her trailer and in her barn as it keeps her horses comfortable and healthy.
The Josey Ranch is the place that students from all over the world come to learn how to be a champion. Martha would not have been able to achieve all of her success without the help of great products and equipment. Therefore, part of the instruction that catapults Josey students into the winner’s circle includes sharing about those great products and equipment. It is a Martha Josey tradition that still stands today –give credit where credit is due. If Purina horse feed helped Martha’s horses to be at their peak performance, then Martha will passionately advocate that her students feed Purina. Because at the end of the day, our priority is that Josey Ranch students achieve their grandest dreams.
