Martha Josey

"'Martha Josey'" has been a profesional barrel racer and rodeo competitor since 1964 and has since earned several prestigious titles, including Olympic medalist, National Finals Rodeo(NFR), National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) buckle winner, and founder and co-owner of the Josey Ranch Barrel Racing Clinic.

Childhood

Josey's love for horses was instilled by her father, who was one of the first directors for the AQHA, and she began riding at a very early age. At the age ten, Josey experienced the loss of a parent when her father died due to a heart attack. Josey's mother only kept one of the family's horses, a stallion named Cebe Reed. After attending a rodeo, Josey became an inspired teenager, eager to compete in the rodeo. She went home and rode that horse for the first time.

Josey is originally from the Kilgore, Texas/Marshall, Texas area.

Career

Her first barrel horse, Cebe Reed, led her to 52 consecutive wins, of which had expensive prizes, including 7 horse trailers. Josey and Cebe competed in the NFR in both 1968 and 1969, earning her $3,421 in prize money for the year of 1969. Josey claims this horse is the reason she was able to quit her job and go pro.

Her second horse, Sonny Bit O'Both, brought her to the NFR four consecutive years (1978-1981). Sonny is the only horse in history to win both AQHA and Women's Professional Rodeo Association championships in the same year.