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 WPRA championships in the same year.

During her partnership with Jetonfer Pay in 1985, Josey won the Pro Tour Circuit, went to the NFR again, and was recognized in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Josey and Swen Sir Bug, aka J.C., competed in the 1987 NFR as well as the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Canada where the team earned a gold medal.

In June of 1988, Josey suffered a terrible accident at a rodeo in Austin, Texas. Doctors discovered two skull fractures, a broken pelvis, six broken ribs, and a punctured lung. Being told she may not walk again and certainly never ride did not stop the woman. She worked out daily in the swimming pool with the help of her husband, R.E. Josey, and regained enough strength to not only ride again, but also compete professionally. Now Josey is a strong advocate of Troxel riding helmets and safety gear.

Her next horse, Mr. Revolution Bars, accompanied her to the 1989 and 1990 NFR, making her one of only two barrel racers to ever compete in the NFR in four consecutive decades.

Orange Smash carried her to a championship in the NBHA Senior World Championship 1997 and to the NFR in 1998.

She was voted AQHA National Female Equestrian of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation the following year (1999).

In 2002, her victories do not end, placing first and second in the NBHA Holiday Classic in Jackson, Mississippi, riding horses Joe B. Jammin and Sweet Sailin' Six.

2003 ended with a championship in the Equus America competition in Houston, Texas, as well as a reserve championship in the AQHA World rodeo event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Clinic

Presently, Martha Josey and her husband R.E. Josey reside in Karnack, Texas, where they own the Josey Ranch. Here, as well as various other places around the nation, Mr. and Mrs. Josey, along with "The Josey Team" (made mostly of previous students who have since perfected their skills) hold clinics for aspiring barrel racers to improve their skills and learn more about the sport. The Josey Clinic is regarded as the first and most successful barrel racing clinic in history, having helped over 80,000 riders throughout their 40 years. Although these clinics and camps are considered to be worth their weight in gold, expenditures can be quite hefty, ranging from a $375 two-and-a-half day clinic to the $595 7 Day Barrel Racing and/or Calf Roping School programs.

For those who perhaps can't afford such a price, Josey has recorded several videos, written a few books, as well as appeared in magazines such as Western Horseman through interviews countless times. Her knowledge, skills, and mannerisms are respected throughout the horse people and rodeo fan population.