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Martha Josey (born Martha Lavaughn Arthur in Gregg County, Texas, on March 11, 1938, daughter of Robert Jonas Arthur, Sr. and the former Martha James) is an American professional rodeo cowgirl who specializes in barrel racing. She has been in active rodeo competition since 1964. She won the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA) barrel racing world championship in 1980 and was the last barrel racer to win a world championship under the organization's former name before it was renamed the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 1981. She has earned numerous other titles at competitions such as the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and events sanctioned by the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) and WPRA. She also competed in barrel racing as an exhibition event during the 1988 Calgary Olympics, and is the founder and co-owner of the Josey Ranch Barrel Racing Clinic.
Martha married R.E. Josey in 1967. "Smash Success" Connie Hubbard. American Cowboy Sep-Oct 1999, pp 18, 26 R.E. Josey died on February 24, 2022.
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 the AQHA and the WPRA championships in the same year. In 1980, she won the barrel racing world championship at the NFR, the highest title in professional barrel racing. 2021 WPRA NFR Media Guide Barrel Racing World Champions 1948 - 2020, 1980 World Champion Barrel Racer, p. 7.
With the horse Jetonfer Pay, Josey won the Pro Tour Circuit in 1985, went to the NFR again, and was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.
Josey and Swen Sir Bug, aka "J.C.", competed in the 1987 NFR. At the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, she participated in a barrel racing exhibition as an Olympic special event where she and J.C. earned a gold medal.
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. After that, Orange Smash carried her to a championship in the NBHA Senior World Championship 1997 and to the NFR in 1998.
In 1999, she was received the Dennis D. High Lifestyle Achievements Award and was chosen as the Women's Sports Foundation AQHA Female Equestrian of the Year. In addition, Orange Smash received 1999 AQHA "Best of America's Horse Award" and was created as a model horse by Peter Stone.
In 2000, she entered her fifth decade of competition with the horse, Joe B Jammin, and in that year ran the fastest time at the Lone Star Finals. They went on to be the Go Round Winner at the 2001 Copenhagen Cup Finale in Dallas, Texas. In 2002, she placed first and second in the NBHA Holiday Classic in Jackson, Mississippi, riding Joe B. Jammin and Sweet Sailin' Six, and 2003 ended with a championship in the Equus America competition in Houston, as well as a reserve championship in the AQHA World rodeo event in Oklahoma City. In 2004, she obtained Red Man Bay, and the pair won the 2004 NBHA Holiday Classic Sr. 1 D Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, and went on to win the 2004 and 2005 NBHA Sr. Division Reserve World Championships. In March 2004, Josey suffered a serious accident at a rodeo in Austin, Texas. Doctors discovered two skull fractures, a broken pelvis, six broken ribs, and a punctured lung. Though told she might not walk again and certainly never ride, she proved her doctors wrong. She worked out daily in the swimming pool with the help of her husband, and regained enough strength to not only ride again, but also to compete professionally. After her accident, however, Josey became a strong advocate of equestrian helmet use and endorses Troxel riding helmets and safety gear. Josey Accident Troxel Helmet news As of 2009, Josey was still competing in barrel racing.
Martha Josey has also recorded several videos, written books, and has appeared in magazines such as Western Horseman. Both R.E. and Martha have also had television appearances on ESPN, RFD-TV, and other networks. In addition, the Joseys have had a substantial number of product endorsements, many of which Josey sells at the Josey Western Store and online mail-order shop, headquartered from their ranch. Biography of R.E. and Martha Josey
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