Hope I can find some help here...  I found a few threads about these but not exactly the info I was looking for.

I am checking out a regular Charmayne James Barrel Saddle (not record breaker). I have a very average mare, 6 3/4 - 7" gullet but back is shaped like calf horse. Very flat. I have been told these have a fairly flat/wide bar angle.

Any thoughts? Also, how do they keep you feet? I have a Marlene Cactus and love it on my big gelding but my mare is a hair downhill and I am always fighting to stay in position.

Thanks!

I bought one about a year ago for my little cowy mare. So far it's the best thing I have found that fits her. But for me, I have been less than impressed. One thing I have noticed - the saddle sits very "flat", meaning the cantle and pommel are both very low.  I can tell you right now that this saddle will not help keep you in the right position.  My mare is built downhill so I have to really work on keeping my feet forward with this saddle. I have to use rubber bands when I ride in this one when I dont have to in other saddles. Also, I can trail ride all day long in my other saddles but after an hour in this one my hips are killing me. And word of caution, I'm 5'6 with fairly long legs and the stirrups on my saddle are are as high as they can go - and sometimes they still feel long. So if you are shorter, just be careful buying sight unseen. I think they are nice saddles, just very different than what I have rode in previously. Plus my mare is built oddly so it just comes with the territory. 

Hated the record breaker... had that saddle for a week or two before I sold it.  I've been riding in normal CJ cactus now for years.  LOVE IT!  I also don't like my feet thrown forward like some barrel saddles to.. personal preference.  The CJ will keep your feet underneath you.  I could ride in mine all day.  My mare is pretty flat backed and not much of a wither, 7" gullet and sits her nice.

I have owned the CJ Cactus (RB) for well over 10yrs. It has fit everything I have owned. It's a 7.5 gullet. However, I used it primarly to race my one mare that had a roll back style, I had no problems using this saddle. My new mare is a front endy mare, I could not sit her in that saddle. I was being flung all over. I now use a Double J Pozzi Pro #10 wide, it really keeps me in. The Cactus saddles, like the other poster mentioned, are much flatter, they dont have a high cantle or pommel....

I ride one on my flat backed mare. I find that this saddle only fits horses like that. As far as the ride, I've always found that this saddle helps me sit down. If I was to pick a saddle out of my collection (5) to help me really sit down on a free runner, for example, the CJ would be my go to. Hope that helps. Feel free to pm me with any other questions.

I had a really stocky mare with a flat back and a Charmayne James Cactus fit her perfect. I felt it kept my feet right underneath me. Not forward but not behind me. It was a really well made saddle with quality leather. 

I had a CJ Record Breaker and I loved it! I had a gelding that was as wide as he was tall ( barely pushing 15 hh, so he wasn't that tall :P )  but he was mutton withered and that saddle fit him like a glove.

I had a conversation yesterday with another barrel racer about saddles. I like my stirrups and rigging to be ride underneath me, and she preferred to have forward rigging so she could get her legs forward so she could sit deep. I guess it really depends on what you like, I have an english background and having my feet "forward" just makes me feel very weird and uncomfortable. Also I will add I am 5'8" and all leg, and I like my stirrups real long, and the Record Breaker was great for that. Good luck and hope this helps! 

Thank you all! The one I was inquiring on ended up being a 14.5 instead of a 15 but my friend has a 14.5 have me to try so when the tundra gets better, I am going to try it and see. I have an english background too and I dont like my feet being in front of me but because shes a bit downhill, I notice its harder for me stay in position. Saddle is probably a hair big too.