Ha ha ha, if your saddle is not fitting right, they will try to sell you a saddle from the Josey Store.. I have had a few friends go, they love the Josey Ranch Clinic's, but they both came home with new saddles that they could not afford but bought them anyway, thank goodnes for credit cards they told me, lol .. Thats the first thing they do at the Josey clinic's they check your gear to make sure everything is right, maybe things had changed up since they went, of course with was back more then a few years.. 

My credit card will have to stay home!!! Unless they wanna sponsor me I won't be leaving with a new saddle lol! Although that would be pretty awesome!  But I have my eyes on another saddle that will be fitted professionally... just gotta save up a little while longer unless Mr. Biden comes on with that little promise he made haha!!! Now I'm wondering if I should wait till I can get my saddle, and then go.... hmmmmm! 

No,dont put it off,YOU DESERVE IT,JUST GO GET STARTED!!!!!!

If you are comfortable riding in and making a slow barrel run in the roping saddle, I wouldn't hesistate to keep using it or to ride it in a clinc. Personally,I'd use the clinic as a chance getting another set of eyes to help figure out how to fit him. What clinician/horse person wouldn't appreciate a rider that wants to make sure their horse is comfortable first and foremost? I know that as another person attending the clinic, I'd definitly respect you for that and not look down on it. Finding good fiting saddles is HARD!

Thank you! Yeah my rope saddle fits him perfect, never been sore from it and it's just a good solid feeling saddle. Honestly,  I've gone thru about 4 saddles on this guy (barrel) and I haven't been happy with a single one. They don't fit, in my opinion. I've tried different pads, etc etc. I need an extra wide, because he's extra wide! He's built like a tank... wide shoulders and flat back.. I'm comfortable in my roping saddle because there's no roll or rock to it. I am going to take him eventually to have him fit for a Double J as soon as I can. I have the contact in place and price set, I just have to suck it up a little while longer.

Of course there's chickens in the pic!

Joy Wargo has a clinic in May in central Tx. If you are on Facebook look her up.

Nothing wrong with this set up!!! I would rather ride in a saddle that fits me and my horse. 

I have know a few that ran barrels in rope saddles and cutting saddles, they were just more comfortable in them.. 

Have you ever thought about looking into a all around saddle, I really like these.. I use to have one and loved but got talked out of it and just never bougth another one. It was a Circle Y and was a really nice fitting saddle, but this was befor Circle Y got bought out many times. 

I've been looking at a bunch... Martin's and double j mostly. My horse is built a little downhill and has a tendency to throw me forward a little around turns... I've yet to find a saddle that doesn't help prevent that.. even my rope saddle, which fits him good, it's an older cactus. He's a powerful horse, so when we rope and go to spin one I have to remember to sit down, focus on my pockets . I'm still trying to master that move around the barrels lol! I forget because I'm worried about placing him where I think he needs to be.. so I'm thinking I need something that helps me sit deep and keep my legs forward maybe??? I don't really know. I probably just need to try to sit in some and see. 

The best clinic that I have seen for someone to go to a "first clinic" would be Dena Kirkpatrick. She is amazing.

Well I did a thing.... I sent my deposit for the Josey Clinic yesterday! A have a really good friend that decided she was going to go too so that helps! We requested to be stalled next to each other. I'm super excited but super anxious. yall have no idea how out of my comfort zone this is lol!! Its a good thing

IMHO, go to your March clinic. Do your best, watch others and learn. Cheer for the others especially when they make an improvement. Don't worry about the others and what they or their horses are wearing. It not about the latest gadgets, those come and go like the wind. This clinic is for you to find out what works for you and the horse you are riding.  
Have a good time, embrace your small wins and build from there. HUGS 

^^^^^^^ This .... go have a great time ~ enjoy meeting new people ~ smile and have fun!!  The ranch and everyone there are very welcoming!  I have been many times and usually I am happy with my tack just need work on me.  I liked being able to try new headgear but didn't feel pressured to buy.  You will never regret going if for no other reason than enjoying the sport with others who are like minded.  Friendships are born at the ranch along with learning.

My friend that's going said she would find me a saddle to borrow, I'll be bringing my saddle still just in case it doesn't fit.. and if I end up having to use it, so be it... I'd rather be comfortable and have my horse comfortable more than anything at this point. If the stars align,  I'll most likely be able to purchase a saddle I want about a week before we are going... but I don't want to get my hopes up too high on that one. I'm really looking forward to going and seeing my old friend and making new ones! 

The clinic is just a few weeks out. I'm going to be honest, I almost backed out.... with the storm and several more days of rain recently my horse has just been sitting.. and also my friend that was going to go with me, backed out for those very reasons. I received the paperwork right before our crazy ice storm and never got them filled out. I told my husband last week, I not going... he called me back and said YES YOU ARE! He's right.... if I don't go now, I'll never go. If I wait for "perfect " conditions or the perfect time to go... it'll never happen. I called Joseys and probably one of the nicest persons I've ever spoke to over the phone helped me and said not to worry about deadlines with paperwork,  to  just get there! I started lunging my horse for exercise in the pasture on the grass to avoid the knee deep mud daily and yesterday I actually got to ride him.. the weather looks good for now for the rest of the week. My hubby fixed the water pump on our lq that busted during the ice storm and it's all ready to go. As far as a saddle.... well... I'm going in my roping saddle ... I don't care anymore. It's all I've got and it's comfy for both of us.. my husband said we can look at some saddles while we are there if I'd like and get the horse fitted properly. I'm excited again to go and I'm so glad he didn't let me cower out like I wanted with lame excuses. 

USE the saddle that YOU are most comfortable in ..... I rode a Price McLaughlin saddle "like" this one for YEARS and won a bunch of money in it. I even had it at a Josey Clinic and she told me to ride in what worked for me and my horse. The only drawback was that my saddle was "heavy". Another "hint" .... go have FUN! 

Yes! My roping saddle is definitely heavy but it fits us both very well so im just gonna rock it... fake it till ya make it lol! I do eventually need to get a real barrel saddle but if I'm going to spend the money, I'd rather have it fit right, both of us.... I've always just bought used online without trying and I've gone thru 4 saddles on him.. I always end up losing more money because I cannot ever sell them for what I paid. In what I've spent on guessing, I probably could have purchased 2 custom fit saddles by now. (Face meet palm) 

If your roping saddle is a Cactus and fits well, have you thought of calling Cactus and talking to them about a barrel saddle that may work for you both?  

I definitely have. I need to get the S/N  and find out more information on it. My husband bought it off a guy a few years ago for CHEAP and it's turned out to be a great saddle that fits my monster. The Double J I had fit him very well too but I stupidly sold it when I thought I was done with roping for good. I kick myself daily for that one.