Australian Brodie Powell is continuing the Martin Saddlery legacy started by professional saddle maker, the late Brian Peterson.
It’s no secret that Martin Saddlery is one of the most trusted names in Western horse sports. The company’s strong relationships with professional horsemen and -women have helped shape saddles that work for every level of rider, from beginners to world champions. Since the company’s inception, more than $60 million has been won in a Martin saddle, and that’s just counting earnings from a select group of official endorsees, not including novice or amateur riders. The success of these saddles can be attributed to Brian Peterson, a “jack of all trades.” He was a silversmith, precision welder and former bronc rider from Australia who transformed Martin into a premium brand sought after by professional riders.
Now, the next chapter is unfolding. Brodie Powell, the son of Brian’s mentor, Eddy Powell, is continuing the work and making sure that the legacy lives on.
The Australian Touch
Brian Peterson first came to the United States from Brisbane, Australia, on a rodeo scholarship. He rode saddle broncs at Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. After college, he returned home to Australia to learn saddle making from renowned expert Eddy Powell.
Eddy began building saddles at the age of 12. Dedicated to perfecting this skill, Eddie became a government-accredited saddle-making teacher in Australia. Eddy also made history as the first to design a “Half Breed” Australian saddle. He became known as a master of the trade and even built his own saddle trees.
If you rode horses in Australia, you knew who Eddy was. He was that guy.
After spending some valuable time learning from Eddy, Brian and his wife, professional barrel racer and equine sports massage therapist, Tracey Peterson, returned to the States. In 2003, Brian joined Martin Saddlery as the Lead Saddle Maker and started designing saddles from the ground up. He focused on fit, balance and performance. Most notably, he developed a one-of-a-kind wood-tree manufacturing process and was responsible for many patented designs.
Over the years, Brian developed some of Martin’s best-known barrel racing models: the Crown C, Stingray, BTR, FX3, Guardian, and Fearless. They helped professionals ride better, win more and significantly advanced careers.
Losing Brian
In 2020, Brian passed away unexpectedly — a huge loss not just for Martin Saddlery and those who loved him, but for the entire performance horse world. He was, most importantly, a friend to all who knew him. His skills were highly specialized and nearly impossible to replace.
Life always seems to have a way of lining up the future without you knowing. Rewinding to 2014, Brian needed help in the shop. He thought about someone he knew he could trust, someone with the same attention to detail and passion for making saddles. He called Eddy Powell and asked if he was interested in moving to the States to Greenville, Texas. After a bit of deliberation, Eddy said, “let’s give it a go.” Eddy joined the Martin team and worked alongside Brian, later playing a key role in helping the company move forward after Brian’s passing.
Eddy, at 72 years old, still has the passion and steady hands to build saddles. But Martin Saddlery needed a long-term plan. That’s when Brodie, Eddy’s son, stepped in.
Brodie Steps In
In 2023, Brodie Powell joined Martin Saddlery as the new Head Production Manager. Like his dad, and Brian before him, Brodie grew up learning this specialized trade. He also competed in Australia, developing a deep understanding of what riders and horses need, not just how a saddle is built, but how it feels and performs. It’s safe to say these specialized skills run in Brodie’s blood.
“[Eddy] was a pretty good mentor to learn from,” Brodie says with a smile, talking about his dad. “But Brian left some big boots to fill.”
Now, Brodie is focused on keeping Martin’s custom approach ahead of industry trends. The company currently offers five baseline barrel saddles, each of which can be customized to fit a rider’s specific preferences. While barrel saddles are a big part of what Martin is known for, they also make top-quality saddles for roping, cow horse, cutting, ranching and more. Each one is developed with the help of professional riders who know what it takes to win.
“Martin’s always been about the right fit,” Brodie says. “You’ve got your base options, and then we fine-tune it for each rider. That’s what sets us apart.”
Since Brodie arrived in 2023, Martin Saddles has helped its official endorsed riders earn more than $7.7 million.
Built for the Long Haul
Professionals in barrel racing can earn upwards of $1 million in a year, with the saddle being a vital piece of equipment that is strategically important to their success.
Martin Saddlery is renowned for its collaborations with legendary barrel racers, but their saddles are designed to benefit everyone, from beginners to professionals. The same models seen at the top levels are designed to help new riders get started with the proper position and balance.
“I worked with Brian Peterson since the beginning in 2004, and my namesake is behind two saddles we developed, the Crown C and the Stingray. My saddles are an invaluable tool that enables me to make a living,” four-time WPRA world champion barrel racer Sherry Cervi said. “Last year, I noticed my Crown C wasn’t sitting me quite like it should be. Brodie was able to identify where the problem was and fix it. He took that a step further and made adjustments to all future Crown C’s going out, too.”
With Brodie now running the shop and Eddy still offering his guidance, Martin Saddlery’s future looks bright. Brodie is responsible for the livelihoods of countless professional riders, across multiple disciplines. The tools, tradition and knowledge that originated in Australia are still at Martin Saddlery — and continue to set the standard in the industry.
