Av�y Jacobs

Georgia competitor teams with Spook Royale to find her passion and success in Ranch classes

Photos Shane Rux, The Paper Horse Company & Selah Heard

It’s hard to believe that not so long ago, 13-year-old Avery Jacobs, of Valdosta,

“That was when I was little,” she explained. “But then I went to a friend’s birthday party and decided that horses weren't so bad. After that I started riding at my grandmother's therapeutic riding center in Valdosta and my parents found me a trainer in Baker, Florida.”

There sure weren’t any traces of fear remaining when Avery competed last year at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Ranch Horse Championships at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, winning the Rookie Youth Ranch Riding with Spook Royale (Caboose).

Even more impressive is the fact that Avery had only been showing the 2014 sorrel gelding by Smart Spook and out of Chex My Royale Booty, for about six months.

Avery has been working with Georgia trainer Jonathan Performance Horses, for a few years now. Her parents, Daniel and Whitney Jacobs had instructed Himes to be on the lookout for just the right partner for their only child.

“Mr. Jonathan called my dad one day last January and asked how quickly he could get me down to Tampa Florida,” Avery explained. “It was the last day of the Gold Coast Gulf Coast

(AQHA) Series. We got down there and went to see Caboose. When I first started riding him I had a lot of trouble because I had never ridden a horse like him. I eventually got the hang of it. My dad asked me if I liked him. I said ‘yes’ and before I knew it Caboose was my horse.”

It didn’t take long for them to become a team. Jacobs quickly learned how to work cows, do a sliding stop and execute Reining spins.

At the Sudden Impulse Futurity last year, Caboose and Jacobs earned two Reserve Championships, (in L1 Youth Ranch Riding and L1 Youth Ranch Trail). Then they won the Rookie Youth Ranch Riding at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship and the Novice Youth Ranchmanship at the American Ranch Horse Association (ARHA) World Championship Show.

“Since I have gotten Caboose we have had some lows and some very big highs. I am very thankful that he is so patient with me as I have learned more and more,” Jacobs said. “I am very excited to see what the future holds for us.”

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Avery Jacobs is pictured on the opposite page (top) with Skip Ce Sky, AGR Krymsun Secret Spook Royale and showing Spook Royale at the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse World Championship Show. On this page Avery is pictured (top) with her show steer, Mouse. Below that she is with her parents, Daniel and Whitney Jacobs at the Sugar Bowl in 2020; and riding in the Florida Ranch Horse Club’s Youth Herd Work.

Jacobs didn’t always show in Ranch classes. In fact, she got her competitive start showing AGR Krymsun Secret (Frank), a 2004 sorrel gelding by One Hot Krymsun and out of Zipped Michelle, in Alabama Open Horseman's Association events under the guidance of Florida trainer Marita Tunnage. They attended their first state show when Jacobs was just 7 years old and came home with a Top 10 in Showmanship.

“After that I started showing AQHA shows and I haven’t looked back,” she said.

Jacobs and Frank competed in Small Fry classes from 2017 to 2018, when she started showing My Dream Loper (Frosty), a 2007 gray mare by Lazy Loper and out of Short Faded Dream, under the guidance of Alabama trainer Ashley Bame. With Frosty Jacobs competed at her first National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship Show and Quarter Horse Congress, placing in the Top 15 in Small Fry classes at both shows.

“I loved that mare even though she was very stubborn,” Jacobs said. “I continued showing her in Youth All-Around events through the end of 2021. We didn't click quite as well in the loping classes though, and I decided it was time to make a change. Both Frosty and my trainer made me a better rider and instilled a work ethic in me that continues on in everything I do.”

Frank is still living at the Jacobs’ place in Georgia, as is Skip Ce Sky (Sky) a 2014 sorrel mare by Skip Ce Wilco and out of Designed In Red, that Avery describes as her “go-to trail horse.”

Jacobs first attended Antioch Elementary School in Crestview, Florida. For fifth grade and the first half of sixth grade she was home schooled before her family moved to Georgia. She is currently a seventh grade student at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta.

When she is not riding or at a show you will often find Avery taking part in the Lowndes Middle FFA chapter.

“I am an officer and have a show steer, Mouse, that I have raised and trained,” she said. “I am also very active in the youth group at my congregation.”

Youth Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for a youth profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.

EUTHANASIA by Alina Vale, DVM