A “renaissance man” is defined as a “man of many talents,” and that perfectly describes RJ Jacobs of Dover, Ohio. The 19-year-old grew up in a horse show family. His father, Randy Jacobs, was a multiple World and Congress Champion halter trainer, and his sister, Molli also competed alongside her brother showing both halter and all-around horses for many years. In July of 2009, when RJ was just 11 years-old, he was featured on the Youth World cover of GoMag. This year, he will be showing at his last AQHYA World Show.
“I haven’t shown in a couple of years because of football,” RJ, who was recently named his county’s male athlete of the year, told us. “Since this is my last year in youth, I told my dad that I wanted to show this year. I have a buckskin yearling filly named Elumination.”
Over the years, Jacobs has excelled in both sports and showing horses. In sports, he was the quarterback for his high school football team for the past four years breaking many long-standing school records.
“I was able to become my high school’s single-game passing leader, single season passing leader and also all-time career passing leader,” RJ proudly told us. “Over the four years, I became the top quarterback from my school and county for the most passing yards where I now sit fourth in the state of Ohio. During my senior year, I was able to lead our team to the state football playoffs where we fell short in round two.”
In the horse arena, Jacobs has excelled in the halter events ever since he was a young boy. We asked him if he remembered which horse he had when he was on our July 2009 GoMag cover.
“I do remember that he was one of my favorite horses,” Jacob recalls. “I was eleven-years-old that year. His name was Im In Touch (Kid). I was named Grand Champion Youth Gelding at the 2008 Quarter Horse Congress and placed third at the Youth World that year.” (pictured left)
RJ told us that his all-time favorite win was in 2010 when he and his sister won back-to-back halter classes at the Youth World. Molli won with a two-year-old mare and then RJ came back and won the very next class with a 2-year-old gelding. Jacobs has shown four AQHA World Champions and one Reserve World Champion throughout his youth career. Another significant accomplishment he notes was winning the Justin Rookie (11 and under) title in 2005.
“I have shown a decent amount throughout my youth career. Even when I wasn’t showing, I was on the road with my family because my dad trained halter horses when I was growing up, and my sister showed a lot. Since I grew up showing horses, it’s weird not going to shows every weekend, so I love when we do go now,” RJ says. “My favorite memory would have to be just traveling all across the United States showing with my family. It was my dad’s job at the time, but it was so much fun just being together during the summer months when school was out.”
This fall, RJ I will be attending Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where he plans on getting a business degree.
“When I’m finished with school, I want to work for my father at Dac Vitamins and Minerals where I want to one day take over the business,” Jacobs states.
GoHorseShow would like to congratulate RJ on a successful youth and high school athletic career, and we wish him luck at his last Youth World Show in August.
View a slideshow of pictures below of RJ showing throughout the years.
Photos © KC Montgomery, Jeff Kirkbride, Tim Finnegan, Jacobs Family
