Gary jACOBS
SPOTLIGHT: Gary Jacobs | A Lifetime in the Saddle
At 81 years young, Gary Jacobs is still roping, still training, and still chasing the next good win. Raised in El Paso and called Vernon, Texas home since 1966, Gary has spent nearly his entire life with horses under him and a rope in his hand. “I rode horses and roped ever since I could,” he said.
After achieving his goal of winning the calf roping at Stamford in 1976, he began team roping more. He started building a reputation not just as a competitor but as a man who knew how to make a horse.
40+ Team Roping Finals 2018
Gary has trained just about everything. Rope horses, barrel horses, and racehorses. “I’ve had some good ones,” he said. One standout was a big Palomino that had great success and championships with Tee Woolman. Another was Indian Image, a world champion paint racehorse in 1985 and one of the top money earners of his time.
Gary has never kept a big barn. He prefers to stay hands-on with just a few at a time. “I liked starting colts. Teaching them to break from the gate, run straight, and do things right. That part of the process was always my favorite.”
“Indians Image” 1985 APHA Champion
He helped shape more than just horses. In his early years, he roped with Rich Skelton long before anyone had numbers or classifications. “Rich used to come rope with me after plowing all day. We practiced until dark. I didn’t teach him to rope, but I taught a lot about how to care for horses and some basics.” Once Gary really started heeling, that relationship he’d built with Rich was one he could always go back to if he felt his roping needed some tuning.
Today, Gary still ropes off a mare he raised. “She’s been solid. I won quite a bit at the 40 Plus finals in 2018 and 2019 on her.”
Even with a defibrillator and overcoming a couple health hurdles, Gary hasn’t put the rope down. “I’d love to get another good one and win something big again!”
His partner, Regina, has been by his side for 32 years. She trains barrel horses and helps local girls learn to ride and compete. “Can’t get along without her,” he said. “She’s helped a lot of kids win their first buckles.”
His daughter also trains barrel horses. Horse training runs deep in the family.
Gary has been part of 40 Plus Team Roping since the beginning. “I remember roping in Abilene at one of the first ropings they put on. I’ve been going ever since. I’ve won a few pairs of handmade spurs and made a lot of friends. It feels like a family out there.”
For Gary, it is about more than winning. It is about being part of something that values experience and community. “Everybody knows everybody. It’s friendly and you really feel valued there.”
He is proud of how 40 Plus has grown. “JP and the crew have really expanded it. More locations, more members. I brought friends to rope and they were welcomed right in. That means something.”
Gary Jacobs is proof that time in the saddle matters. There is always another race to run, another rope to throw, and another good horse waiting to be trained.
“There’s still a big roping or race out there for me to win,” he said.
And we believe him.