Jacobs

Jacobs (unknown breeding, Texas-bred) – Jacobs’ career spanned ten years playing in all the top tournaments of his era including the famed international matches of 1913 and 1914. A venerable pony who broke polo tradition in its time, he was one of the first bigger ponies that defined the approaching “modern” era of polo. Breaking the archaic height rule of 14 hands, 2 inches, Jacobs was a bay gelding who, standing at the unheard-of height of 15 h, 3 inches, was big, rawboned, and rangy, yet incredibly speedy and powerful. Bringing fame and notoriety to the Texas cowpony, Jacobs was raised by J.C. Jacobs of San Antonio, before being sold to Harry Payne Whitney who scoured the world to look for the most competitive ponies to add to his formidable string. Whiney also made a habit of loaning his finest ponies to his best friend Dev Milburn to play. The duo of Milburn and Jacobs caught the frequent attention of the press and it was noted that Milburn’s best runs were on this mount. It is a well-known story that, along with a few other top horses, Jacobs was gifted by Whitney to Milburn as a wedding present in 1913, a fitting gesture to honor the extraordinary relationship of a man and horse