Central Regional Directors
Jennifer Barr
Jean Marie Degville | Magnolia, TX
Fundraising Liaison Pegasus Award Recipient
Jean-Marie actively rides, shows and has been involved with the Tennessee Walking Horse industry for more than 30 years. She hopes to bring camaraderie and fun events to the NWHA lineup and continue the mission of celebrating and advocating for the sound horse throughout her region and with her involvement on the board.
Jean-Marie is passionately involved in all aspects of the industry from breeding and raising foals, to trail riding and showing. In her spare time, she is a silversmith and enjoys her ladies trail riding club.
She is excited to be elected to once again serve as a Central Regional Director and share her renewed passion for the organization. She is looking forward to an exciting 2026!
Martie Jacobson | Hill City, MN
Lifetime Member Rules & Fundraising Committee
Martie Jacobson has been involved with horses for as long as she can remember. As a teen, she took riding lessons at a dressage barn in exchange for barn chores. She was trained in Classical Dressage by one of the great dressage masters, a rider for the Polish Olympic team. Martie purchased her first walking horse in 1995 and has advocated for the breed for 30 years. As a TWH ambassador, she has exhibited at the Minnesota Horse Expo and other events. She camps and trail rides across the country and uses her horses for cattle work at her Texas ranch. She also trains and drives multiple breeds in harness, for sleigh and wheeled events.
She was a certified breed steward of the North American Peruvian Horse Association and held judging licenses with the United Mountain Horse and Gaited Horse Association and is licensed with NWHA. She is a member of NSSHA, PtHA, and the Wisconsin and Minnesota Walking Horse Associations. Martie has won multiple regional, open, and amateur titles, high-point awards, more than one Best in Show, and multiple National Grand Championships, with her 100 % amateur owned and trained horses! One of her homebred mares was honored to be named the Tri-state Horse of the Year.
16 NWHA National News | March 2026
Martie has previously served on the NWHA Board, and on the Rules, Judges, Versatility, National Show, Nominating, and Trail committees.