1967-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1967 May Voice RS | Page 31
ville, Tennessee, twenty-seven years ago. He put in four
years with the Navy with an Airborne Early Warning
Squadron. On returning from the Navy he went to Texas
to work with a construction crew but, as usual, his native
Tennessee beckoned him home. There was another attrac
tion besides his native soil, however, and her name was
Helen Faye Harber. It is at this point that we must re
gress and discuss Bob Cherry and horses.
The first horse that Bob bought cost him $40. He was
then in his teens and recalls that he bought the horse
because all of his buddies had one and he didn’t. This
was PINECREST NELL, the only registered horse in
the bunch. He got her from Mr. L. C. Jackson and after
trying for several years without success to get her in foal,
young Bob Cherry decided to trade her for a two year
old stallion. He got twenty-five dollars boot on the deal
and figured he had made a good profit. He later traded
this horse for a mare that eventually had three colts.
By this time Bob was really in the horse business. He
had become fast friends with Mr. Allie Luther, a farmer-
trainer who taught him the basic essentials of training
and showing. Bob says he will never forget his first horse
show performance. It was in the two year old class at
Erin, Tennessee and he was riding with the late Winston
Wiser, Sam Paschal, Steve Hill, Donald Paschal and Ed
Corouthers. They tied five horses and we can only guess
who got the gate. Bob got something else that night be
sides the gate, however. He also “got the bug.” He de
cided that he w'ould like to work with horses. This was
in 1954. One of the key incidents of Bob Cherry’s life oc
curred about this time. He sold a horse named ACE
EAGLE’S GO BOY to a Mr. Clovis Harber of Center
ville. Mr. Harber had ponies and wanted to get into the
horse business. Mr. Harber also had a daughter who
wanted to know more about Bob Cherry.
By 1957, Bob Cherry had finished high school and had
enlisted in the Navy. Before leaving he had to sell all his
horses and he can recall that the top horse was a MERRY
GO BOY mare that brought him $90.00.
While Bob was in the Navy Mr. Luther kept him
(jo-
STABLES
TENNESSEE
WALKING HORSES
CENTERVILLE,T0»-
GETTING READY—Mr. Clovis Harber and Bob discuss some
needed repairs on their six-horse van as they prepare for the
coming season.
’OP TWO YEAR OLD—After a hard workout, trainer Bob
’herry stops for a breather. His colt, TIGER BAY, a fine two
par niH hav stallion, is readv to eo again!
9 n a §>U