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