Bob Cassata: I Did It My Way
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33 – May/June, 2026
By Brittany Vermeer
Now, in his 84th year around the sun, longtime Halter competitor Bob Cassata is the patriarch of a horse-loving family that spans four generations. He and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are leaving their mark on the horse industry. It’s a family legacy that began over 30 years ago when Bob’s grandson, JR Cook, wanted a horse.
And So It Begins
Bob and his wife, Joyce, have two daughters: Glenda Cook and Karen Booth. Glenda’s son, JR, showed an interest in horses early on. What else could a good grandpa do but help make that dream a reality?
“When JR was a kid, he wanted a horse. We had some property up in North Carolina, so we bought him a trail horse. Then, he went into Cutting, and wound up doing really good and got into the AQHA Youth Hall of Fame. That’s basically how we got started,” Bob says.
JR Cook remembers those early days, back when Grandpa blazed trails through the property so they could ride their trail horses together.
“I don’t know how two trail horses turned into a 200-acre, world-class Halter horse facility, breeding operation–showing Cutting, Western Pleasure horses, and everything else it is today. “But that’s what started it all,” JR says.
