60 years of memories for Gilbert at Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/03/2017 (3437 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fred Gilbert remembers it clearly, how much he wanted to be part of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair the first time he went.

The next year, he “borrowed a pony from a neighbour,” the 67-year-old said of his first fair, six decades ago.

He got hooked on the fair back then. There was something about seeing those horses, smelling those shavings, he recalls.

He knew of horses working on the farm but never for show, until that first fair. A newspaper clipping shows the youngster on a pony, looking high and mighty, in either his first or second competitive year.

Sixty years later, Gilbert’s anniversary is worthy of applause when the public address announcer informs the crowd during hackney harness shows at the 110th Royal Manitoba Winter Fair this week at the Keystone Centre.

“It means a lot,” the Brandonite said of the recognition. “My wife and I talked about it before we came to the show. She said to me, ‘That’s quite a feat. How many people do anything for 60 years, whether it’s their job or coach hockey or whatever?’”

Other Gilberts debuted as Winter Fair participants in 1957, too. Fred’s uncles, Stan and Don, bought two show horses the previous year, and joined their eager nephew at his first show.

In time, displaying hackney ponies became the family’s hobby — no matter which Gilbert is involved.

Now, Fred Gilbert is leading the charge. His wife Alice, daughter Wendy, son Derek and two grandsons made it a family affair this year.

His uncle Stan was the longtime “backbone of the operation,” but when he passed away about 12 years ago, Fred took the reins.

“It’d be a shame to have an auction and just sell his dream, you know,” he reasoned. “I’ve sort of kept the family dream alive.

“Hopefully there will be somebody in the family who will take over from me,” he said, adding he’ll keep participating as long as his health and help are there.

Over the years, Gilbert has transitioned from showing off the ponies himself to a coaching role, though he still walks into the arena as the judge makes their rounds.

He’s pleased to step back and watch his family succeed, he said Monday afternoon, after a pair of first-place showings and a second-place honour.

The family attend as many as a half-dozen shows a year in surrounding provinces and states, but always find time for the Winter Fair.

“It’s been a good ride, let’s put it that way.”

The hardest challenge over the years has been the weather, Gilbert said. They start training ponies in January and headed outside during the cruelest days. But now that they have an indoor barn for training, built only a year ago, he joked that raising show ponies has become a cinch.

The Gilberts know they haven’t come by their success easily.

They have worked hard, spending hours at the barns and investing in the best equipment and services.

And their ponies score highly because of it.

“When you do something for 60 years, you should be good at it,” Gilbert said.

His daughter, Wendy Gilbert Armstrong, has taken to her father’s passion.

Now 46, she trotted onto her first Royal Manitoba Winter Fair at the age of five. She hasn’t missed a single fair since.

She participated in gymkhanas for a time, but never stopped showing ponies in Brandon, even after moving to North Dakota.

“It’s just something we’ve always done,” said Gilbert Armstrong, explaining the fair’s importance to her family.

“I think it’s special because we can do it together.”

Family has kept the Gilberts involved for as long as they have, and will ensure they celebrate many more anniversaries.

“I feel good, I’ve got good health,” Gilbert said simply.

“I just can’t wait for the next (pony) class. It doesn’t matter how long you do it, I’m just waiting for the next class.”

» ifroese@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ianfroese