OSKALOOSA — Fred Bridges’ lifelong interest in horsemanship earned a significant recognition at this year’s Iowa State Fair Aug. 17.

Bridges was inducted into the Iowa Draft Pony Association’s Hall of Fame after years of breaking, training and showing draft ponies.

Although he’s been competing in draft pony competitions for around 40 years, Bridges noted that this award is “by far the finest.”

In order to understand just how many years Bridges has under his belt when it comes to working with these animals, you’d have to go back many years to when he was just 5 years old. Bridges said two uncles of his allowed him to drive draft horses under their supervision when he was a child.

By the time Bridges was just 8 years old, he began cultivating corn on his own. At the age of 9, he was already training animals by breaking goats to drive. He would go on to work with draft horses on his grandparents farm throughout his teen years.

“Being almost 80 years old, I grew up farming with horses,” said Bridges. “That was a way of life back when I was a youngster. Everybody farmed with horses and mules and tractors were just, you know, coming into being back then. They were far and few between at that time.”

Bridges would go on to join the U.S. Navy, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Upon retiring from the Navy in 1971 after 21 years of service, Bridges moved to Oskaloosa to be with his wife and four children.

It was at this time that Bridges began to raise, train and show draft ponies alongside his father. At one time during this period, Bridges and his father cared for at least 20 ponies, he noted.

The family legacy of horsemanship isn’t ending with Bridges. Back in the early 1970s, his two daughters became interested in the practice. Fred’s oldest daughter would pass down horsemanship activities to her family, as well.

With the onset of the 1980s, Bridges started breaking and driving ponies at cart and in teams. In 1985, Bridges joined the Draft Pony Association. As the ‘80s continued, Bridges would show ponies throughout southeast Iowa. He would eventually begin leading harnessing and driving clinics at the Iowa State Fair, as well.

By 1989, Bridges had joined the Mid-Iowa Driving Association and served on their board of directors for 9 years, as well as serving as president of this association for two years.

Bridges’ pony showing career has taken him to many different shows and numerous venues including the National Welsh Pony Show in Tulsa, Okla., where he won the Class A Team Driving in 1994.

“This was a young team that I had broke myself and it was quite an honor,” said Bridges. “I placed third in the nation in that year with them.”

At this time, Bridges began showing ponies at the Iowa State Fair. His daughters and granddaughters showed horses with him at the state fair, as well. He would continue showing at the Iowa State Fair until his retirement from showing in 2011.

“That Iowa State Fair — that’s about the grand daddy of them all,” said Bridges. “It’s quite an event they have.”

Training, breaking and showing draft ponies is no simple hobby. Bridges said it takes a considerable amount of time, including travel time to and from shows.

In his years of horsemanship, Bridges has also been a member of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Posse, where he used horses at several events. He has also been a member of the Oskaloosa Saddle Club and Pony Express Riders of Iowa.

Bridges’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren have also shown an interest in horsemanship. He said his great-granddaughter, Ripley, actually drove the ponies that led him into the arena the night he earned the hall of fame award.

“She’s coming along pretty good and she’s only 8 years old,” he said.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com.