At a public meeting held in 1965, the Woodford Pony Club was formed. Many people contributed to  establishing the oval, including Mr. Claude Bleakly, who used his machinery clearing the very heavy timbered area, he also moved the shed,  which was donated by Mr. Stan Jeffery, who had a butcher  shop at the bottom of Archer Street, from his slaughter paddock, which was the original Club building.

This shed (Club House) was moved over to the show ring to where the present club house is today. Mr Mick Hickey worked on the project using Mr. Clyde Itzstein’s machinery; cleaning up after the dozing was a tedious job, burning out stumps, collecting all broken glass.The Caboolture Shire Council supplied gravel to level the ground at a cost of $360.00. This gravel was very hard, so it had to be covered with topsoil, spread by hand, by many volunteers.

Steve Ferguson and Colin Holcroft organised the building of our present Club House.

As electricity was not connected to the pony club shed, for quite a number of years, when having the gymkhana or hosting instruction schools, to cater for tea or coffee, the outside copper boiler was put on to heat the hot water, and also large blocks of ice were ordered from the Cheese Factory. The Factory made these large blocks, which was then generally put in corn sacks to transport them. The soft drinks and flavoured milk was able to be chilled in a couple of old tin bath tubs with the ice, which we covered with the large corn sack bags the ice came in. Later we had the use of a large insulated ice box Ivan Wild had been able to get from the Butter Factory. For lighting at meetings, there were kerosene lamps.

There were many children with ponies, who were interested in learning more about horse eventing.  When some ponies decided to take off home prematurely it was decided a fence should be erected and Mr. Bleakly again came to the fore with the transporting posts, arranging for timber from Bellthope Timbers at a suitable cost, for fence rails.

There were a lot of people involved in the formation of the club. Mr. Alf Draper, Mr. Stan Jeffery, The Hennessey Bros. Eric and Percy, Miss H.M. (Mabel) Dunning, Mr. Claude Bleakly, Mr. Gordon Nichols, Mrs. Una O’Brien, Mr. Myles Beaker (Una’s father), to name a few.
The first President was Mr. Gordon Nichols
Secretary Miss Ilys Horne
Treasurer Mrs. Ada Eaton

Early Patrons were Mr. Alf Draper, who also had a Butcher shop, his shop still is the Butcher shop in Woodford today, and Mr. Stan Jeffery, who gave the original building for the club house.

Mr.Myles Becker was the Patron after these two, later Miss Mable Dunning then Mrs. Beverley Wild who is still patron today.
When Miss Horne left, Mrs. Ethel Nichols became Secretary until they left the district in 1972, then Mrs. Beverley Wild took over from 1972 – 1980.
When Mrs. Eaton resigned as Treasurer, Mrs. Una O’Brien took this position for a number of years.

President, Mr Gordon Nichols left the district too in 1972; Mr. Bruce Brittian took his position for a number of years.

Miss Mabel Dunning was a great supporter and an instructor and for many years gave trophies to encourage children in general grooming of their horses and dedication to the sport. She often gave services to her pony stallion as prizes for raffles at the Gymkhana, or as a prize for the highest point’s winner at the gymkhana.

We were in Zone 6 which included clubs as far away as Gympie; this entailed a lot of travelling, even for meetings, as the meetings were often held at Gympie. In 1971 Zone 26 was formed from Clubs form Zones 1, 6 and 8.

Life members of the club are Mr. Alf Draper, Miss Mable Dunning, Mrs Una O’Brien, Mr. Ivan Wild, Mrs. Beverley Wild, Mr. Col Holcroft, Mrs. Tyna Faddy, Mrs. Dianne Youles nee (Wild), Mr Steve Ferguson, and Miss Karen Daniels.

Our 1st Gymkhana, we travelled to was at Pine Rivers and all our competitors did well and brought home many ribbons. Our 1st Gymkhana at Woodford was held near the end of the year on an exceptionally hot day, 103 doz. soft drinks and 8 doz. flavoured milk were sold from a bath tub of ice by frozen hands.

Schools and camps are held each year for extra instruction as well as the regular musters. Members can be selected for Interstate, National and International Teams competition. Today members need to have a D or C Certificate to be eligible to compete at state level.

After representation from some other sporting bodies, and then by an arrangement with the Caboolture Shire Council, that the Woodford Pony Club, should relinquishing their pony club ring , which they worked so hard for, to the Football Club and use the show ring. The show ring is not as large as the pony club ring had been made.  The Woodford Pony Club was assured they would have continuing and equal rights to the use of the Show Ring when they required it.

With the introduction of Prince Phillip Mounted Games, Campdrafting as well as Sporting and Formal Gymkhana at the State Championships, Woodford is one of the two clubs in the zone having a Campdraft along with the Annual Gymkhana for the last few years, making this a 2 day event. Members are able to achieve the necessary points to qualify to enter the State Championships. We are able to hold the Campdraft, as the Show ring has cattle yards and the camp area necessary for running a Campdraft, as well as being able to acquire the necessary cattle.

The Pony Club movement is a great organisation for young people as they are always respectful, helpful, polite and good ambassadors for their club and in the community.

Written by Mrs Beverley Wild
Early information from Una O’Brien.