""I've been on Trapper for about four years and I've won plenty on him."

"When I first bought him, I took him down to Melbourne to compete and he was pretty green but we still won $3500 straight away; so he basically paid for himself."

Slater and nine-year-old Trapper will be vying for the team roping title at an event where the Murrumbateman horseman has had plenty of success.

"I've been competing in the Yass Rodeo since 1976 and I've won the Tim Darmody Memorial quite a few times, couldn't tell you how many," he told the Tribune.

At 51, Slater has given away steer wrestling because he reckons it's a "young man's sport", but the team roping still provides the camaraderie and competition.

"All we have to do is throw the rope, the horse does the rest," he laughed.

"It's just good being out there with your mates and seeing how good each bloke can rope."

He does admit the home town rodeo causes a few more butterflies.

"Yeah you take the good with the bad, it's good to compete at home but if you don't do any good it looks worse. You think to yourself 'well I don't look too good now do I'."

It's unlikely that Slater has felt that way too much though, as the local rider has been trained by Canadian Rodeo hall of famer, and twice Canadian All-Around Cowboy Tom Bews.

"Yeah I went over to America when I was 18 and stayed with Tom Bews in Alberta for 12 months, between him and my father I was given all the right knowledge and education."

Even with his talent and world-class mentorship, Slater said back then and even today there are large obstacles against those trying to make it over in North-America.

"It's pretty tough if you're not well off, it's a very expensive sport over there."

"I mean I knew one bloke who borrowed $50,000 to compete in the hope of making the finals but only came 17th and then had to pay it all back.

"There are a lot more opportunities today than when I started but you go over there and you're competing against 800 others and you need that early success, there's just so much more competition."

Slater is adamant that the next generation of riders need to be properly educated.

"These days a lot of people are getting into it because it seems like an easy sport but there's a lack of people teaching them so they have to learn from each other.

"They aren't learning what they need to get to the top, which is why it's important for their development to go over to the States, learn and come back."

Slater has taken it upon himself to impart his worldly wisdom and has taken promising riders under his wing including Elle Hamilton, who the Tribune interviewed last week.

"Yeah it's good that we have contacts over there including April Hanby, it means we can organise scholarships and schooling over there for our talented young riders."

The Yass Rodeo takes place on Saturday, for more information contact the Yass Show Society on 6226 1615 or visit www.yassshow.org.au.