The event, run by the Yass Show Society, should have been held this Saturday, November 10, but was cancelled due to the drought and increasing costs.

Yass Show Society president Rob McAuliffe said it wasn’t fair to ask people to supply cattle in their current condition, because of the drought.

“Even stock in good condition coming into a team penning get knocked around. They’re on a truck coming in and out and on their feet for two days,” Mr McAuliffe said.

“If the cattle are stressed, they go backwards,” he said.

McAuliffe said the society lost money at last year’s rodeo and that the rodeo is often a struggle to make money from.

“So, we’ve decided to give it a break this year and will have it in November next year,” he said.

Spectators and cattle owners usually come from across the country for the rodeo and a few expressed disappointment on Facebook about the decision to cancel.

Those that had planned to go can instead look forward to the Professional Bull Riders bull ride on the Saturday night of the Yass Show, March 23-24.