Eight new galvanised steel chutes, representing a $40,000 investment by the Lawrence Rodeo Club, will be used for the first time at the club's 24th annual rodeo and provide both animals and riders with safe creature comforts.
It is one of the single biggest investments in the club's history and club president Ross Lyders said it was well worth the money and effort.
The old timber chutes had reached their use-by date and maintenance costs had been "creeping up" for some time.
Every time an animal damaged the timber framing, it needed repair.
The new steel chutes were tougher and needed very little maintenance, Mr Lyders said.
"The time had come for a change but, at the end of the day, both the riders and the animals will benefit. It's for their benefit, really."
Having no broken boards and fewer injuries to stock meant the investment was worth every dollar, Mr Lyders said.
Three rodeo events will be held in Otago over Waitangi weekend, starting at Outram on Waitangi Day, Lawrence on Saturday, February 7 and Waikouaiti the next day.
A feature of the Lawrence event would be a transtasman challenge involving teams of young riders from Australia and New Zealand.
Points collected at the three Waitangi weekend rodeos will decide the winners in the under 17 and under 15 grades.
Mr Lyders said the Lawrence rodeo would start at 9am.
The transtasman races would begin at noon and open events about 2pm.
