AS THE historian of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) Peter Poole has more than a few good yarns, but maintains many of them would not be fit for publication.

His interest in rodeos was piqued when he saw a magazine with cowboys in big hats on horses and a big line of cattle. He was 18- years-old and living in the UK.

His fate was sealed only weeks later when he discovered he could do that line of work in Australia and migrants could buy a one-way ticket Down Under for only 10 pounds.

After only three weeks and three days he ended up in South Australia. That was in 1952.

Mr Poole was employed on stations before he started working in rodeos full-time, travelling the country and competing.

He moved to Warwick in 1959 where he became secretary of the APRA.

"I couldn't type or anything like that and I had never worked in an office," he said.

"But RM Williams took me under his wing."

He worked in that position for the next 18 years.

Through writing about rodeos, Mr Poole maintained his connection with the association before being formally named APRA's historian a few years ago.

He said there had been some big changes in rodeos over the years. Once upon a time he said men got fully decked out in suits and ties, and he knew of one who tried to attend wearing thongs.

"The principle change was they cut down the size of the arena," he said.

"It used to be a huge arena."

Mr Poole said seeing the 2007 Warwick Rodeo go ahead without horses because of equine influenza was the most unusual thing to happen at the event over the years.

Mr Poole has written a book on rodeos and another booklet in 1978, outlining the history of the Warwick Rodeo.

The countdown has begun for the Warwick Rodeo which is on October 24-30 this year.