Californian cowboy on the Sydney trail

By Monique Ebrington
A YARRA Valley family is helping Californian cowboy Ezra Cooley ride on horseback from Yarra Glen to Sydney for the Australian children’s charity Heart Kids.
While most overseas travellers bring home T-shirts and post cards from the country they’ve visited, the Herbert family befriended Ezra after he and seven-year-old Madeline both appeared on her Auntie’s radio show in the United States.
Ezra is already well known in the States as the 29-year-old who has been raising money for children’s charities while fulfilling the dream he began in 2006 of riding around the world.
Setting off from Yarra Glen last week he said he has already ridden through Oklahoma’s biggest ice storm in history, through the streets of Manhattan, down Wall Street and all without the help of a support team.
“I’ve been through a lot of tough times but nothing as tough as what the kids go through in hospital,” he said.
His Australian experience may prove to be his toughest. Quarantine laws mean he is unable to get his horse, saddle or gun into the country.
“I was lucky to get my boots into Australia,” he said.
During his 90-day visit to Australia Ezra hopes to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd when he gets to Sydney and is also looking forward to experiencing the Australian countryside during his ride, and first trip to Australia.
Riding with just the bare necessities — a sleeping bag, tent, extra clothes, communications system and a tracking device — he says that the thing he misses most is his family who inspired his adventure.
“I was riding with my dad one day. We were just talking about crazy things, talking about riding around the globe. It stayed in my heart and my mind,” he said.
“I sold my house and everything I owned except for two of my horses, a saddle and a few sentimental things.”
New Zealand is next on the books for Ezra and then Europe to complete his around the world journey and his goal of raising money for children’s charities.
“I want to raise $1 million for charity. Once I’ve done that I’m going to Texas and that’s where I’m going to stay,” he said.
Ezra is set up with a tracking device so fans can follow his journey, or learn more about Ezra through his website www.ezrasexpedition.com.