Sheik Comes To Rescue Of Cocky's Arabs
Sun Herald
Sunday January 5, 2003
THE parched paddocks and empty dams of central western NSW are a long way from the oil-rich Arab emirate of Abu Dhabi.
But a common love has brought together two men from the two areas.
Mr Les Ellery, 78, left almost penniless by the drought, was unable to continue buying expensive feed for his 19 purebred Arabian endurance horses.
That's when billionaire Sheik Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of the United Arab Emirates President, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, stepped in.
He owns the huge Al Wathba endurance stables, lots of racehorses, and is a keen endurance rider. He is also director-general of the President's Office.
Sheik Mansoor heard about Mr Ellery's plight from the editor of his endurance horse magazine.
Magazine publisher Ali Jassim said the sheik immediately ordered his staff to do whatever it took to help Mr Ellery.
Sheik Mansoor will pay Mr Ellery's feed bill for his horses for at least six months and pick up the tab for a water bore to be sunk on his Cudglebar Stud at Cobbora, 15km out of Dunedoo.
``If it wasn't for Sheik Mansoor, a man I don't evenknow, the stud would befacing extinction," MrEllery said.
Sheik Mansoor's father is considered the world's leading philanthropist, having donated billions of dollars to charities around the world since becoming ruler in 1966.
Mr Ellery is writing to Sheik Mansoor to thank him.
© 2003 Sun Herald
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