Members of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club (FSURC), a North Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization of Black cowboys devoted to teaching horsemanship, visited C.W. Henry School on May 30. One of those members, of course, was a horse. 

Accompanying the four-legged ambassador was Ellis Ferrell Jr. (nicknamed El-Dog), the 86-year-old president and founder of FSURC. His presentation coincided with students’ latest social studies lessons on urban riding.

Francesca Cantarini, a social studies teacher for sixth through eighth grade at C.W. Henry, helped arrange this event with FSURC to teach not only history, but also life lessons.

“I hope that [the students] take away some local history, Black pride, and the celebration of Black institutions that have been erased through history,” Cantarini said. “I [also] hope they take away from it that caring for something other than yourself can enhance your own life.”

Equestrian education

Every year, Cantarini’s classes collaborate with the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement, a nonpartisan organization that delivers learning programs about civics for grades K-12. Students read a novel and then create a mock trial based on a situation in the book, writing scripts and acting out the courtroom scene.

This year’s book was “Ghetto Cowboy” by Gregory Neri, a story of Black cowboys that is loosely based on the life of Ferrell Jr. and urban riders in Philadelphia.

“A lot of our kids have connections to North Philadelphia, so it’s always great for them to read something that has local connections,” Cantarini said.

The book also examines city politics centered around a property rights case. In the novel, the city of Philadelphia wanted to reclaim its previously abandoned land that the cowboys were using for stables.

After finishing “Ghetto Cowboy,” students acted out the fictional trial on May 29. In three of the classes, the cowboys won all votes except one from the jurors. In the rest of the classes, the verdicts for the cowboys were unanimous. According to Cantarini, the outcomes differ each year, but everyone takes away lessons on land ownership, the criminal justice system, persuasion and bias, and the judicial branch.

Reaching the youth

When Cantarini reached out to FSURC to come to C.W. Henry, members of the organization were eager to spread their mission. Nicole Bryan, a public and media relations staffer at FSURC, said the organization enjoys speaking to young people because of Ferrell Jr.’s original intentions in starting the club.

“El-Dog’s mission has always been to get kids off the street,” Bryan said. “Some kids may not have a great home environment or just maybe don’t have other people to bond with. So part of our outreach is to preserve the history of the Black cowboy … but also we want kids to know that if they ever need a place to come, whether or not you want to work with animals, this is a safe space to come. It’s a place to build community.”

Ferrell Jr. began riding horses on the streets of Philadelphia in the late 1940s and first established his own stable in 1980 on 31st and Master streets. From the beginning, he encouraged children to maintain and care for the horses in order to build character and self-esteem. In 2004, Ferrell Jr. moved the stable to Fletcher St., forming the current organization.

Harley the horse

During the presentation, Ferrell Jr. invited students to ask him questions about his life’s work. Questions ranged from “How old were you when you got your first horse?” to “What do you like about horses?” Ferrell Jr. explained that he first got a horse on his 21st birthday and admires their therapeutic qualities. He said he sees horses as a way to keep kids out of trouble, and many of FSURC’s young members have gone on to successful careers as police officers, teachers, and lawyers.

FSURC also brought along a horse named Harley — one of 14 the organization uses at their barn. The presenters taught students the proper way to let a horse know you’re nearby, approaching them from the front instead of the back. They also showed the students how to care for the horse’s hooves through cleaning and trimming them. A handful of students were then picked to groom the horses.

Through this event, FSURC continued their mission of educating urban kids about the many ways horses — and their handlers — can change lives.

To learn more about Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, visit fsurc.com and fletcherststorymap.com. 

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.