Philadelphia Documentary Features Urban Riding Club
A new film highlights the history of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club and its mission in North Philadelphia.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Large Animals
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A documentary showcasing the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club is screening at local Philadelphia venues. The film explores the club's efforts to preserve the tradition of Urban Black Cowboys in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.
Why it matters
The organization works to keep a historic cultural tradition alive while teaching life skills to local youth. As they move to a new site in Fairmount Park, the screenings serve to raise funds for necessary stable infrastructure.
Founded in 2004 by 87-year-old Ellis Ferrell, the club continues to operate in the Strawberry Mansion area. The group is currently seeking to fund a new barn facility in Fairmount Park.
The players
Ellis Ferrell
He is the 87-year-old founder of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club.
Darrin Ferrell
He manages the day-to-day programming for the riding club.
Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club
This nonprofit organization is based in North Philadelphia and focuses on horsemanship and youth mentorship.
The details
The club uses horsemanship to mentor local youth, often recruiting those who are at a critical crossroads in their lives. The new documentary offers an inside look at how the organization has maintained its community presence for over two decades despite recent site redevelopment challenges.
Timeline
The Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club was founded in 2004.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art will host a screening on September 26, 2026.
A screening is scheduled at Tired Hands Mt. Airy Biergarten on October 3, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Culture Shift
The resurgence of interest in the historical tradition of Urban Black Cowboys signals a broader societal move toward documenting and preserving marginalized cultural legacies. This documentary places a specific community group within a larger national narrative of heritage conservation.
Residents can attend upcoming screenings to support the club's transition to a new location in Fairmount Park. Supporting this organization provides direct aid to youth mentorship programs that utilize horsemanship as a core teaching tool.
The takeaway
The Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club demonstrates how community-led initiatives can provide life-changing mentorship for youth through unconventional methods. Interested supporters are encouraged to engage with local art events that highlight the importance of preserving historic urban traditions.
Further reading
Learn more about local preservation efforts in the Large Animals section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 6abc Action News.
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