Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy

Please join us in welcoming Ivan McClellan to the PURA Executive Team! 🤠✨

A longtime friend of The Concrete Cowgirl and PURA, Ivan is an internationally recognized photographer whose work documenting Black cowboy culture—including starting the 8 Seconds Rodeo—has inspired audiences around the world.

Now a proud Philadelphia resident, we’re excited to have Ivan helping lead the future of PURA and our mission to preserve and grow Philadelphia’s urban riding community.

Welcome to the team, Ivan! 🐴

Welcome to the PURA Board, Sandy! 🐴💙

We’re excited to welcome Sandy to the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy Board of Directors!

Sandy Smith is a member of the Auburn University Division I Equestrian Team, rides with , and has found success in the hunter ring. She also owns Steel Horse Farm in Jupiter, Florida, where she rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes horses in need.

Her passion for horses and commitment to giving back make her a perfect addition to the PURA family. Welcome aboard, Sandy!

Seven years ago, PURA existed as a vision.

Today, the barn is standing.

What we’re building is bigger than horses. We’re preserving Philadelphia’s urban horse culture while giving youth access to world-class horses, professional-level horsemanship, and opportunities they never imagined possible.

For seven years, we’ve fought for this moment.

Now we’re in the final stretch.

We’re asking everyone who believes in this mission to help us cross the finish line and bring our horses home.

Every donation matters.
Every share helps.

Let’s bring PURA home.

🐴🏠

Donate: thepura.org/donate
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-bring-pura-home

On this Good Friday 💐 🐰
(Ashley, Kowboy, Kelsie, Sophia and Little Miss Buttercup)

We went Cattle Sorting today at 🩶