February 2022 Issue

Page 6 February 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian. The Philadelphia Urban Rid- ing Academy (PURA) has found a temporary new home at the Gloucester County Dream Park in Logan Township, New Jersey. With the help of Kevin Babing- ton, Missy Clark and Flossie Ale, PURA will call the beautiful facility home until the new Cobbs Creek Facility is completed in Philadelphia in 2022. Located just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, PURA launched its flagship programs in January, 2022. These will include riding lessons (hunt seat and stock seat), Junior Concrete Cowboys and Cowgirls, and natural horsemanship classes and clinics. The Junior Concrete Cowboys and Cowgirls program will include horsemanship classes, barn management, horse husbandry and grooming, equine first aid and anatomy/physiology. To register for any of these pro- grams or to support them through a donation, visit thePURA. org. Created to preserve the life, legacy and culture of Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadel- phia, PURA launched “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” fundraising cam- paign through GoFundMe in the spring of 2021. The campaign’s goal is to raise money for its new facility in the Cobbs Creek section of Philadelphia that will provide a unique, safe space for children, teens and adults to experience horses up close and personal. The “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” fundraiser for PURA’s new permanent facility will provide stabling for 20-25 horses, paddocks and a covered arena, as well as recreational space for other youth and veteran programs. With the help of the entire equestrian community, PURA and Concrete to Show Jumping believe that this goal is attainable. Every dollar raised will be put towards the fa- cility and the horses and students that will call it home. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or- ganization, PURA is now collect- ing donations for the “Fresh Start for Philly Youth” initiative. All donations are tax-deductible and corporate sponsors are encour- aged to donate; naming rights to the rings, paddocks, stalls and lounge are available. Every dollar raised will be put towards the fa- cility and the horses and students who will call it home. PURA has joined forces with Spak Group, a real estate development company, along with architects from OZ Collaborative and landscape civil engineer, Ruggiero Plante, LLC, to create a forever home for youth, the community and the Urban Black Cowboy. PURA Finds Temporary Home at Dream Park Racing was halted at Laurel Park in Bowie, MD in December after seven horses died during racing or training between No- vember 6 and 28. The Maryland Jockey Club released a statement announcing the cancellation “as work continues to complete repairs to the track and to analyze recent equine injuries. Laurel Park Halted Racing for Renovations After 7 Fatalities While racing is suspended, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horse- men's Association and the Mary- land Jockey Club are working with industry experts to analyze surface composition and maintenance procedures directed at the safest possible racing surface. “Until now, and through collaborative measures among industry participants, Maryland racing has experienced the lowest fatality rate in its history. The safe- ty, health and welfare of equine athletes is the primary responsibil- ity of all stakeholders in Maryland and must be taken seriously. The Maryland racing industry remains laser focused on this problem and collectively pledges to do what- ever is necessary to ensure that Maryland's historic racing industry remains world-class.” Laurel Park’s main track was closed in April, 2020 after not responding satisfactorily to win- tertime cushion repairs and racing was moved to Pimlico while a multi-million project replaced the cushion, base and substructure of the main track. It reopened in September. In the latest modifications, a compacted three-eighths-inch layer of the cushion material was added between the cushion and limestone base. Coarse sand was mixed into the cushion to help the material bind together and soften the impact of a horse's hooves hitting the ground. Laurel Park reopened for rac- ing on December 10. GEORGE J. YERED Since I 976 red Trailers Sundowner• Cotner• Bri-Mar Featherlite• Integrity Cargo Trailer "Always Remember...A Happy Horse rides in a Yered Trailer,, 11 West Mill Street Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 359-7300 Fax (508) 359-7302 www. y eredtrailers.com