The New York City Federation of Black Cowboys is a New York City-based U.S. organization dedicated to keeping alive the memory and tradition of African-American cowboys from the Old West. They are based out of The Hole, an outer-borough neighborhood of New York City.
History
African-American cowboys made up approximately 25% of the 35,000 cowboys in the Western Frontier during the 1870s and 1880s. The Federation honors this legacy through youth programs, rodeos, and school visits while also using horsemanship to teach local youth life skills such as patience, kindness, and tolerance.
In 1994, the FBC was official incorporated and leased the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens from the Parks Department. Licensing happens annually and historically, the Federation is the only bidder. In 2015, the latest licensing agreement ended and the city released a public Request for Proposal (RFP) and in February 2016, FBC was informed their license wasn’t renewed and transferring the license to GallopNYC, a non-profit aiding disabled people through the therapeutic horsemanship.
In 2012, six horses died in the Cedar Lane Stables forcing the city to close the stables while the Federation renovated.