Diving horse
Encyclopedia : D : DI : DIV : Diving horse
A diving horse is an attraction that was popular in the mid 1880's, http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/192-Jumper-and-Diving-Horse.htm in which a horse would dive into a pool of water, sometimes from as high as 60 feet up.http://www.steel-pier.com/dedicated_to_the_diving_horses.htm
History
William "Doc" Carver has "invented" the idea of horse diving exhibitions. Allegedly, in 1881 Carver was crossing a bridge over Platte River (Nebraska) which partially collapsed. His horse fell/dove into the waters below, inspiring Carver to develop the diving horse act.http://www.acfpl.org/component/option,com_simplefaq/task,answer/Itemid,178/catid,144/aid,10/ Carver trained various animals and went on tour. His son, Al Carver constructed the ramp and tower and his daughter Lorena Carver was the first rider. Sonora Webster Carver who joined the show in 1924. The show became a permanent fixture at Atlantic City's very popular show, Steel Pier. There, his daughters and daughter-in-law continued the show following Carver's death.Accidents
On February 7th 1907, a dive went wrong in a show in San Antonio, and the 4 story fall killed the 18 year old rider, but spared the horse. Newspapers published pictures of the dive in mid-air.http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/192-Jumper-and-Diving-Horse.htmIn 1931, Sonora Webster and her horse "Red Lips", lost their balance on the platform. Sonora survived the fall, but was blinded (caused by detached retinas in both eyes).http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE5D7113FF937A15756C0A967958260 She continued horse-diving while blind. A movie featuring this incident was made in 1991 called Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.
Animal rights
The shows received very strong criticisms of animal rights absues, which contributed to the decline of its popularity after WW2.http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/192-Jumper-and-Diving-Horse.htm The horses sometimes dove four times a day, seven days a week, and were slaughtered once their career was over.http://www.steel-pier.com/dedicated_to_the_diving_horses.htm There are allegations of using prods, electrical jolts, and trap doors to get unwilling horses to dive.http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/NYLAKrex.htmlPictures
- From [steel-pier.com] - [link] [link] [link]
- From petticoated.com - [link][link]
- [http://www.creationsdivinghorse.com/english/why.htm]
- [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/wjoliver/photobank/16-417.htm]
- [http://www.cityofatlanticcity.org/historical/gallery/pages/gamal_jpg.htm]
See also
- The ability to swim - which animals can swim
References
External links
- [Horse-diving nostalgia]
- [A current jumping horse in New York]
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