“Diving Horses” show where horses jump into the water. A dangerous and interesting show from the past, that you need to read about

Times change, attitude towards animals changes, and once “Diving Horses” was one of the most spectacular and memorable performances of the 20th century, which could be seen at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City at that time.

A high tower with a “corridor” for the horse was built near the pool, along which he ran out to the tower to jump. At the bottom (at the beginning of the corridor) they chased the horse, let it go forward, and he ran like a madman to the place of the jump. The rider stood at the end of the “corridor” and when the horse was already near her, she jumped on the run and flew into the pool with the horse. Horses survived and were not injured.

On the horse, there was only a halter, a saddle in the form of straps, so that it could be grabbed at a gallop, and a breastplate or support, so that the whole structure would not come off during the performance.

The number was invented by Dr. William Frank Carver, a fairly well-known athlete at that time. They say that in one of his walks, returning home on horseback, he crossed the river bridge. The bridge collapsed, and the rider and the horse fell into the river from a height of 13 meters. To Carver’s surprise, the horse dived quite well and balanced, and both were able to swim ashore and survive. This case made him wonder if it is possible to teach a horse such a jump.

That is why he decided to train horses. He trained several horses and went on tour with a single number – diving horses. Eyewitnesses said that each horse had its own jumping style. Before the jump, one of the horses calmly stood on the platform and paid attention not to the height and the jump itself, but to the seagulls flying by.

Some of them stretched their front legs in a jump, others picked them up. Some began to jump with their feet and landed on their side, making the jump even more dangerous for themselves and the rider. One of the horses, after several jumps, stopped waiting for the rider to sit on it and, having climbed onto the springboard, jumped into the water.

The deadly trick was demonstrated five times a day in the summer. The photo presumably depicts Sonora Carver, the most famous dancer, who in 1924, attracted by the opportunity to become famous and travel with the troupe around the country, gets a job with William Carver.

This was everything about an old and forgotten show of horses diving. We hope you liked it and it was interesting for you to read.