The diving horse at the Hanlan’s Point Amusement Park, Toronto, Canada.
However, the same cannot be said for the riders.
On average there were two injuries a year, usually a broken bone or a bruise.
She joined Carvers show in 1923 and made her first dive when she was just 15.
Sonora failed to close her eyes quickly enough, resulting in detached retinas that left her sightless.
Despite being blinded, Sonora continued with the act for eleven more years.
Her story became the subject of the 1991 Disney filmWild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.
We didn’t want to give it up.
Once you were on the horse, there really wasn’t much to do but hold on.
The horse was in charge.
Horse-diving continued until 1978, when pressure from animal rights groups forced organizers to shutter the show.
Sonora Webster, in 1904.
Horse diving into the water at Atlantic City.
Photo credit:georgelazenby/Flickr
Diving horse at Atlantic City Steel Pier, 1959.
Photo credit:Walter Reed/Flickr
Dimah, the world famous diving horse, Atlantic City NJ.
Photo credit:SwellMap/Flickr
Photo credit:Rick Lippincott/Flickr
