Diving horse show set to return to Atlantic City this summer

A diving horse performs in Toronto at the turn of the 20th century. Photo: Archives of Ontario via Wikipedia.

UPDATE 2/14/12: The owners of the Steel Pier have announced that they will not be reviving the diving horse act. Read more here.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Many horse lovers have seen the Disney film Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, which is loosely based on the story of a young woman who loses her eyesight while starring in a horse diving show in the 1930s. What most horse lovers of today have not seen is an actual diving horse show. The act fell out of favor in the mid-20th century.

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As part of a revitalization effort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the owners of the city’s historic Steel Pier have announced that they will bring back the horse diving show by Memorial Day of this year.

In the diving horse show, a horse jumps off of a tower that is approximately 40 feet high. In some versions of the act, a rider climbs on to the horse at the top of the tower and rides the horse as it plummets into the 12-foot pool below. In other versions of the act, the horse dives solo.

The diving horses were a part of the Steel Pier from the 1920s through the 1970s. A short-lived attempt to bring the show back in the early 1990s—not long after Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken was released—failed due to outcry from animal welfare organizations and concerned citizens.

In an interview with a Philadelphia NBC affiliate, Steel Pier President Anthony Catanoso rejected claims of animal cruelty.

“Nobody can show us any documentation that the diving horse act here on Steel Pier ever harmed an animal, ever produced any kind of cruelty or abuse. We would not do that.”

Nancy Beall, president of the Atlantic County SPCA, thoroughly disagrees. “I think it’s disgusting and I think it’s cruelty to animals,” said Beall. “It certainly can’t be safe for the animal.”

The renovation of the Steel Pier is working in conjunction with Atlantic City’s Tourism District plan to rebrand the notorious gambling town as a more diverse vacation destination. Whether or not visitors will view diving horses as wholesome entertainment remains to be seen.

13 years ago

Abigail Boatwright

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas, and is the editor of Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Western Life Today.

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View Comments

amanda says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:08 am
I think you Americans need your front lobes putting back.....This is about as stupid as George Bush running your country.
Emma says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:27 am
I agree from Amanda fom Bath.
I think it's disgusting, your not thinking about the horses well fare. Stupid stupid people!
Samantha says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:31 am
This is SICK and seriously disturbing! How anyone would want to start this barbaric act once again is beyond me, and in 2012 when we are meant to have such strict animal welfare laws, it beggars belief that this will be allowed to start up!
Scotland, UK
PKL says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:35 am
It is scary for me to think that the tank is so small looking. The horse did not seem to mind doing the driving. I have seen dogs do the same thing and also ponies, without anyone making them do the jumping.
Ellen says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:51 am
What happened to going forward, not backward? This is one of those things that is gone for a reason. This is not natural or humane. That horse would never choose to do that of his own will without being forced to somehow. They may dive of their own will if they have been conditioned to expect punishment otherwise. And the pool is only 12 FEET DEEP? I hope this is stopped before it starts.
Emma says:
February 7, 2012 at 5:55 am
Disgusting. I hope to god that every single Animal Welfare org gets onto this and stops it from happening. Its animal cruelty to make a horse do that.
Elaine says:
February 7, 2012 at 6:00 am
How can anyone condone such blatant abuse of a living feeling animal. No equine would ever choose to do this other than one in abject terror. YOu and this programme disgust me. I hope you get banned and the terrible diving thing stopped.
Angela says:
February 7, 2012 at 6:29 am
How any human being can find this entertaining is beyond me. I think it speaks volumes about the mentality of the people in agreement that this should be brought back. Where will it end. Evil act by sadistic people.
Linda says:
February 7, 2012 at 8:13 am
What's next, cock fighting and bear baiting? Whoever is responsible for this awful idea should be fired.
Nicole says:
February 7, 2012 at 9:58 am
Amazing, can you the amount of training it would take to build the confidence of these horses. I don't see anything wrong with this at all. If it was harmful to the horse or it was stressing the horse "mentally" don't you think the horse wouldn't do it. Horses are amazing animals that can be capable of doing anything. This video just proved that.