Equestrian “Sport”

[RedAngie]

Did anybody ever see this?



I saw it twice, once around 1968 and then again around 1972. It was the Star Attraction in a show that featured high and novelty comic divers, sea lions, and assorted human circus acts.

As far as I know, the horses were treated like royalty, not abused or forced to perform. SPCA visited often to check.

I have a photo of myself with a horse and one of the woman riders taken after the show. I’m surprised my father paid like $2 for it.

 

[Skippyboo]

Not in person but Disney made a movie about horse diving of a pier back in the 90s called Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. Might be on Disney + now.

 

[maxaroni]

I did! We went to the Steel Pier several times. Now I would never go see it, although they probably couldn’t get permits for something like that in todays world.

 

[RedAngie]

I did! We went to the Steel Pier several times. Now I would never go see it, although they probably couldn’t get permits for something like that in todays world.

I read that they tried to revive the act about 10 years ago but couldn’t get a permit. Besides, few would go see such a thing these days. It stopped around 1978 because of declining interest. Even in 1972, the show I attended there were only about 100 spectators in a perhaps 1000 capacity bleachers.

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[Moliphino]

Not in person but Disney made a movie about horse diving of a pier back in the 90s called Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. Might be on Disney + now.

I remember watching that a few times as a kid.

 

[LuvOrlando]

That is just horrifying.

Not saying it has anything to do with you OP. That photo is a long time ago, but if horses can't easily lay down and they are put down with broken legs I'm going to guess this wasn't a great day for the horse, never mind the poor thing probably water boarded itself when it hit the water . Poor animals

 

[belle032]

Not in person but Disney made a movie about horse diving of a pier back in the 90s called Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. Might be on Disney + now.

I was obsessed with that movie. And yes it's on Disney+, I think I squealed when I saw it.

As a horse person now, I cringe about the ethics and animal abuse issues surrounding this. Horses are strong swimmers and they obviously can jump, but this spectacle would never be accepted. For good reason. It's like circuses in general - are they entertaining to watch? Yes. Are they questionable and a business I don't want to support? Also yes.

 

[aprilgail]

that is terrible!

 

[BrianL]

Relevant Simpsons moment:

Also, if anyone is wondering about Homer's shirt, from a previous scene:

Homer: "See, Marge, I told you they could deep fry my shirt."
Marge: "I didn't say they couldn't, I said you shouldn't."

 

[AppleDumpling]

Never saw it, nor the related Disney movie (vaguely recall the trailer), but I remember hearing about the act in Atlantic City and thinking it was bizarre and disturbing. Historically it fit in, in the era where circus sideshows and the like were popular forms of entertainment—late 1800’s, early part of 1900’s. Surprised it lasted into the 1970’s.

Even more surprised to learn that it still existed in very recent years at a place called The Magic Forest in Lake George, NY. No high tower; horse jumps only about 8-10 feet into a pool, but still...

 

[Jennasis]

Next time my horse gives me a hard time about getting on a trailer, or complains about my 30 minute training rides ima show him that picture.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Next time my horse gives me a hard time about getting on a trailer, or complains about my 30 minute training rides ima show him that picture.

I knew it was just a matter of time before you were going to be on Red's thread here.

 

[RedAngie]

I knew it was just a matter of time before you were going to be on Red's thread here.

I started the thread with the expectation that our resident equestrian authority would provide her opinion.

 

[RedAngie]

According to what I’ve read, the Steel Pier offered various other unusual animal acts over the decades. Boxing kangaroos, water skiing dogs, gator wrasslin’, chickens that played tic-tac-toe against human opponents, “fortune telling” cats, racing pigs with monkey “jockeys,” etc.

 

[amcnj]

I saw it, I think when they brought it back for a short while in the 70’s. Most likely the late 70’s so maybe around that 1978 end point you mentioned.

 

[Jennasis]

I started the thread with the expectation that our resident equestrian authority would provide her opinion.

On the realsies, The act was total insanity. I do remember the Disney movie many years ago. Crrrazy stuff!

 

[Jennasis]

I knew it was just a matter of time before you were going to be on Red's thread here.

I'm like Beetlejuice...you can summon me by saying "horse!" three times.

 

[RedAngie]

That is just horrifying.

Not saying it has anything to do with you OP. That photo is a long time ago, but if horses can't easily lay down and they are put down with broken legs I'm going to guess this wasn't a great day for the horse, never mind the poor thing probably water boarded itself when it hit the water . Poor animals

None of the horses were ever seriously injured. Only a few minor injuries. Many performed for years.

In the movie mentioned above, a rider went blind when she miscalculated and had her eyes open and her head not tucked against the horse when they entered the water. That is a true re-creation of an actual accident.

Occasionally a horse got cold feet and refused to jump. They weren’t forced to. The event was just canceled and supposedly spectators got a free ticket for a return visit.

The horse climbed a ramp to the top of the tower where the woman was waiting to mount it. There was one horse who occasionally didn’t wait for the woman and jumped without her.

It’s difficult to get a horse to do something it doesn’t want to do.

 

[White Cat]

Humans do it. Why not a horse.