Diving Horses... Opinions?

So, what do you guys think about diving horses? I'm writing an article (I'm considering turning it into a book if I can find enough information ).

Do you think it's ethical?

Besides the obvious dangers, can you think of any long-term dangers to the horse?


If any of you have any personal info on diving (like a grandmother was a diving girl or something), that would be so beyond amazing.

Let me know if you want me to post links to info about diving horses...

Diving horses? I've never even heard of this..i presume you mean the diving..like with water?

There's a movie.. don't recall the name of it or anything, but its about how she was diving with the horses. Its an interesting movie.

I googled it and OMG!
I can see why its not done today

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Oh, here's some info on it...

Odd Facts: The Diving Horses of Atlantic City

The Great Carver Show, Jumper, Diving Horse, and Sonora Webster the Horse Jumper.

Some pics...

I don't know much about it - I just googled it a bit.

For me the biggest problem would be forcing the horses to do it. Horses are trained to do many unnatural things, as are many other animals. I think if you trained a horse to do it, and it was willing then that would be okay. But I read a few things on people using prods and trap doors and I would be 100% against that. Also, at the larger heights the impact with water would be getting worrisome.

I don't know what injures the horse but my worry would be either fore leg or stomach trouble - depending on location of impact. Water can be very hard when hit from a decent height.

*bump*