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Monday, February 13, 2012

Activists object to plan to revive Atlantic City's diving horses

 

The owners of the famed Steel Pier in Atlantic City want to bring back the animal act that once defined it.

Diving horses.

Driven up a ramp several times a day reportedly by cattle prod, the horses were forced to plunge headfirst three or four stories in the air into a 12-foot deep tank.

Animal welfare activists are not so nostalgic about the return what they consider a dangerous, inhumane activity.

Valerie Pringle, equine protection specialist at the Humane Society told CBS Philadelphia “when they get to the top, it would be difficult for them to consider backing down. They feel they have no choice but to jump.”

Steel Pier owner Anthony Catanoso - who plans to revive the act for Memorial Day - said there's no evidence that the diving horse act was cruel.

 “I would never allow an act on the pier to be in any way inhumane or abusive to animals. There is no documentation of an animal ever being harmed in the 50 years they did it on Steel Pier — or certainly when we did it in 1993.” he told CBS.

The Casino Board is set to meet Feb. 21. It's not yet known if the diving horses are on the agenda.

Diving horses were a staple on the Steel Pier from the early 1920s into the 1970s, when animal rights groups stopped the act. It was resurrected briefly in 1993 before being shut down again by activists.

This time they aren't waiting till the curtain goes up. An anti-horse diving petition was created and now has over 41,000 signatures. And a Facebook page ("Horses Don't Fly in AC") has been set up as part of the online campaign against the plan. 
Posted by Amy Worden @ 7:09 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:40 PM, 02/13/2012
    The new Atlantic City is coming. The diving horse has rich tradition.
    www.thenewatlanticcity.com
    — newacnow
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:22 AM, 02/14/2012
    "A rich tradition" ... of cruelty.

    "We used to do this" is not a good reason to start doing it again. We used to do a lot of stupid things, but one would hope we might learn from our mistakes, rather than repeat them.
    — DancesWithWords
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:40 PM, 02/14/2012
    How about you stop posting, Troll.
    — delcodanno
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:41 PM, 02/13/2012
    SHOCK- has been the reaction to everyone I know here in Atlantic County when they announced the return of the Diving Horse! It isn't animal activists who are appalled. I don't know any animal activist, it's just grandmom's like my 82 year old mother, and regular people who can't believe in this day and age, anyone would support this abusive act! Shame on Atlantic City for not moving "forward" ---going back to this is bad idea.
    — JZNJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:31 AM, 02/14/2012
    I always felt sorry for the diving horses - it's so unnatural to them. Please -let sleeping horses lie and don't bring this form of "entertainment" back.
    — CrotchetyOldMan


5 comments
About Amy Worden
Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. To pass along a tip or contact Amy, click here.
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