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Atlantic City Diving Horses return
Controversial show returns to New Jersey

The owners of the Atlantic City Steel Pier in New Jersey have announced the return of a show that features horses and riders diving into the sea from a 40ft platform. The shows were popular in the early 20th Century, but they stopped in 1978 and a previous attempt to resurrect the shows in the 1990s failed.

The shows began in the 1920s after a Dr W. F. Carver was caught in an accident in which a bridge collapsed under him while he was riding a horse and both he and the horse fell 40ft into a raging river. Fortunately, both were able to reach the shore without injury.  Carver's daughter-in-law, Sonora Webster Carver, achieved great renown as a horse diver and continued diving despite being blinded in a diving accident in 1931. Her experiences later inspired the 1991 Disney Film 'Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken'. This summer, the diving horses will be ridden by stunt riders.

Speaking to local press, Steel Pier President Anthony Catanoso said “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."

“We know the diving horse is controversial, but I think people need to look at the bigger picture. A diving horse is going to be iconic. It’s going to be a small piece of the development project that will bring family entertainment back to Atlantic City.”

However, the practice has still drawn sharp criticism. President of the Atlantic County Society for the Protection of Animals Nancy Beall said "I think it’s disgusting and I think it’s cruelty to animals. It certainly can’t be safe for the animal."

Footage of early horse diving shows still survives. It can be seen here

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."