Horse diving was a popular but controversial attraction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most famously featured on Atlantic City’s Steel Pier. The act involved a horse and rider climbing a tall platform—sometimes as high as 40–60 feet—and then leaping into a pool of water below. Promoters marketed it as a thrilling display of courage and trust between rider and animal, and crowds were drawn to the spectacle’s mix of danger and novelty. Over time, the practice drew significant criticism