How did Sonora Webster Carver go blind?

After performing for seven years, Webster was blinded from retinal displacement in 1931, after one of her dangerous performances, but continued to dive horses for another 11 years. Diving horses remained a popular attraction at the Atlantic City boardwalk before being discontinued in the 1970s.

Did Sonora Webster ever get her sight back?

She hit the water with her eyes open and the impact detached her retina. A short time later, Sonora was blind. After taking a year off from diving she felt she had to get back in the game and made her return.

Did Sonora really go blind?

In 1931, Sonora was blinded by retinal detachment, due to hitting the water off balance with her eyes open, while diving her horse, Red Lips, on Atlantic City’s Steel Pier, the act’s permanent home since 1929. After her accident she continued to dive horses until 1942. The horse was in charge.”

How much older was Al Carver than Sonora Webster?

Sonora and Al have a craaaaaazy age difference. And although the film depicts time over several years, Sonora is still clearly very young when they get together. Sonora’s autobiography, A Girl and Five Brave Horses, confirms this: “Al was some twenty years older than I.” Dang, girl.

Is Sonora Webster still alive?

Deceased (1904–2003)
Sonora Webster Carver/Living or Deceased

What is the age difference between Al and Sonora?

Why was horse diving discontinued?

Horse-diving at the Steel Pier was stopped in 1978, but it was briefly revived in 1993. Steel Pier’s then-owner, Donald Trump, canceled it because it was cruel to animals. And we want to thank the many, many kind people who spoke out in the horses’ behalf.

How old was Sonora Webster Carver when she went blind?

In 1931, during a dive, Red Lips Red Lips jumped off the platform unbalanced and went into a steep nosedive. Sonora hit the water with both eyes open. The hard strike displaced her retinas. She was 27 years old and fully blind. The doctors told her that her career as a diving girl in a carnival act was over.

Where did Sonora Webster perform her dive horses?

The show became a staple at state fairs and carnivals around the country, before becoming a standing act at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After performing for seven years, Webster was blinded from retinal displacement in 1931, after one of her dangerous performances, but continued to dive horses for another 11 years.

How did Sonora Arnette lose her eyesight?

In 1931, Sonora was blinded by retinal detachment, due to hitting the water off balance with her eyes open, while diving her horse, Red Lips, on Atlantic City ‘s Steel Pier, the act’s permanent home since 1929. After her accident she continued to dive horses until 1942. Arnette left the show in 1935.

What did Sonora Webster do for a living?

Webster became one of the most famous horse divers in the world, diving 40 feet on horseback into a tank of water. The show became a staple at state fairs and carnivals around the country, before becoming a standing act at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey.