Sonora Webster Carver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonora W. Carver
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| Born |
Sonora Webster
February 2, 1904 |
| Died | September 20, 2003 (aged 99) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Diving horse |
| Spouse(s) | Al Floyd Carver |
Sonora Webster Carver (born February 2, 1904 – died September 20, 2003) was an amazing American entertainer. She was born in Waycross, Georgia. Sonora became famous as one of the very first women to perform as a horse diver.
Contents
Sonora's Amazing Life Story
Becoming a Horse Diver
In 1923, Sonora Webster saw an advertisement from a man named William "Doc" Carver. He was looking for a girl to dive with horses. Sonora answered the ad and quickly became part of circus history.
Her job was exciting and daring. She would get on a running horse as it reached the top of a tall tower, sometimes 40 or even 60 feet high! Then, she would ride the horse as it plunged into an 11-foot pool of water below. People loved watching her perform. She quickly became the main diving girl for Doc Carver's show as they traveled all over the country.
Family and the Show
Sonora fell in love with Doc Carver's son, Albert (Al) Floyd Carver. They got married in October 1928. Al had taken over the show in 1927 after his father, Doc Carver, passed away.
Sonora's younger sister, Arnette Webster French, also became a horse diver. She joined the show in 1928, following in Sonora's brave footsteps.
Diving After Losing Sight
In 1931, something very serious happened to Sonora. While diving her horse, Red Lips, at Atlantic City's Steel Pier, she hit the water off balance with her eyes open. This caused her to become blind due to a problem with her eyes called retinal detachment. The Steel Pier had been the show's permanent home since 1929.
Even after losing her sight, Sonora continued to dive with horses! She kept performing until 1942. Her sister Arnette left the show in 1935.
Arnette explained why Sonora kept diving even after her accident. She said, "Riding the horse was the most fun you could have and we just loved it so. We didn't want to give it up. Once you were on the horse, there really wasn't much to do but hold on. The horse was in charge."
Were the Horses Safe?
Arnette, who was 15 when she first started diving, shared an important detail in an interview. She said that wherever they went, the S.P.C.A. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) would often check on them. They wanted to make sure the animals were treated well.
Arnette proudly stated that the S.P.C.A. never found anything wrong. She said, "because those horses lived the life of Riley. In all the years of the act, there was never a horse that was injured." This shows how well the horses were cared for.
Sonora's Book and Movie
You can read Sonora's own story in her book, A Girl and Five Brave Horses, which was published in 1961. Her life was also made into a movie called Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. The movie starred Gabrielle Anwar.
However, Sonora was not completely happy with how the movie showed her life and career. After watching the film, she told Arnette that "the only thing true in it was that I rode diving horses, I went blind, and I continued to ride for another 11 years."
Later Life and Legacy
Sonora Webster Carver passed away on September 20, 2003, at the age of 99. At the time of her death, she was living in Pleasantville, New Jersey. Her incredible bravery and determination continue to inspire people.
