Tell Atlantic City Not to Bring Back Diving Horse Act!
Years ago, a stunt known as the "diving horse act" was made famous in the Atlantic City steel pier. Now, in order to regenerate tourism in the area, the stunt may be returning.
The premise of the act will be a horse with a rider jumping 30-40 feet off a platform into a 12-foot tank of water.
But according to Keith Dane of the American Humane Society, "[The diving horse acts] subject the animals to inhumane and potentially abusive situations in the course of their training, transport and performance." Moreover, he continues, "The stress and trauma endured by these animals, in addition to the risk of injury to them, make these acts unacceptable."
The act was discontinued years ago because of animal welfare concerns like these. So why is it being reinstated now?
This cruel stunt has no place in the twenty-first century. We must tell the Atlantic City Steel Pier owners that bringing this act back is a terrible idea.
We the undersigned are writing to ask you to urgently reconsider your decision to bring the diving horse act back to Steel Pier. This was a cruel and senseless act when it was created many years ago and that fact has not changed.
The act was discontinued years ago because of the inherent animal welfare concerns involved and the point is the same today. This is a cruel stunt and should not go on. The act will not only draw criticism from animal welfare protesters once again, but also from families that do not want their children to be subject to viewing such cruel practices.
Please decide what is in the best interest of the animals at hand and do the right thing by stopping this act once and for all.
