Sonora Webster Carver

Sonora Webster Carver (February 2, 1904 – September 20, 2003), was an American entertainer, most notable as one of the first female horse divers.

Life Webster answered an ad placed by William "Doc" Carver in 1923 for a diving girl and soon earned a place in circus history. Her job was to mount a running horse as it reached the top of a —in some cases —tower and sail down on its back as it plunged into an pool of water directly below. She was a sensation and soon became the lead diving girl for Doc's act as they traveled the country and the first diving girl quit.

In October 1928, Sonora married Doc's son, Albert (Al) Floyd Carver. Al had taken over the show in 1927, after the death of Dr. Carver.

In popular culture

Film Sonora Webster Carver's story is dramatized in a 1991 American drama film directed by Steve Miner called Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, loosely based on events in her life as told in her memoir, A Girl and Five Brave Horses. Gabrielle Anwar stars as Carver alongside Michael Schoeffling and Cliff Robertson. Sonora herself was disappointed in the way that the movie depicted her life and career. She remarked to Arnette after screening it 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."