Horses originally bred to carry the nobility of Europe to war now have a more peaceful and entertaining vocation – they will be dancing and performing in Power Balance Pavilion June 18. The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions perform in their “Dancing White Stallions” show that recounts their history as well as the cultures of various European countries, including Austria, Slovenia and Spain, said show producer Gary Lashinsky. “All of our horses were bought from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna,” Lashinsky said. The one-hour and 45-minute show is a choreographed dance of 12-14 Lipizzaner Stallions, and it also includes demonstrations of maneuvers riders would have performed in battle

Audiences will be puzzled and amazed by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s presentation of “Barnum’s FUNundrum!” coming to Arco Arena Sept. 9-12. The event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of legendary showman P.T. Barnum. The 130 performers hail from 15 different countries. Acts include body benders, a two-level trapeze arrangement, stilt walkers, high-wire motorcycle balancing, trampoline acrobats and, of course, plenty of clowns. A menagerie of exotic animals, including 100,000 pounds’ worth of elephants, will be incorporated into the various acts performed throughout the show. Ticket holders are allowed access to to an “Animal Open House” 90 minutes before show time,

The quadrupeds have taken over Cal Expo this weekend. The 12th annual Western States Horse Expo began Friday and will run through Sunday. This year features a new event, the Dog Expo. The expos are made up of demonstrations and shopping areas for a wide range of equine and canine concerns. Seven venues in Cal Expo are holding events throughout the weekend. Friday's demonstrations included equestrian training, nutrition discussions, cowboy poetry, music and first-aid training. Numerous guidance demonstrations included proper equine dentistry, choosing the right horse, train and ride like an athlete and desensitizing pack animals. More than 500 vendors and sponsors have filled Cal Expo's

In the kind of news that hasn't made headlines in years, three people and a draft horse are mending this week after a car totaled a horse-drawn carriage near Sacramento's waterfront. Police are still searching for the silver Toyota sedan that rammed into the carriage on Third Street as it circled Crocker Park Sunday night, Sacramento Police spokesperson Norm Leong said. One of Old Sacramento's horse-and-carriage businesses may be out an $8,500 replica French carriage unless the driver steps forward. The car struck without warning near O Street. The carriage rolled, sending driver Rick Newborn and two passengers flying to the ground. The impact broke the carriage into pieces. The roughly

Sacramento soon may get something it hasn't seen in decades -- new water troughs and hitching posts. And folks, that ain't nothin' to snort at. Especially if you're a police horse on your appointed rounds. Seventy to 80 years after falling out of use, horse-friendly street hardware may make its way into alleys that are being developed as part of a new "alley activation" effort. A trough and a post, paid for through private funding, will be added first to one of two pilot alleys under development in the Handle District. More are possible on other Midtown alleys as property owners get involved in the effort, said Julie Young, a developer who launched the organized alley-use movement here.