The National Western Stock Show ain’t all bull.
It has a softer sidethe earnest fiddlers whipping through rendition after rendition of “Old Joe Clark” and “Orange Blossom Special,” the doe-eyed bunnies in the rabbit show, the yaks whose silky coats suggest plus-sized supermodels, the nimble performing dogs and more. All events are at the National Western Stock Show Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver
Rabbits
Ongoing: rabbit display, third floor, Hall of Education; free
Fur sure
It’s a display, not a competition, or there would be thousands of rabbits instead of a couple hundred, says Debe Bell, the stock show’s rabbit wrangler. (There used to be a sanctioned rabbit show, but it outgrew the stock show space.)
Instead, Bell and some helpers will be on hand to show visitors a few dozen of the 50-odd recognized rabbit breeds, including an enormous German Angora named Velcro. Pick her up and find out why.
Yaks
10 a.m. Jan. 24, yak hoof-trimming clinic, livestock center auction arena; free
2 p.m. Jan. 24, yak pen show, the yards; free
2 p.m. Jan. 25, yak halter show, livestock center auction arena; free
Yaktacular!
With its thick, silky pelt and sturdy build, evolutionary improvements necessary for the harsh winters in Asian high country, the yak makes a lot of sense as a Colorado stock animal. But keep a safe distance from the business end of those horns.
Dancing horses
7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 and 24, an evening of dancing horses, Events Center; $18 per ticket
Buckaroo boogie
One year, a horse wore what seemed like a leather jacket and danced to rockabilly. More typically, the horses prance and pirouette to more conventional instrumental music. In the best performances, the horse takes nearly invisible cues from the deceptively immobile rider, seeming to dance of its own accord. To see the Nureyev of horses, go to .jsp?Size=S&FlashBox Id=3309347442
Dogs
6 p.m. today, Dog Pull, Stadium Arena; free
1 p.m. Jan 21 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Super Dogs, Events Center; tickets $12 and up
5 p.m. Jan. 23, Dog Fly Ball Games, Stadium Arena; free
6 p.m. Jan. 25, Dog Agility Games, Stadium Arena; free
Hot-doggers
Last year, a 19-pound pup pulled an 800-pound cart in the Dog Pull. The Super Dogs performances combines arena-rock-concert special effects with stunning tricks. The Dog Fly Ball Games is a timed event that combines hurdles, agility and fetching; it’s so dazzling and fast that feats are accomplished well before the mind and eye manage to make sense of what’s going on. (See an example online at youtube.com/watch?v=034PxfN8TWI.) The Dog Agility Games show off the best in human-canine partnership, with dogs navigating tunnels, chutes, seesaws, gates, ladders, hurdles and more as their managers urge them on.
Colorado Fiddling Championships
10 a.m. today, Beef Palace Auction Arena; free
Fiddles in fine fettle
The preliminary competition on Saturday winnowed competition down to the best performers. Every fiddler is impressive, though it’s hard to find a more adorable, impressive act than the fiddlers in the youngest age-group category, often under age 5. Watch the experienced fiddlers, too. Many are music-industry veterans and seasoned artists on their own.
