Citrus Heights horse vaulting coach released following arrest

By Sara Beth Williams–
New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of a local horse vaulting coach, and the business he coached for.

Cruz Solorzano, a coach with Nu Balance Vaulting Academy in Citrus Heights, was released Tuesday according to jail records, following his arrest on felony charges over the weekend.

According to a press release from the Citrus Heights Police Department, detectives served a search warrant at a residence on Cook Avenue on Thursday, March 6, in relation to an allegation of a sexual assault incident involving an underage victim.

The alleged incident occurred while the victim was attending and temporarily residing at the Nu Balance Vaulting Academy, which was operating out of the residence in Citrus Heights. During the investigation, 23-year-old Solorzano was identified as the suspect and subsequently arrested by police on March 7.

According to the release, detectives collected evidence and interviewed witnesses on scene once the search warrant was served. After determining the residence was operating a business without a business license, Code Enforcement Officers responded to the location and subsequently shut the academy down

The Citrus Heights Community Development Department and Code Enforcement confirmed Thursday via email that the horse vaulting academy did not have a prior business license and has also not held a business license under other names used in the past, including C R Circle Ranch or Nu Balance Vaulting Club. Both have Facebook pages, but neither Facebook page lists any business contact information.

The business was shut down on March 6 without any prior warnings.

All businesses must renew licenses yearly, and if found to be out of compliance, the city said businesses are “not always” warned before being shut down by officials.

Prior Sentinel reports note that the owner of C R Circle Ranch, Michelle Solorzano, said multiple students have trained in aerial feats, horse vaulting, and trick riding at the ranch for over 15 years.

According to the California State Fair website, the Nu Balance Vaulting team, along with several other teams of trick riders and aerialists associated with the ranch including the Olympius Dream Team, Turn N Burn Trick Riders, and Capital City Equestrian Aerialists, performed at the California State Fair’s Cavalcade of Horses in 2024.

In a previous interview Solorzano said the various trick riding teams have different acts but are made up of many of the same team members. Solorzano announced on her Facebook page in early February that she would “run the Horse Entertainment for 2025” for the California State Fair. A 2025 schedule for the Cavalcade of Horses is not yet available.

A representative from the California State Fair media relations was not able to be reached for comment by press time. Solorzano also did not respond to requests for comment regarding the arrest and future of the horse vaulting business.

Cruz Solorzano was booked into the Sacramento County Jail March 7 on charges of oral copulation with a minor, sexual digital penetration with a minor, and contacting a minor with intent to have sex. According to jail records, Solorzano’s bail was set at $100,000. A court date was scheduled for Monday, March 10. Records show Solorzano was released on March 11.

At this time, police do not believe there were additional victims of sexual assault. However, detectives are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department’s tip line at (916) 727-5524.