Showing Rabbits (1st Time- Any Advice?)

[Rabbits By DK]

I'd like to get started showing rabbits. However, I have no idea how to get started! Can anyone give me a general idea of what it means and what the requirements are to show rabbits?

 

[Alaska Satin]

I'd like to get started showing rabbits. However, I have no idea how to get started! Can anyone give me a general idea of what it means and what the requirements are to show rabbits?

Getting started in showing rabbits is pretty simple compared to showing many other types of animals. A rabbit does not need to be registered or to have a pedigree to show. All it absolutely must have is a permanent tattoo number in its left ear. Then it's basically a beauty contest: they simply need to conform, more or less, to a written standard of what their breed is supposed to look like and weigh (known as the breed's standard of perfection). And even if your rabbit has what's known as a disqualification aka DQ, if you show your rabbit, the judge will usually give you some comments about its good and bad points.

In most ARBA shows, you arrive a bit early, check in, and then either put your rabbit in a coop (big shows) or find a place to settle with your rabbits in their carriers (medium and small shows). You then listen for your breed to be called, at which you bring your rabbit(s) up to the show table and put them in the little judging coops. Then you go around the other side of the judging table and wait for the judge to examine, place and comment on each rabbit (try not to make it obvious which rabbit is yours). When that's done, the judge or scribe (the person who is writing down the judge's decisions) will tell everyone they can take their rabbits back, to rest in their carriers. If it's a double or triple show, you'll do this at each of two or three different judging tables. At that point you're done unless your rabbit won Best of Breed, in which case it will be called back up at the end of the show for Best in Show judging.

The very best way to get into showing is to connect with someone who shows, and go along with him or her to a show. Second best is to go to a show by yourself. Go at the beginning of the show and find the Show Secretary (person who is checking people and animals into the show), and tell him/her you're new and want to learn. Hopefully the Secretary will be able to point out or introduce you to one or more people who will welcome you and answer your questions. If you can't find/can't get to the Secretary - they're super busy people! - just walk around and look at the rabbits there waiting to be shown. Chances are good that at least one of the exhibitors will be happy to talk with you, especially if they know you're new. Look around for Harlequins, for instance, and try to strike up a conversation with their exhibitor; most people are pretty excited to encourage a new breeder. But don't take it personally if someone can't drop what they're doing and talk with you; shows tend to be very busy and everyone has to keep moving to ensure the show doesn't run too late into the night. While there are all sorts of folks, overall I've found that rabbit people are remarkably friendly and helpful.

There are two common ways to show rabbits: ARBA sanctioned shows, and 4-H/Fair shows, which may or may not be ARBA sanctioned, and often have their own rules (even if they're sanctioned and also following the ARBA rules).

The ARBA is the American Rabbits Breeders Association, which is basically the studbook for the US and Canada and a few other countries as well. It publishes a list of all recognized breeds and colors in a book called the Standard of Perfection (aka SOP). The ARBA issues licenses to judges and registrars, takes in registrations for rabbits which are then entered in the studbook, sanctions shows which allows for rabbits to earn ARBA legs of Grand Champion, and issues Grand Champion certificates for rabbits that are registered and have won at least 3 G.C. legs under at least two different judges. It publishes a website, guidebooks, pamphlets and an excellent bi-monthly magazine. It is also an advocacy organization which works with local, state and federal entities to represent rabbit raisers in the ongoing development of agricultural and animal-related policies, regulations and laws This is becoming more and more important as people become distant from the real world of animal husbandry, and move away from animal welfare concerns and more towards animal rights perspectives, which often bump up against the interest of rabbit breeders.

So, first, I'd recommend joining the ARBA Join the ARBA (it's not expensive) and reading their website, guidebook and magazine. All three are filled with information about showing, as well as breeding and raising rabbits from many experienced people who've been doing this a long time.

The second thing would be to order your own copy of the SOP.
https://arba.net/product/standard-of-perfection/https://www.kwcages.com/2021-2025-standard-of-perfection.htmlhttps://www.allthingsbunnies.com/ARBA-Standard-of-Perfection-2021-2025-p/arba105.htmThis book has a complete description of the show requirements for every single breed recognized by the ARBA, as well as meat competitions and cavies (guinea pigs). It's copyrighted, so you can't just look it up on the web. There are a few breeds and varieties (colors) that have been accepted since the printing of the last SOP in 2020, so they don't appear in the book; you can find those here: ARBA Standards Committee

You can also find a listing of all upcoming ARBA sanctioned shows here: Find A Show

Showing at 4H shows and fairs tends to be seasonal, while you can generally find ARBA shows year-round. ARBA shows usually have a nominal entry fee for each rabbit; Fairs and 4H shows are sometimes free to enter, and sometimes award premiums, which are cash payments for winnings. But unlike the ARBA sanctioned shows, which all follow the same set of rules, Fairs and 4H shows can set whatever rules they want. You just have to investigate each of them.

Showing can be a ton of fun, and a great way to learn a lot and to meet very nice people. Go for it!