First Show and Some Questions

[PSFAngoras]

Hi All!

So I went to my first proper show yesterday. Not the crappy one the state fair does every year, that doesn't count. You just end up with a bunch of half drunk idiots wandering through the barn trying to get the rabbits to drink beer (and yes, rabbits have died that way at that show, so needless to say, I'll never take my stock there!). Nope, my friend and I drove a bit over three hours to go to the biggest show in the area for the year.

It was loud, exciting, and I'll be processing the information I got yesterday for the next year! All of the people we talked to were absolutely awesome, everyone was happy to answer the million and a half questions my friends and I had, and I even got to help one of the FA breeders take their rabbits to the table and bring them back. I came home completely overwhelmed, and dead tired, but I haven't been that excited in a long while and I haven't ever been so happy at such a loud and packed place (I usually hate crowds and noise).

I went to this show with the intention of it being the make or break show. I've been interested for a while, but I didn't want to just show up with a rabbit and NO CLUE what to do. This was the show to learn how the process works, and see if I thought I was up to the task or if I wouldn't even bother.

WELL...

I want in! All of it was just too much fun. The friendly competition, all of the happy breeders, the vendors who sell all sorts of rabbit related stuff my local feed stores have never even dreamed of, the list goes on and on. And looking at the other rabbits on the table in comparison to my stock, I really think I have a shot. Sure, I know my lines still need a bit of work, you can never stop learning and improving, but even if I get docked for something or don't take home first, it will still be very valuable information to take and apply to my herd of what else I need to be looking for.

SO, I think I understand most everything well enough to make it through my first show without buggering it up too much, but I am still confused on variety and fur. Those are the only two on the entry form for the next show in a month that I'm bound and determined to take my fawn jr. doe to that I still don't understand.

What exactly would the variety be for a French Angora? Wool? Commercial (based on body type)? Colored or White?

And what do they mean by fur? It's on the form in the sense that it's it own class to be judged for. How do they go about that?

Thanks in advance everyone!

:bunnyhop:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Variety is the color of the rabbit. There are no "colors" in rabbits- only "Varieties". Brokens of any color (Variety!) are all judged together.

According to the SOP FA's can be either agouti, broken, pointed white, self, shaded, ticked, or wide band.

The fur class is separate- the judge evaluates fur quality only.

 

[ilovehome]

"Sure, I know my lines still need a bit of work, you can never stop learning and improving, but even if I get docked for something or don't take home first, it will still be very valuable information to take and apply to my herd of what else I need to be looking for."

That's my main reason for going to shows...to get information from the judges so I can build a better rabbit. It's great to meet people and get legs, too but my primary purpose is to see if I am breeding in the right direction.

The classes for FAs are colored and white (including pointed). FAs cannot be shown in the "commercial fur" category, but they can be shown in a wool class against other FAs, if you pay the additional entry fee. They have a "commercial" body type. I refer to the standard of perfection pretty often (like just now).

I just bred my first FAs today, so hopefully I will learn lots more about them.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

FAs cannot be shown in the "commercial fur" category, but they can be shown in a wool class against other FAs

Rex are the same in regard to fur classes- Rex to Rex, not against the commercial breeds.

 

[PSFAngoras]

Than you both, I did know the showable colors already and that they were considered a commercial body type, but I did not know that they choice to call the colors varieties. So in the variety blank, would I put 'color' or 'fawn'?

 

[skysthelimit]

Glad you had a great time.

Angoras are so simple compared to Rex and JW. Either you are Colored or White. You don't have to list any other varieties. Took me for a loop, since you have to put the individual color for each Rex, and color group for JW. I think they made it that way, because some Wooled colors are hard to distinguish from others, and can you imagine 30 something colors called individually, lol.

 

[Homer]

...(I usually hate crowds and noise). Me too, that;s why I don't show

entry form for the next show in a month that I'm bound and determined to take my fawn jr. doe ...

When and where is the next show. Maybe I'll show up and we can shoot the (er, um), breeze.

Walter told me Sunday, (I got another jr. French Lop buck from him), there will be a good 1 day show in Pueblo the end of April you should come to with your FAs. I'll let you know more when I have the date etc.

Glad you had a good time.

 

[PSFAngoras]

The next show is in Loveland, February 8th. You can find the show Info and entry forms at the Rocky Mountain High Shows website or I can PM it to you if you don't want to go searching. Loveland is a bit far to shoot the 'breeze' but I'll be at the Pueblo too.

The Pueblo shoe is around the end of April, I think the 28th but I need to check to be sure. I'll be going there too, just hoping that the jr. Fawn doe will hold a coat that long, but if not I have another two litters that should be starting in their jr coats by then, hopefully full enough to show!

 

[Mickey328]

Was it the Henderson show you went to? I was there too...hoping to learn more about the whole show thing. Hehe, ended up doing so much shopping I still don't have a clue. Is the State Fair really that bad? I've never been. Was considering making the time this year, but if it's that bad, I might just skip it. Definitely heading for Loveland on the 8th though It'll be much closer for us (we're in Ft Collins) I just hope it's a bigger venue...it was such a crush last weekend!

 

[Homer]

...Is the State Fair really that bad? I've never been. Was considering making the time this year, but if it's that bad, ...

Yes it is, I live here and wouldn't even think of taking one of my rabbit there. They are held there for three days in our hottest time of the year. If you take an animal there you need to plan on being there ALL day, every day to care for them. And don't even get me started on the idiots that think they should try and touch your rabbit or worse, try and feed it something they shouldn't have.

 

[PSFAngoras]

Like beer...

Ya, my rabbits won't ever go there! There is a show in the same building only a couple weeks after, that's only a one or two day show, but after it's closed to the public. I'd go to that one, but not the state fair. If your going to the Loveland show we should meet up! I heard it's supposed to be a much bigger venue.

 

[Homer]

Yup "like beer". But worse, little kids with soda and a straw. Put your finger over the end, stick it in the cage, bunny comes up and let your finger off the straw. They will drink it because it's sweet but... you know what happens.

 

[Ramjet]

I'm really tempted to try out showing .... just don't know where to begin and I don't think there are very many shows in my area (Houston) tho the national show is in Texas this year ....

Seems other area's of the country have many more shows than here or within reasonable driving distance. Maybe its because of the heat ... Or maybe I just don't know where to look.

 

[Homer]

...I don't think there are very many shows in my area (Houston) tho the national show is in Texas this year ....

There are about 40 shows listed this year in Texas. I just don't know how many are close to you. https://www.arba.net/showsSearch.php#showsearch

 

[Ramjet]

...I don't think there are very many shows in my area (Houston) tho the national show is in Texas this year ....

There are about 40 shows listed this year in Texas. I just don't know how many are close to you. https://www.arba.net/showsSearch.php#showsearch

One of them (Killeen) is 3 days from now , a reasonable driving distance but I'm unprepared.

One at the end of next month that's not more than an hour away (Crosby) that I might go to , without any buns.


One in March , here in Houston (Houston Livestock show & rodeo) that I've been to in the past but not so sure I care to take critters to that show , just too many people and I doubt its beginner friendly ..... The HLSR is the biggest in the country.


Everything else is breed specific or 5 hours+ away.



I haven't registered my rabbitry , don't have my stock tattooed (don't know how to label them), have no idea where to start .... I'm just not prepared. I'll likely go to one or two of these and get my act together and plan to bring critters .... next year.

 

[Prisma]

If you can afford to, even with no rabbits, go to look and question. Watch the judging and listen. You'll learn tons! Just keep in mind if you do go, that some breeders are very busy trying to run rabbits and it may take them a while to be able to talk with you (if you find some one that doesn't or can't though, don't take it too personal and move on).

 

[Ramjet]

If you can afford to, even with no rabbits, go to look and question. Watch the judging and listen. You'll learn tons! Just keep in mind if you do go, that some breeders are very busy trying to run rabbits and it may take them a while to be able to talk with you (if you find some one that doesn't or can't though, don't take it too personal and move on).

That would be pretty much my course of action at least until I figure out the details & get all my rabbits in a row ... go , look , listen , learn.

 

[PSFAngoras]

You don't have to have registered, or even pedigreed stock to show. The only time your stock needs a pedi besides for your own personal uses to track your lines is to be registered, and I think you can only do that if you've won so many legs and or grandchampioned.

Tattoos are required, but you might be surprised, there were 4-h'rs doing tattoos On other peoples rabbits at the show this weekend for a whopping $1 a head. They had a pen style tattoo gun, so thy could do whatever you wanted.<br /><br />__________ Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:47 pm __________<br /><br />As far as getting a show under your belt though just to know how they work, I do duggest it. That's what this show was to me, but doesn't mean you can't take your rabbits to the next show!

 

[Mickey328]

Sounds like a plan! I got to meet a few at Henderson but would love to meet all the "group" folks

 

[Ramjet]

You don't have to have registered, or even pedigreed stock to show. The only time your stock needs a pedi besides for your own personal uses to track your lines is to be registered, and I think you can only do that if you've won so many legs and or grandchampioned.

From what I understand , to be registered the rabbit has to be a good example of the breed .... tho I could be wrong.

Tattoos are required, but you might be surprised, there were 4-h'rs doing tattoos On other peoples rabbits at the show this weekend for a whopping $1 a head. They had a pen style tattoo gun, so thy could do whatever you wanted.

I know how to tattoo ... have done hundreds on people , including a couple on myself many years ago.
Knowing how and knowing what are two different things .... do you just pick a letter or combination of letters to represent your rabbitry and then a number combination to identify the individual rabbit ??? Or does someone else make that decision ??

__________ Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:47 pm __________

As far as getting a show under your belt though just to know how they work, I do suggest it. That's what this show was to me, but doesn't mean you can't take your rabbits to the next show!

Makes sense to me ... but taking rabbits will likely have to wait for next year as the number of shows is limited , by the time I can attend one , there wont be another near or not breed specific that I'll be able to make.