owlsfriend
Well-known member
{short history of my show experiences; 1) Showed one bunny in 4-H 1970-ish, followed by 40 year hiatus. 2)Attended 2011 ARBA convention in Indy, my hometown....3) Attended show in Lancaster, OH this Oct. acquired two Satin Angora Does. 4)Attended St. Joe, IN to see Silver Fox breeder and pet buns, but no purchase (holding out to meet Amer.Blues before I decide on a meat breed. and now 5) Yesterday, actually took a rabbit to compete at the Nappanee, IN show.}
Now that you are all caught up, let us begin with the Nappanee show;
The guy who was running the show, Ryan, had mentioned on FB that he had some Satin Angora (hereafter SA) REW does for sale and would be open to negotiation. Another FB rabbit friend, (Nancy) who lives near Nappanee agreed to meet there in person and to also bring her rabbit for judge's comments, even though she knew it would DQ because of a reaction to Glade and Fabreeze clouding his eyes. I took one doe (Tahini) and one buck (Bradley) to show and possibly trade for the REW doe.
There was a breeder from MI with English Angora (hereafter EA) with 5 siblings to show, including a "white" that was for sale. It wasn't actually white....it had "points", little grey bands on the ear fiber shafts, a grey nose and tail....which is technically a DQ--disqualifying asset. Three separate judges missed this point, as it won best of class and best of breed, but not best of show....and it was never DQ'd. The breeder had him marked as pet/wooler only, and honestly showed me his "problem" which I thought was cute, actually. I still hadn't seen Ryan's rabbits so I held off on getting the EA, which I REALLY liked.
Ryan of course, was crazy busy with show-business, getting people signed in, calling classes, organizing volunteers. It was a while before I could get his attention. The REW he had with him was SO tame, I couldn't believe it...relaxed enough to close his eyes when flipped upside down and sleep in the middle of all that show commotion!!! I told him I was interested in a trade....(but after meeting the EA, I'd gone to comb out my two and decided I REALLY couldn't get rid of my little doe.) Ryan came over to check out Bradley and asked me what kind of deal I had in mind. He wanted 75 for his and I wanted 50 for mine....both pedigreed, so I suggested we trade and I give him 25 dollars. (Probably more than he would have asked.) So that went through...
(Angora classes are "always last" at this show, so I had several hours to groom bunnies and think of devious ways to obtain more rabbits.) Counting all my pocket change, dollar bills, and ashtray money from the various pockets in my truck, I came up $4 short of owning the EA...I was so embarrassed, ashamed even to offer her this motley pile of scraped together cash...so I stopped at the concession stand and sold them my ones and quarters...so it wouldn't look so pathetic. Then I went to the bathroom and took a couple deep breathes before going out to find the breeder. She laughed and knocked 10 dollars off the price, removed the for-sale-tag from the cage, handed me the pedigree, but kept the rabbit...to show.
This was when I began to groom the new SA REW in earnest. It had glompy mats that had to be cut out, but was amazingly WHITE....I started calling the rabbit "Chunky Butt"....and when it came time to flip....there were two "baby carrots" between his hind legs...another doggone buck! I was crushed. I returned to Ryan and waited for him to catch his breath. "Everything okay?" he asked. I shook my head. "I can't do this trade. This is a buck. I'm willing to trade even-up, but I can't justify spending this kind of money on a buck." He was really embarrassed, apologized(after double checking) and gave me my cash back, agreeing to keep the straight trade. (Heck, he was getting some really good snarl-free wooler blood lines, and I have Bradley's full brother, so I wasn't loosing them.)--really wish it had been a doe, though.
This allowed me to pay the EA's full price, which freaked out the breeder. I figured I was still $15 to the good after giving her the additional ten she originally asked for , and the EA she had was worth the price she asked. Since I could afford to pay the "real" price, I should do it.... apparently, that is not how the rabbit world works. She was really stressed with showing 6 angoras (one French--the only FA at the show)and I felt like I was getting in her way....but I really did want to see my new rabbit and hold him and comb him....but I went back to my own 6 square feet of floor space halfway across the gymnasium and my own little folding chair and my two bunnys.
Nancy had been a fun companion for the first hour or so. Her Flemmish Giant was huge, and so tame, she let it hop around on two beach towels, but the ammonia smell triggered a migraine and she had to go home. It was well after noon when the Satin Angoras were called. I'd suggested that Ryan have one of his kids show Bradley, as I'd paid his entry fee, but they didn't do that. Tahini was the only entrant. The judge had nothing but good to say about her wool quality and confirmation, complimented her conditioning....she won first place in the class and best of breed (in a class of one--so it doesn't count--really) I was joking about being the best in a class of one, and the judge's assistant reminded me that it's possible to be disqualified, thereby being the looser in a class of one....(oh, that....)
But REALLY, I was still up one rabbit on my population count...how to explain when I got home? I'd already used the "hijacked at gun-point" story with the does from Lancaster...When I called home, the EA still wasn't actually in my possession, so I could truthfully say I had the same number or rabbits I'd left with the night before...but that wasn't gonna wash in the long run. About 7pm, I took a picture of the EA with my dumb phone and sent it to my husband...then a text message, "Uhtttoh!" and no explanation. I chose to spend a second night with my cousin before coming home on Sunday. I meandered around the state, telling home-folk Merry Christmas, because it was unlikely that I'd make it back to the area before new years'....and finally could put it off no longer.
The highway has never seemed so short. It was full dark but no one was home when I arrived. Which was mysterious, but good. For one thing, I had no cages arranged for quarrentine in the pantry....my porch spare cage had no tray...and the SAs smelled REALLY bad, having been in the travel cage for 48 hours. I got a cement mixing tray, 8 inches deep and 4 inches too long, and straddled it with the porch spare cage....it was kind of slippery, so I pushed it against the wall in a corner. I put the EA there....put my little doe on the floor and closed off the pantry with a baby gate. Then I cleaned the travel cage and removed the divider. The REW buck went there....got everyone fed and watered before falling into bed with the 4 dogs, just as the phone rang. It was hubs....out riding his motorcycle, would probably be home around midnight....
Now, let me explain.....he's been dragging his feet, trying to keep my rabbitosis to a minimum....but I've been wearing him down. He gives me cash before I leave for the shows, "in case of emergency" but then acts all surprised when the "emergency" is a new rabbit I just can't live without....so....he acted all surprised. Then he came up with the realization that his gun acquisition habit was essentially the same....he might not have as many guns as I have rabbits, but weight wise, he probably has more pounds of ammo than I have bun-flesh....
And all is good....Kim
Now that you are all caught up, let us begin with the Nappanee show;
The guy who was running the show, Ryan, had mentioned on FB that he had some Satin Angora (hereafter SA) REW does for sale and would be open to negotiation. Another FB rabbit friend, (Nancy) who lives near Nappanee agreed to meet there in person and to also bring her rabbit for judge's comments, even though she knew it would DQ because of a reaction to Glade and Fabreeze clouding his eyes. I took one doe (Tahini) and one buck (Bradley) to show and possibly trade for the REW doe.
There was a breeder from MI with English Angora (hereafter EA) with 5 siblings to show, including a "white" that was for sale. It wasn't actually white....it had "points", little grey bands on the ear fiber shafts, a grey nose and tail....which is technically a DQ--disqualifying asset. Three separate judges missed this point, as it won best of class and best of breed, but not best of show....and it was never DQ'd. The breeder had him marked as pet/wooler only, and honestly showed me his "problem" which I thought was cute, actually. I still hadn't seen Ryan's rabbits so I held off on getting the EA, which I REALLY liked.
Ryan of course, was crazy busy with show-business, getting people signed in, calling classes, organizing volunteers. It was a while before I could get his attention. The REW he had with him was SO tame, I couldn't believe it...relaxed enough to close his eyes when flipped upside down and sleep in the middle of all that show commotion!!! I told him I was interested in a trade....(but after meeting the EA, I'd gone to comb out my two and decided I REALLY couldn't get rid of my little doe.) Ryan came over to check out Bradley and asked me what kind of deal I had in mind. He wanted 75 for his and I wanted 50 for mine....both pedigreed, so I suggested we trade and I give him 25 dollars. (Probably more than he would have asked.) So that went through...
(Angora classes are "always last" at this show, so I had several hours to groom bunnies and think of devious ways to obtain more rabbits.) Counting all my pocket change, dollar bills, and ashtray money from the various pockets in my truck, I came up $4 short of owning the EA...I was so embarrassed, ashamed even to offer her this motley pile of scraped together cash...so I stopped at the concession stand and sold them my ones and quarters...so it wouldn't look so pathetic. Then I went to the bathroom and took a couple deep breathes before going out to find the breeder. She laughed and knocked 10 dollars off the price, removed the for-sale-tag from the cage, handed me the pedigree, but kept the rabbit...to show.
This was when I began to groom the new SA REW in earnest. It had glompy mats that had to be cut out, but was amazingly WHITE....I started calling the rabbit "Chunky Butt"....and when it came time to flip....there were two "baby carrots" between his hind legs...another doggone buck! I was crushed. I returned to Ryan and waited for him to catch his breath. "Everything okay?" he asked. I shook my head. "I can't do this trade. This is a buck. I'm willing to trade even-up, but I can't justify spending this kind of money on a buck." He was really embarrassed, apologized(after double checking) and gave me my cash back, agreeing to keep the straight trade. (Heck, he was getting some really good snarl-free wooler blood lines, and I have Bradley's full brother, so I wasn't loosing them.)--really wish it had been a doe, though.
This allowed me to pay the EA's full price, which freaked out the breeder. I figured I was still $15 to the good after giving her the additional ten she originally asked for , and the EA she had was worth the price she asked. Since I could afford to pay the "real" price, I should do it.... apparently, that is not how the rabbit world works. She was really stressed with showing 6 angoras (one French--the only FA at the show)and I felt like I was getting in her way....but I really did want to see my new rabbit and hold him and comb him....but I went back to my own 6 square feet of floor space halfway across the gymnasium and my own little folding chair and my two bunnys.
Nancy had been a fun companion for the first hour or so. Her Flemmish Giant was huge, and so tame, she let it hop around on two beach towels, but the ammonia smell triggered a migraine and she had to go home. It was well after noon when the Satin Angoras were called. I'd suggested that Ryan have one of his kids show Bradley, as I'd paid his entry fee, but they didn't do that. Tahini was the only entrant. The judge had nothing but good to say about her wool quality and confirmation, complimented her conditioning....she won first place in the class and best of breed (in a class of one--so it doesn't count--really) I was joking about being the best in a class of one, and the judge's assistant reminded me that it's possible to be disqualified, thereby being the looser in a class of one....(oh, that....)
But REALLY, I was still up one rabbit on my population count...how to explain when I got home? I'd already used the "hijacked at gun-point" story with the does from Lancaster...When I called home, the EA still wasn't actually in my possession, so I could truthfully say I had the same number or rabbits I'd left with the night before...but that wasn't gonna wash in the long run. About 7pm, I took a picture of the EA with my dumb phone and sent it to my husband...then a text message, "Uhtttoh!" and no explanation. I chose to spend a second night with my cousin before coming home on Sunday. I meandered around the state, telling home-folk Merry Christmas, because it was unlikely that I'd make it back to the area before new years'....and finally could put it off no longer.
The highway has never seemed so short. It was full dark but no one was home when I arrived. Which was mysterious, but good. For one thing, I had no cages arranged for quarrentine in the pantry....my porch spare cage had no tray...and the SAs smelled REALLY bad, having been in the travel cage for 48 hours. I got a cement mixing tray, 8 inches deep and 4 inches too long, and straddled it with the porch spare cage....it was kind of slippery, so I pushed it against the wall in a corner. I put the EA there....put my little doe on the floor and closed off the pantry with a baby gate. Then I cleaned the travel cage and removed the divider. The REW buck went there....got everyone fed and watered before falling into bed with the 4 dogs, just as the phone rang. It was hubs....out riding his motorcycle, would probably be home around midnight....
Now, let me explain.....he's been dragging his feet, trying to keep my rabbitosis to a minimum....but I've been wearing him down. He gives me cash before I leave for the shows, "in case of emergency" but then acts all surprised when the "emergency" is a new rabbit I just can't live without....so....he acted all surprised. Then he came up with the realization that his gun acquisition habit was essentially the same....he might not have as many guns as I have rabbits, but weight wise, he probably has more pounds of ammo than I have bun-flesh....
And all is good....Kim
