Kyle@theWintertime
Well-known member
My old carriers were all busted, so at stupid o' clock this morning I crammed rabbits into cardboard boxes and headed for Lansing.
First step was the entry forms. GUH, SO MANY FORMS. I was almost glad I'd only brought three rabbits, LOL!!! Entered all three in both shows and then immediately hit up the vendors for replacement carriers.
I spent more than I had planned on but got a really nice four-hole carrier/show cage thing. MUCH better than the old broken crap I had!
The next step was locating a spot to set up. Asinaway let me know that space was limited so get there as early as possible...even so by the time I got there, most places were packed with stuff and people and rabbits. I was a little frustrated at how much space some people were taking up...there was a family near us that had made a circle with their rabbits and chairs, and in the center of the circle was a HUGE FREAKING SPACE OF NOTHING that I kid you not, a BANQUET TABLE would have fit into. Just...empty space.
We wandered around until we finally found a sliver of space left available...literally like four-feet by five-feet. Enough space for my table, rabbits underneath it, and two chairs. We got comfortable. Watered the rabbits.
Then came the waiting.
And waiting.
Moar waiting.
And waiting.
Then Mini Rex! I brought my blue doe and my broken castor buck. The blue doe has gone BOV before for her breeder................but not today. The judge DQ'd her for a vent infection. I scratched her from the second show since I don't want her touching a table other rabbits will also be on, plus if she'll DQ anyway there's no point.
I was kind of annoyed at one of the other Mini Rex exhibitors...the judge called for blues on the table, and this lady started loading up the slots with BEW. The judge turned to her and said "blues are next." So she put another BEW onto the table...so I'm standing there, holding my blue, with NOWHERE TO PUT HER. The judge told the lady to please leave the last three slots for BLUES. She picked up just one of her BEWs and so I had a spot for my doe. The INSTANT the judge picked her up to examine her, the lady put her BEW right back into the slot. Now I get that she's trying to make sure she gets all her rabbits on the table but jeez, he hadn't even called for her variety yet!
That being said, the Mini Rex judge was AMAZING. He talked endlessly while judging, so it was really helpful for my brain to hear what he was looking for and see it, too. I feel like I learned a lot about depth and shape today!!!!
The broken castor buck got a very thorough examination from the judge, and was found sorely lacking. He has a nice head with cute little ears. Yes, very nice head. Everything from the neck down sucks. :lol: Total dead last. :roll:
Oh well, his adorable antics (rolling around his carrier, dipping his front paws in his water crock and smearing water all over himself, sitting/lying in the goofiest positions) helped entertain me while I waited the approximately eleventy billion years between Mini Rex and Champagne D'Argents.
We waited...and waited...and waaaaaited.
Asinaway was super-kind and helpful, also very understanding of my inability to approach strangers...she helped me a lot and put me in contact with another Mini Rex person, who just happened to have the perfect buck for my blue for sale. SO ROUND. He's got the nicest coat, too...so plush and springy!!! Why yes of course I had to have him, lol it's like fate, the carrier I got had this nice convenient empty fourth hole. He compliments the blue in shape and coat much better than the little broken castor (who will either become an indoor pet bunny or will be sold as a pet to someone I know). I'm also impressed that the new buck was super-chill...three seconds after being put in a totally unfamiliar carrier/cage, he yawned, stretched, sprawled on his side and took a nap. :lol:
To help pass the time, I had Boss, my Champagne D'Argent, registered. He didn't like getting his ear pinched, and in retrospect I might wait til AFTER the rabbit has seen the show table to get it done (INK...EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!) but I'm glad I did it. Good experience that!
I was a little confused by their "system" (or lack thereof) in calling for breeds to tables. Sometimes they didn't say which show they were referring to (B, C and youth were all being shown today) and at one point, they said "Champagne D'Argent to (name of judge)'s table" and THAT WAS IT...I hauled Boss across the room only to find out it was YOUTH. :shock: I must admit, not knowing when a breed is going on the table throws me a little...and due to some issues, I missed the C show for Champagnes. Very disappointed about that!!! One lady said they didn't announce it over the PA system, which...if that's the case I'm also irritated. I don't hear so well and the exhibit hall is NOTHING IF NOT NOISY. Screaming/laughing/crying children, adults talking about everything under the sun, people shouting to each other from across the room...hard to hear!!!
At one point I had a question for the show secretary and she wasn't sure, so she aimed me at a gentleman in a violently neon yellow shirt. He was very helpful...and when he found out it was my first show, he asked if I learned anything (YES. I feel the learn!) and if I was having fun. I hesitated, and said yes it is fun but some things are less awesome than others. I mentioned the PA thing, and that I'd had a nice even divide of "people who are kind and who rock" and "people who are not exactly going to win awards in the kindness department." He gave me a lot of good advice and a lot of encouragement. He also said that they would be addressing the PA issues, hopefully next time they'll identify what show every time they call a breed.
So...I admit, I brought Boss basically to pad the numbers for other Champagne people. Everyone I knew who was going was gung-ho to get as many Champagnes on the table as possible, maybe enough for a leg for whoever wins! Boss...is three years old and hasn't been shown in I-don't-even-know-when-his-breeder-showed-him. Still, I blew out his coat, brushed him up nice, misted him with water and rubbed with my hands til he was dry...and when show B Champagne D'Argent was called, I lugged his big chunky butt over to the table.
A table...of one. :lol: None of the other Champagne people stayed for show B.
The judge still treated it as a serious undertaking, and carefully examined Boss from head to tail. He said a LOT of nice things about him...great depth of color, excellent midsection, perfect "butterfly" and on and on. In between statements he kept saying "beautiful, just beautiful." There were so many "VG" spots checked off on his little yellow slip! After examining him, the judge handed him to me and said "Yep, that's our Best of Breed." Because of the way he said it, it totally didn't make me feel like it was just a "by default," lol.
And then I stood there staring at him blankly. No idea what to do. :lol: Possibly sensing my newness, he pointed at the yellow slip and said, "Go get your ribbon!"
So...the one rabbit I brought to the show expecting nothing from...........was (admittedly by default) BOB. I'm still thrilled...and I'm as proud of that little yellow slip of paper as I am the ribbon, if not moreso. It almost feels like kharmic reward...bring him along to try and help the breed...........and then the universe hands him a ribbon.
So without further ado...Boss (Registered name: Jake's Houdini) and his winnings! (please disregard the tiny bottle of hand sanitizer, lol)
So...overall, I learned a lot about a lot, had more fun than frustration, and will definitely be doing this again. Though the blue needs time to get over her stupid infection. Props to Asinaway for finding out the best way to get rid of it!!!
And now...I am exhausted. Time for sleep.
First step was the entry forms. GUH, SO MANY FORMS. I was almost glad I'd only brought three rabbits, LOL!!! Entered all three in both shows and then immediately hit up the vendors for replacement carriers.
I spent more than I had planned on but got a really nice four-hole carrier/show cage thing. MUCH better than the old broken crap I had!
The next step was locating a spot to set up. Asinaway let me know that space was limited so get there as early as possible...even so by the time I got there, most places were packed with stuff and people and rabbits. I was a little frustrated at how much space some people were taking up...there was a family near us that had made a circle with their rabbits and chairs, and in the center of the circle was a HUGE FREAKING SPACE OF NOTHING that I kid you not, a BANQUET TABLE would have fit into. Just...empty space.
We wandered around until we finally found a sliver of space left available...literally like four-feet by five-feet. Enough space for my table, rabbits underneath it, and two chairs.
We got comfortable. Watered the rabbits.Then came the waiting.
And waiting.
Moar waiting.
And waiting.
Then Mini Rex! I brought my blue doe and my broken castor buck. The blue doe has gone BOV before for her breeder................but not today. The judge DQ'd her for a vent infection. I scratched her from the second show since I don't want her touching a table other rabbits will also be on, plus if she'll DQ anyway there's no point.
I was kind of annoyed at one of the other Mini Rex exhibitors...the judge called for blues on the table, and this lady started loading up the slots with BEW. The judge turned to her and said "blues are next." So she put another BEW onto the table...so I'm standing there, holding my blue, with NOWHERE TO PUT HER. The judge told the lady to please leave the last three slots for BLUES. She picked up just one of her BEWs and so I had a spot for my doe. The INSTANT the judge picked her up to examine her, the lady put her BEW right back into the slot. Now I get that she's trying to make sure she gets all her rabbits on the table but jeez, he hadn't even called for her variety yet!
That being said, the Mini Rex judge was AMAZING. He talked endlessly while judging, so it was really helpful for my brain to hear what he was looking for and see it, too. I feel like I learned a lot about depth and shape today!!!!
The broken castor buck got a very thorough examination from the judge, and was found sorely lacking. He has a nice head with cute little ears. Yes, very nice head. Everything from the neck down sucks. :lol: Total dead last. :roll:
Oh well, his adorable antics (rolling around his carrier, dipping his front paws in his water crock and smearing water all over himself, sitting/lying in the goofiest positions) helped entertain me while I waited the approximately eleventy billion years between Mini Rex and Champagne D'Argents.
We waited...and waited...and waaaaaited.
Asinaway was super-kind and helpful, also very understanding of my inability to approach strangers...she helped me a lot and put me in contact with another Mini Rex person, who just happened to have the perfect buck for my blue for sale.
SO ROUND. He's got the nicest coat, too...so plush and springy!!! Why yes of course I had to have him, lol it's like fate, the carrier I got had this nice convenient empty fourth hole. He compliments the blue in shape and coat much better than the little broken castor (who will either become an indoor pet bunny or will be sold as a pet to someone I know). I'm also impressed that the new buck was super-chill...three seconds after being put in a totally unfamiliar carrier/cage, he yawned, stretched, sprawled on his side and took a nap. :lol: To help pass the time, I had Boss, my Champagne D'Argent, registered.
He didn't like getting his ear pinched, and in retrospect I might wait til AFTER the rabbit has seen the show table to get it done (INK...EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!) but I'm glad I did it. Good experience that!I was a little confused by their "system" (or lack thereof) in calling for breeds to tables. Sometimes they didn't say which show they were referring to (B, C and youth were all being shown today) and at one point, they said "Champagne D'Argent to (name of judge)'s table" and THAT WAS IT...I hauled Boss across the room only to find out it was YOUTH. :shock: I must admit, not knowing when a breed is going on the table throws me a little...and due to some issues, I missed the C show for Champagnes. Very disappointed about that!!! One lady said they didn't announce it over the PA system, which...if that's the case I'm also irritated. I don't hear so well and the exhibit hall is NOTHING IF NOT NOISY. Screaming/laughing/crying children, adults talking about everything under the sun, people shouting to each other from across the room...hard to hear!!!
At one point I had a question for the show secretary and she wasn't sure, so she aimed me at a gentleman in a violently neon yellow shirt. He was very helpful...and when he found out it was my first show, he asked if I learned anything (YES. I feel the learn!) and if I was having fun. I hesitated, and said yes it is fun but some things are less awesome than others. I mentioned the PA thing, and that I'd had a nice even divide of "people who are kind and who rock" and "people who are not exactly going to win awards in the kindness department." He gave me a lot of good advice and a lot of encouragement.
He also said that they would be addressing the PA issues, hopefully next time they'll identify what show every time they call a breed. So...I admit, I brought Boss basically to pad the numbers for other Champagne people. Everyone I knew who was going was gung-ho to get as many Champagnes on the table as possible, maybe enough for a leg for whoever wins! Boss...is three years old and hasn't been shown in I-don't-even-know-when-his-breeder-showed-him. Still, I blew out his coat, brushed him up nice, misted him with water and rubbed with my hands til he was dry...and when show B Champagne D'Argent was called, I lugged his big chunky butt over to the table.
A table...of one. :lol: None of the other Champagne people stayed for show B.
The judge still treated it as a serious undertaking, and carefully examined Boss from head to tail. He said a LOT of nice things about him...great depth of color, excellent midsection, perfect "butterfly" and on and on. In between statements he kept saying "beautiful, just beautiful." There were so many "VG" spots checked off on his little yellow slip! After examining him, the judge handed him to me and said "Yep, that's our Best of Breed." Because of the way he said it, it totally didn't make me feel like it was just a "by default," lol.
And then I stood there staring at him blankly. No idea what to do. :lol: Possibly sensing my newness, he pointed at the yellow slip and said, "Go get your ribbon!"
So...the one rabbit I brought to the show expecting nothing from...........was (admittedly by default) BOB. I'm still thrilled...and I'm as proud of that little yellow slip of paper as I am the ribbon, if not moreso.
It almost feels like kharmic reward...bring him along to try and help the breed...........and then the universe hands him a ribbon. So without further ado...Boss (Registered name: Jake's Houdini) and his winnings! (please disregard the tiny bottle of hand sanitizer, lol)
So...overall, I learned a lot about a lot, had more fun than frustration, and will definitely be doing this again.
Though the blue needs time to get over her stupid infection. Props to Asinaway for finding out the best way to get rid of it!!!And now...I am exhausted. Time for sleep.
