by Cathy Coffey
Before the show:
1. You must be the bonafide owner of the rabbit before entering the rabbit in a show.
Only youth, 18 & under may show in a Youth Show. Anyone may show in an Open Show.
You do not need to be a member of any club or the American Rabbit Breeders Assn. The same rabbit may not be entered in both the Open show and the Youth show.
2. Your rabbit should be a purebred (not a mixed breed) rabbit. You do not need a pedigree to show the rabbit. The rabbit must have a permanent tattoo in its left ear. Once a rabbit has been tattooed, you may not change its tattoo.
3. Contact the show secretary to get the show information. The ARBA (www.ARBA.net) has a listing of all sanctioned shows sorted by state & date on their website which tells you who the contact person is for that show. The club will have a show catalog available, which will include the date and location of the show, cost to enter your rabbit (normally between $3 and $5 per rabbit per show), and the entry deadline date. Most clubs have Double or Triple shows which gives you an opportunity to show your rabbit more than once on that date. You may enter any or all the available shows you are eligible for.
4. When entering the rabbits, the show secretary will need the following information:
A. Owner’s name, address, phone number and email (if available).
B. Rabbits Tattoo number, Breed, Variety (i.e., color) or Group (depending on the breed), Sex (Buck or Doe), and Age ( Junior - under 6 months of age, Sr - 6 months or older, and for the larger breeds, Intermediate (6/8 class) - 6 to 8 months). Entering in judging order helps the show secretary complete her paper work faster and more accurately (i.e., Sr Buck, Sr Doe, 6/8 Buck, 6/8 Doe, Jr Buck, Jr Doe).
5. Make sure you have leak proof carriers to carry your rabbits to the show.
Only youth, 18 & under may show in a Youth Show. Anyone may show in an Open Show.
You do not need to be a member of any club or the American Rabbit Breeders Assn. The same rabbit may not be entered in both the Open show and the Youth show.
2. Your rabbit should be a purebred (not a mixed breed) rabbit. You do not need a pedigree to show the rabbit. The rabbit must have a permanent tattoo in its left ear. Once a rabbit has been tattooed, you may not change its tattoo.
3. Contact the show secretary to get the show information. The ARBA (www.ARBA.net) has a listing of all sanctioned shows sorted by state & date on their website which tells you who the contact person is for that show. The club will have a show catalog available, which will include the date and location of the show, cost to enter your rabbit (normally between $3 and $5 per rabbit per show), and the entry deadline date. Most clubs have Double or Triple shows which gives you an opportunity to show your rabbit more than once on that date. You may enter any or all the available shows you are eligible for.
4. When entering the rabbits, the show secretary will need the following information:
A. Owner’s name, address, phone number and email (if available).
B. Rabbits Tattoo number, Breed, Variety (i.e., color) or Group (depending on the breed), Sex (Buck or Doe), and Age ( Junior - under 6 months of age, Sr - 6 months or older, and for the larger breeds, Intermediate (6/8 class) - 6 to 8 months). Entering in judging order helps the show secretary complete her paper work faster and more accurately (i.e., Sr Buck, Sr Doe, 6/8 Buck, 6/8 Doe, Jr Buck, Jr Doe).
5. Make sure you have leak proof carriers to carry your rabbits to the show.
At the show:
1. Arrive before that show is scheduled to start. The catalog will list the check in times. As soon as you have arrived and situated your rabbits in the showroom, check in with the show secretary. She will provide you with a check-in report. Verify that all the information is correct and pay your entry fees. Tell them if you have any corrections.
2. Watch and listen for your breed to be called to the judge’s table. Each show table normally has a list posted showing the order the breeds will be called. It is your responsibility to bring your rabbit to the table when called. Each breed class will only be called 3 times before judging begins. The judge will pick the best rabbit for each class which will then compete for best variety or group and best opposite sex of variety. The Best of Variety or Group and Best Opposite of Variety or Group will compete for the Best of Breed and Best Opposite of Breed. The judge will be looking for the rabbit which best conforms to the standard for that breed will evaluate the rabbit for overall type including body, head, ears, eyes, feet & legs, and the tail. The quality of the fur, overall condition and color are also taken into account. Any rabbit with obvious disqualifications - broken tooth, missing toe nail, broken tail, wrong sex, wrong color or obvious sign of illness will not be judged and needs to be removed from the table.
3. After all the breeds have been judged, the Best of Breed rabbits will compete for Best in Show. Best Reserve, Best 4 class, and Best 6 class may also be awarded.
4. Grand Championship legs will be awarded for 1st in class, Best of Variety or Group, Best Opposite Sex, Best of Breed, and Best Opposite Sex of Breed provided there are 3 exhibitors & 5 rabbits, Best in Show, Best Reserve, Best 4 Class, and Best 6 Class.
2. Watch and listen for your breed to be called to the judge’s table. Each show table normally has a list posted showing the order the breeds will be called. It is your responsibility to bring your rabbit to the table when called. Each breed class will only be called 3 times before judging begins. The judge will pick the best rabbit for each class which will then compete for best variety or group and best opposite sex of variety. The Best of Variety or Group and Best Opposite of Variety or Group will compete for the Best of Breed and Best Opposite of Breed. The judge will be looking for the rabbit which best conforms to the standard for that breed will evaluate the rabbit for overall type including body, head, ears, eyes, feet & legs, and the tail. The quality of the fur, overall condition and color are also taken into account. Any rabbit with obvious disqualifications - broken tooth, missing toe nail, broken tail, wrong sex, wrong color or obvious sign of illness will not be judged and needs to be removed from the table.
3. After all the breeds have been judged, the Best of Breed rabbits will compete for Best in Show. Best Reserve, Best 4 class, and Best 6 class may also be awarded.
4. Grand Championship legs will be awarded for 1st in class, Best of Variety or Group, Best Opposite Sex, Best of Breed, and Best Opposite Sex of Breed provided there are 3 exhibitors & 5 rabbits, Best in Show, Best Reserve, Best 4 Class, and Best 6 Class.
A few items to bring to the show:
Of course the primary things you bring to a rabbit show are your rabbits in leakproof carriers. A wire carrier with a solid detachable or slide out pan is the best. This affords the rabbit plenty of air circulation, especially during the warmer months. Each hole in the carrier should have some type of water available to the rabbit. It may be a cup inside the hole or a bottle which hangs on the outside of the hole. Make sure that cup inside the hole can be secured to the side of the cage. You don’t want something that will slide around in the cage during travel and it will be less likely for the rabbit to overturn it and spill the water. Bring a container of water which holds enough water for all the rabbits you are bringing. Bringing water from home prevents any stress caused by a different water source. The solid tray/cage bottom should have some sort of absorptive material in the bottom. Wood chips or shaving, kitty liter, newspapers, puddle pads, and baby changing pads are examples of materials suitable for the carriers. One caution - do not use any kind of cedar wood - cedar is highly toxic to rabbits and will kill them. Be sure whatever materials you use are underneath the wire bottom of the cage and the rabbit cannot chew on it, especially if you are using puddle pads or baby changing pads.
Other things that are convenient to have:
1. Copy of your show entry.
2. Paper and pen to take any notes you may want. If you don’t have business cards, this gives you a way to share your contact information to someone else and record other rabbit exhibitors contact information.
3. If you plan on selling any rabbits at the show, you should bring the rabbit’s pedigree with you so potential buyers may see what lines the rabbit comes from. This also saves you from having to mail a pedigree to your buyer.
4. A brush or comb and toenail clippers. The rabbits should have been groomed at home the day before going to the show but you will want to brush the coats before placing on the show table. With the long hair breeds of rabbits, this is an absolute necessity. Toenails should be trimmed before the show but accidents do happen, so it is a good idea to be prepared in case of accident.
5. A grooming table or a firm piece of carpet that you can sit on top of your cages. This gives you a place to sit the rabbit while brushing it out and practice posing the rabbit before putting it on the show table. It also gives you a place to sit the rabbit when showing it to a potential buyer.
6. An extra cage or an empty hole if you plan on buying a new rabbit. It’s a good idea even though you might not be planning on it, because sometimes there is an opportunity to add a new rabbit to your herd that you just can’t afford to pass up.
7. You can bring some feed or other small treats. Rabbits do get excited and/or stressed at a show and the do not normally eat their regular size ration of food. Bring something, feed and/or hay - grass or timothy- for the rabbits to munch on or some other treat that you normally give your rabbits. Don’t try something new as you don’t know how your rabbit will react and you don’t want the rabbit to get diarrhea. If you plan on selling a rabbit be sure to bring feed to give to the buyer so they can wean the rabbit onto their brand of feed.
8. Bring a chair. Most showrooms have limited or no seating. Plan on eating the lunch provided by the show or bring your own food. Do not plan on leaving the showroom for food. Inevitably that is when your breed will be called to the table. Most shows don’t have a formal break time for lunch.
Other things that are convenient to have:
1. Copy of your show entry.
2. Paper and pen to take any notes you may want. If you don’t have business cards, this gives you a way to share your contact information to someone else and record other rabbit exhibitors contact information.
3. If you plan on selling any rabbits at the show, you should bring the rabbit’s pedigree with you so potential buyers may see what lines the rabbit comes from. This also saves you from having to mail a pedigree to your buyer.
4. A brush or comb and toenail clippers. The rabbits should have been groomed at home the day before going to the show but you will want to brush the coats before placing on the show table. With the long hair breeds of rabbits, this is an absolute necessity. Toenails should be trimmed before the show but accidents do happen, so it is a good idea to be prepared in case of accident.
5. A grooming table or a firm piece of carpet that you can sit on top of your cages. This gives you a place to sit the rabbit while brushing it out and practice posing the rabbit before putting it on the show table. It also gives you a place to sit the rabbit when showing it to a potential buyer.
6. An extra cage or an empty hole if you plan on buying a new rabbit. It’s a good idea even though you might not be planning on it, because sometimes there is an opportunity to add a new rabbit to your herd that you just can’t afford to pass up.
7. You can bring some feed or other small treats. Rabbits do get excited and/or stressed at a show and the do not normally eat their regular size ration of food. Bring something, feed and/or hay - grass or timothy- for the rabbits to munch on or some other treat that you normally give your rabbits. Don’t try something new as you don’t know how your rabbit will react and you don’t want the rabbit to get diarrhea. If you plan on selling a rabbit be sure to bring feed to give to the buyer so they can wean the rabbit onto their brand of feed.
8. Bring a chair. Most showrooms have limited or no seating. Plan on eating the lunch provided by the show or bring your own food. Do not plan on leaving the showroom for food. Inevitably that is when your breed will be called to the table. Most shows don’t have a formal break time for lunch.