critique my mini rex

[kwilds]

Hi, I am just starting my mini rex rabbitry. I think I have done enough research to get started but I would like to develop my eye for a good rabbit some more. This is a picture of a mini rex buck I have. He does not have a pedigree and I don't plan on using him for breeding - he is just the pet that got me interested in mini rex! I have used him though to practice posing and taking good photo's and would like some opinions on how I am doing. First of all - does this photo show this rabbit off to his best (I realize he is not a top quality show bunny!) Anything I could do differently for posing?

Second - I would like some opinions on this rabbits strengths and weaknesses. I have an idea of what they are but would like some opinions to see if I am on the right track. This is strictly as an educational exercise! I will be getting a trio of pedigreed rabbits soon to start my breeding program.

Just an FYI, I don't know how well you can tell a rabbits fur quality from a photo but this rabbitwas molting at the time the photo was taken, he normally has a VERY soft (even for rex) and thick fur. It is a little longer than my doe's but still easily within the standard.

Karin

 

[kwilds]

OK, I can't figure out how to put a photo in my post! Hopefully the link will work.

Karin

 

[bunnybunbunb]

There you go

He is not in proper pose, hand holding head down and feet aligned right, but I can take a shot at it. I bred Mini Rex for a few years. I love the breed! Anyway. He has a nice head but his ears are quite long. He looks to need more depth over his back and his body is long. He looks nice a chunky, I like my bucks that way *wink* Huge bone to go with that head! From the side he does not seem to have huge variations in his body as far as shoulders or midsection looking narrower than HQ so that makes me think he has nice width. A top view photo would be nice.

 

[kwilds]

Thanks for the input bunnybunbunb. Your comments were along the same line as what I was thinking. With the ear length - if you fold his ear forward it is a good 1/2 inch or more shorter than his head. I agree that his ear looks too long. If he had more depth would that balance the ear?

As far as the posing, do you mean that the head should be right down near/on the ground? I know I see a lot of rabbits posed with the handler holding them on the head but I thought it was more to stop the rabbit from moving! Is it better to hold the head down or try and get the rabbit to hold his own head down?

And feet - as I understand it the front feet should be right below the eye and the hind foot should be right below the hip. I'm assuming that means the toe? In this photo should the front foot be more forward? I thought I got it pretty close but that's why I'm posting it! Where should his hind foot be? Again, I had him so the hind toe was below the hip but maybe I'm not seeing it right?

I think he has good width but I'll try to get a photo from the top as well!

Karin

 

[mistyjr]

WoW!! Hes an pretty color.. I breed and show mini rex's too.
Here is an good website about posing.
http://cottonwoodfarms.tripod.com/pencil.html

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

More depth would balance the ear, but his ears are still pretty long for what I'd like to see in a Mini Rex. In general, I would like to see a much smaller, cobby, compact body, more depth, and more fullness to the HQ, although it is nice. He seems to have a nice topline, although it could be more well-rounded. He looks a touch long in the shoulders, but it's hard to tell since his ears are covering them, and he's incorrectly posed.

He is what us breeders call a BUB - a Big Ugly Buck. Which, in some cases are good things, like in breeding, although you would generally want to breed to a nicer doe, and especially one that carries the dwarfing gene.

I would like to see his head a bit more chunky - although it does look okay, it just seems a tad too delicate, or refined.

Emily

 

[kwilds]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Here is another photo that I took today (same buck)- taking into consideration what was said about his pose. Is this a better pose? Am I getting closer? I really want to be able to acurately pose a rabbit and analyze it before I have to start culling babies!

 

[bunnybunbunb]

He is not tight enough in the pose but it takes time learning exactly how to do it. Then there are so rabbits that flat out refuse

He slops off and then cuts off in his HQ. He is pinched as well. Narrow in shoulders. Coat is baaaddd but I see he is molting. Very wrinkly, is he older?

 

[kwilds]

LOL! Yes he is older - almost 7. A few times I had to move his wrinkles to find his feet! And he is in a terrible molt right now.

I was fighting to get him as scrunched as he is in that second photo - he's isn't exatly co-operative! I guess he figures since he's an old pet and not a fancy show bunny he shouldn't have to pose.

When I get my breeding bunnies I will practice more with them. The buck has been shown and even earned a few legs so maybe it will be a bit easier with him!

 

[pamnock]

I actually like the first pose better, and prefer to see posed photos without the head being covered. In the first photo, his rear toes are just a tad too far forward, but otherwise you did a great job. In the second photo, the rear toes were properly positions, but the head was smashed down and positioned too far forward, resulting in destroying the appearance of the shoulders.

I agree with the comments that he doesn't have good type (but looks great for a 7 year old rabbit!). In both photos, it is evident that the topline peaks too early, resulting in a slope off the hindquarters, which are also pinched (form a "V" shape at the rear), as well as being chopped off - flat against the butt, as those he had backed into a wall.

The rex coat should be plush and springy, but not feel soft. A soft coat lacks the guardhairs that provide the desired springy resistance.

 

[pamnock]

For comparison purposes, I'm posting a photo of a grand champion doe owned by Piper Smith (one of the county's top Mini Rex breeders) along side your buck . . .

 

[kwilds]

Thanks Pam - to my uneducated eye the first photo is more appealing whether it is correct or not! It seems to me that he looks more forced into position in the second photo. And in the first his topline, although not at all typey, is much smoother - not so many sharp angles like in the second.

I'm glad to hear that not everyone likes to see the rabbits head covered up! My new rabbits arrive next week - I can't wait to start playing with them.

As for coat - in a previous post I said it was "soft" but I don't think that was quite the right word! My doe has a "soft" coat. It is also kind of flat, when you pet her it lays down and doesn't pop back up. Hers feels much like silk.This bucks coat is much different from hers. His is much, much thicker and springs right back into place if you squish it down. Maybe cuddly is a better term than soft! I haven't felt enough different rex coats to be able to compare him well to a good quality rex coat but compared to the doe I have his is much better I think (when its not all patchy from molting that is!)

Karin

 

[pamnock]

It's good that you have the doe to compare to and that you recognized that the texture isn't quite right - soft and silky are both faults of the Mini Rex coat. A thick, dense coat with adequate guard hairs with give the properspringy resistanceto the coat, while still allowing the texture to be smooth. The coat should feel "plush" like very thick velvet.

You did a good job on the first pose!