Show Procedures

[emilyschinchillas]

Can someone explain to me what happens at a show and how you show your rabbit? I would like to show my bunny but I havn't gone to watch a show yet. Some advice and info for a rabbit show newbie?

 

[SMALL S RABBITRY]

What breed are you wanting to show......

Well some times it depends on what breed you are showing but I will give it a shot....

First you need to make sure that there is nothing wrong with your rabbit.

Go to the show enter and there will usualy will be hundreds of rabbits there when they call your breed they will tell you ether SR, Intermedit, Or JR and what you do is put the rabbit in the pin on the table that will be set up and then from there the judge will go threw the rabbits and check and make sure that they are the right sex and for any problems such as illness and anything that could be wrong with the rabbit and they posse them check there fur and every part of the body to make sure that the rabbit is in the right standared for thet breed and some of the rabbits posse diffrent from one another and even some get to move up and down the table and when they get done checking every rabbit on the table they will go down the table and start placing them in the order from worst to best. But it would be a good idea to go to a show and watch how the judges do it and talk to some of the judges when they are not judging rabbit and they can help you even more. Not sure if I am 100% right or not but I should be pretty close.......Toby

 

[emilyschinchillas]

I am planning to show my American Chin.
Thank you for the info. So what will I, as the exhibitor, be expected to do?

 

[SMALL S RABBITRY]

Put the rabbit on the table and take it off and stand back and listen to the judge about each rabbit it will help you later on in other shows and if you dont do well at the first show dont get frustrated just because one judge does not like your rabbit the next judge just might and you need to know all you can about the breed you are showing it helps cause you never can tell when a judge will look at you and ask you a question about your breed.......Toby

 

[TinysMom]

First of all - and I may have missed this - but are you talking about showing at an ARBA show or a 4H show?

For an ARBA show - you need to contact the show secretary and find out the registration and if you need to preregister your rabbit or if you can register the day of the show.

Your rabbit will have to have a tattoo in their ear. You can usually find at least one person at the show who will do that for you - but you'll want to be there early so the rabbit can get tattooed and start feeling better before being shown.

You do not need to take a pedigree or anything like that with you to the show.

For some shows (I know at least for lionhead nationals) there are runners that take your rabbit from a cooped location up to the show table. (Some shows are cooped shows - usually if they're overnight I think...meaning your rabbit is placed in a specific coop you're assigned and the coop number is written in one ear in black marker).

Most shows I've been to though - you take your own rabbit up to the show table.

Some show etiquette....even if you don't win - don't forget it is still good sportsmanship to clap and congratulate the winner. I can't believe how many times I see sore losers at a show. I always try to congratulate the winner.

 

[The Haven Rabbitry]

A little deeper into what happens when the rabbit is placed in the hole on the table... depending on if it's a 4 class or 6 class breed (larger breeds are shown in a Senior, Intermediate which is also called a "6/8" class, and Junior class, and I believe the American Chin is a 6 class breed) it will go in the previously written order. Senior bucks, Senior does, and so on. The judge will pick the best senior buck, then pick the best senior doe, and so on... .then the winners from each age and sex group will have won their "class". These winners go on to compete for Best of Breed (which you will see abbreviated as BOB) and Best Opposite Sex (abbreviated as BOS). If the winning rabbit in the breed is a buck, a doe will be named Best Opposite Sex and vice versa. Only best of breed will go on to the Best in Show, BUT you can get points and "legs" (a winning) for Best Opposite Sex as well (as long as there are enough exhibitors and rabbits). Hope this helps!

 

[emilyschinchillas]

I will be doing ARBA shows. I've emailed a couple show secretaries so far trying to get more info.

Thanks again for all the info. I read that in showmanship, the exhibitor does all the looking over the rabbit. I wont get thrown into something like that without knowing it will I?

 

[woahlookitsme]

Be sure to not point out your rabbit to anyone and if you must do it be sure to keep it on the down low. Judges are not supposed to know who owns which rabbit.

If its just a regular show you wont have to look for Disqualifications (this is the preliminary exam before placing the class)

Some things to bring or remember to the show.
You will need to fill out some forms so bring a pen and something hard to write on.
There is usually an 8x11 paper where you fill out your name, address, rabbitry name, ARBA number if you have one, and phone number at the top.
At the bottom you will need to know the breed and variety of the animal. The sex (Buck or Doe) and age class (Junior Intermediate or 6/8 and Senior). You will also need to put the tattoo on this form. This form is used for any points or cash you may receive and is processed by the show secretary.

Next you grab what are called comment cards the same information on the long sheet go on this card. This will be used in the show to write what placing the animal gets and also the judges comments if you don't hear them.
To find out age group and variety look up the standard for an american chinchilla. Im pretty sure for variety you can either write chinchilla or standard.

The american chin is a 6 class rabbit so age classification is as...
Under 6mths = Junior
Both gender: under 9lbs

6mths to 8mths of age = Intermediate
Bucks: 9lbs to 11lbs
Does: 9lbs to 12lbs

Over 8mths = Senior
Both gender: Under 12lbs

Please double check these numbers when you get to the show or online. Being underweight or overweight in a class is a disqualification.
You can also move a junior up an age class if they are more than 9lbs.

 

[The Haven Rabbitry]

If you are showing in an open show, all the ones I've been to, you are just responsible for getting the rabbit into a hole on the table at the appropriate time and pulling them off at the appropriate time. The judge looks over the rabbit and then gives you a verbal critique. Sometimes they will have comment cards, but most of the ones I've been to on the east coast, they do not, so just make sure you listen well to what he or she says so you'll know your rabbit's strong and weak points. If your rabbit wins its class, they will usually leave that rabbit on the table or put it in a holding cage. If your rabbit does not win its class, you will want to pull your rabbit off the table after the winner is announced. Then all the winning rabbits from each class (6 total for American Chins: Sr Buck and Doe, 6/8 Buck and Doe, and Jr Buck and Doe) will be in the holes on the table to get judged against each other for BOB and BOS. Hope this helps.

 

[The Haven Rabbitry]

Also, make sure that you do not need to pre-register your rabbits. Some shows do not allow same day entries, just changes, and some will charge alot more per rabbit if you want to do register them the same day.