show quality standards

[Sabine]

I have two lionhead rabbits (both neutered and spayed 2 weeks ago)
Could you please tell me what makes them not acceptable in a show (colouring/ears/wool) and also could you give me any ideas what their offspring would have looked like.
P.S. I have no intentions of showing them but I' just curious. Thanks
Raylann (female/1 year old)

Benny (male/five months)

 

[clevername]

I don't show lionheads so I won't be of much help. However I think your buck is either a charlie or a mismarked broken. In order to show a broken they require markings over their eyes, ears and nose in additon to being at least 10% to 50% colored.

 

[Sabine]

clevername wrote:

I don't show lionheads so I won't be of much help. However I think your buck is either a charlie or a mismarked broken. In order to show a broken they require markings over their eyes, ears and nose in additon to being at least 10% to 50% colored.

he is probably a charly. he has rather dark rings around the eyes and a greyish stripe on his back. No markings on the nose though. Learned something new that they have to have that to show as broken. Thanks
I welcome any more disqualification points

 

[TinysMom]

Well - I'm going to share personal comments right now as its hard to know what to say when the lionheads are overseas.

While I might not show Raylann at some of the bigger shows - I might show her in the smaller ones where she might place better. I say that because the rabbits on the East Coast here (which I think tend to win more and have a different look to them) - have a more rounded head than she does. But the fact is - there's something about the look in her eye - that I like her face. In addition - the mane on top of her head comes up and gives her ears more of a balanced look. I've had rabbits that had ears the same length - but the mane on one makes her ears appear shorter while the other rabbit might not have as much top mane and so the ears look like they're rabbit ears on top of a tv - standing straight up. Its amazing how much the top mane can make a difference in her look.

I also like the length of her mane in the front....nice body to it. She reminds me of my Isenstar who has probably one of the nicest manes as an adult that I've seen in my own herd and in some others too.

I wish I could see her whole body to see if she is teddy-like on the back (with lots and lots of fur - almost like an angora) or if she has a nice coat that just stays down. Some lionheads look like puffballs forever (the teddy look) and that doesn't do well in the shows.

About Benny - oh so cute for breeding purposes...if he is a Charley (charlie? I'm never sure how to spell it). The thing is - look at Raylann's picture and then look immediately at Benny's picture. See how his ears look bigger/taller? I bet if you measure their ears - they might be close to the same length but his show more because he has less mane on the top of his head.

Back to Benny if you were to breed...which I know you've said you're not going to do. The thing about him is - he would give you 100% broken litters. If you bred him to a typey doe...and got a nice buck out of it - then I'd replace him with his son...but because he carries the broken gene (and I LOVE brokens) - I would probably be willing to start a breeding program with him even though he isn't the best.

To give you a good critique of them both - it helps if we can see a side profile of them....

Here are some examples of the types of poses that help (and that breeders will use when advertising bunnies)..you can click on them to see the picture better.

 

[Sabine]

So I assume if Benny was bred to a self coloured rabbit like Raylann he wouldn't produce any showable offspring either since the butterfly marking isn't very likely to appear in the next generation. Breeding him to a broken would also br pointless I guess since it would only increase the percentage of charlies

 

[Sabine]

Thanks for the comments. I guess Raylann is more teddy like, although since I started grooming her regularily (she came to us as a rescue four weeks ago) her fur seems to be thinning out.
I know what you mean about the ears. I always think her's are much smaller than Benny's but I may measure them tomorrow and also take some profile pictures if they sit still

 

[Sabine]

Just found apicture of Raylann quarrelling with Coco in the garden. It's not great but gives you an idea about the wool, Hard to see what's back and what is front

 

[irishlops]

um, if the male was only neutered 2weeks ago, then he can still mate,,....
oh but the female is spayed.....ok im tired and not thinking

 

[paul2641]

irishlops wrote:

um, if the male was only neutered 2weeks ago, then he can still mate,,....
oh but the female is spayed.....ok im tired and not thinking

She was only asking what they would come out like. Not could she actaully breed them.

 

[irishlops]

ok, lol!
im tired and not thinking... and not reading post carefully....
thanks paul!:biggrin2:

 

[Sabine]

At the risk of boring people silly i would just like to clarify what would make my two lionheads not show worthy and what would have been their desirable features in a breeding programme. (I am trying to learn about these things but can only take the information in if it concerns rabbits i can see and touch) So please bear with me
First Benny:

Sorry there was no hope I could get him to take on any show pose. While his markings look very handsome I understand that brokens can only be shown if they have a butterfly marking. His mane is not particularily amazing which makes his ears look longer. It was said that he could be used to breed brokens (who I also love) but one thing I am not clear about is if butterfly markings can appear if none of the rabbits have them. I thought not but I'd love some clarification on that.
Next Raylann:

Same thing, not a hope she'd get into a pose. Although she was complimented on her magnificent mane, the fact that she is wooly all over would disqualify her in a show. Yet a teddy like her may be desirable in a breeding programme if more wool needs to be added to the herd.
Can someone confirm that i picked up the right information or correct me if I got anything wrong. Thanks for everyone's patience, sabine