What to expect at a Rabbit Show

An ARBA sanctioned rabbit show is normally hosted on weekends, throughout the country. With a different show being offered each day and/or multiple shows in one day. You can find shows located close to you at the ARBA website. Both youth and open shows are normally conducted during the same weekend. An show rabbit owned by a youth showman cannot be entered in the open class of the same show. However, if multiple shows are held together the youth can enter the youth class in one show and the open class in another show. The same rabbit cannot be entered in both a youth and open show on the same day. It is not acceptable for an adult to show a youth rabbit in the youth show, even if they are the parent of the youth owner or a partial owner of the rabbit.

Rabbit Classes

Showing a rabbit is based on the combination of age, sex, weight, and color of the rabbit. Class refers to the sex/age combinations of Senior Buck, Senior Doe, Junior Buck and Junior Doe(4 class). Large rabbit breeds (i.e. Flemish Giant, Cinnamon, Californian, New Zealand) also have Intermediate Bucks and Does(6 class). Junior Bucks and Does are under 6 months of age, and many breeds also have minimum and maximum weight requirements. If a junior rabbit exceeds the maximum junior weight, then they must compete as a 6/8 or senior. Small senior rabbits may not compete as juniors. Intermediates or 6/8's are between 6 and 8 months of age and are also usually subject to a weight constraint. If they go over their age weight limit, they may move up a class. Depending on the standard of perfection, for that breed. So it's possible that large, young rabbits may compete up a class, but overweight 6/8 or senior rabbits, can't move down a class, and will be disqualified from competition.

Judging Classes

Classes are judged first within a single variety. Variety refers to the fur color of the rabbit breed. There are a number of possibilities including red-eyed-white, blue-eyed-white, silver, lilac, opal, beige, tortoise, cream, tan, self, agouti, seal, sable, chocolate, black, squirrel, broken and chinchilla. Most breeds also recognize color varieties that are broken, meaning the above colors in combination with white. There are a number of other colors not mentioned here, and acceptable colors are established in each breed standard of perfection. If a breed has a large number of varieties, they can be grouped. For instance, the Netherland Dwarf breed has five groups: Self group, Shaded group, Agouti group, Tan Pattern group and an All Other Varieties (AOV) group. The Self group contains all rabbits of a single color all over their body and the Agouti group contains all the rabbits with hair banded in three colors (agouti), in various different colors. And that's just one breed. Imagine how many of the possibilities there are.

The order of judging within each breed will take all the animals of each class in a variety beginning with Senior Bucks and alternating with Does, ending with Junior Does. Once all of the classes in the variety are judged then best of variety (BOV) is chosen from the class winners. A best of opposite sex of variety (BOSV) winner is also chosen. So if Doe wins the best of variety or best of breed, then the class winning bucks compete for best opposite of variety or breed. And vice-versa if a buck wins. For the breeds with groups, once the rabbits have competed within their varieties the BOV and BOSV compete against all the other BOV and BOSV rabbits in that group. Then best of group (BOG) and best of opposite sex of group (BOSG) compete amongst themselves for the best of breed (BOB) and best of opposite sex of breed (BOS). If the breed does not have groups, then the variety class winners compete for the BOB title. Once breed winners are chosen, they compete for the best in show(BIS) title against all the other breed winners. Other special awards may also be given, including Best Junior and best Senior for each breed, best 4 group or best 6 group, and best overall showing for all rabbits (best display). Other competitions outside of the breed type also are competed at a rabbit show. All breeds may compete in either a normal fur or commercial fur class, and the Angora rabbits have wool competitions. These competitions are open only to animals that also competed in the breed competition. Commercial type rabbits can also compete in the meat pen and single fryer competitions. The meat pen has 3 same aged and breed animals exhibited together. They are judged, based on their meat pen characteristics. Which are body type, condition, uniformity and fur. Single fryers are judged on their type, flesh condition and fur. Roaster and stewer classes may also be judged, with similar guidelines to the single fryers. There are non recognized breeds that can be presented at the ARBA national convention. To determine if a new breed can be recoginized by the ARBA. They must make a successful presentation 3 out of 5 years before a new breed or variety, will be able to compete at a future sanctioned show.

Legs/Sweepstakes

A owner/exhibitors are awarded legs for first place in class competitions up to the Best in Show competition (BOV, BOSV, BOG, BOSG, BOB, BOSB, BIS, BOS). Legs may be awarded at any ARBA sanctioned show where at least 5 rabbits shown by 3 different owners compete. It takes 3 legs awarded at 3 different shows under 2 different judges, with at least 1 leg awarded as an intermediate or senior, and senior age/weight for a rabbit to become a Grand Champion. Once a rabbit is awarded their grand champion certificate they can't receive another. Although the additional legs do not count towards an additional certificate, the individual breed organizations use them to track the most successful rabbits. These "sweepstakes" contest usually culminate with an award for the breeder/rabbit with the most points at the end of a year. Sweepstakes points are multiplied by the number of rabbits participating by a numeral multiplier, with the multiplier increasing as the amount of competition increases. In other words, the more rabbits in your class/breed, the higher you place, the more points you get.

Registration

Rabbits that reach senior age or weight may be registered with the ARBA. Rabbits are not required to be registered to compete in an ARBA show and cannot be registered before they reach senior age (6 or 8 months depending on breed). Each rabbit awarded a grand champion certificate must be registered with the ARBA. For a rabbit to be registered, the owner must be a current ARBA member, have tattooed their rabbits in their left ear with a number of their choosing, present a 3 generation pedigree, and pay $6.00. The registrar checks the pedigree and the rabbit for general, health or breed specific disqualifications, and weighs the animal. If the rabbit passes all of the checks from the registar, then the registration form is completed and forwarded to ARBA for filing. A special registration tattoo is applied to the rabbit's right ear.

The Show Ring

Depending on the size and length of the show the rabbits may be cooped during the show together in one area, or brought into the show arena in individual carriers for the duration of the show. All rabbits are brought to their individual coops at the judging table when it is time for their class to compete. Each rabbit is removed in turn from the coop and inspected by the judge. The judge will disqualify rabbits for faults or poor health, judging the remaining rabbits against the breed standard of perfection and the other rabbits. Once the class is completed the first place rabbits remain at the table to compete for BOV or BOB. The others rabbits are returned to their own coops or carriers and the next class is brought to the table and placed in their judging coops. There is a voluteer behind the table taking comments the judge is saying for each rabbit presented. This is a great way to get in on the fun, and is always welcome and needed at every rabbit show. Each exhibitor is responsible for maintaining their own animal and for cleaning their cages during the duration of the show. Most exhibitors travel by car or truck with their rabbits to shows. The ARBA national convention show is usually the only show that rabbits are flown in to, and depending on its location most exhibitors choose to drive anyway because of the challenges of flying with multiple rabbits.

Most rabbit breeds, except for the wool breeds, require minimal grooming, even when in show form(fur in prime). The long-haired breeds need extensive and daily grooming, and their wool will fly around the show area unless immediately caught. What grooming is necessary will take place on the show floor and angora or wooly breed exhibitors utilize vacuums/blowers to blow out their animals wool. Rabbits are not washed on the show room floor, rabbits don't need baths, and groom themselves, much like a cat. If they do need a little, "fine tuning", most exhibitors groom their rabbits by rubbing the rabbit with damp hands to remove loose guard hairs. Fixatives or other wool or fur enhancements (including clipping, trimming, altering in any way) are not allowed in competition, and you can be disqualified from the show for doing this.

A Great Day

Raffles are often sponsored during the rabbit show. It's where rabbits or other goodies, are offered as the prize. With the winner taking home a new rabbit or other cool prizes. A lot of times, this is actually the only way a sponsoring club makes enough money to have another show the next time around. So you should always buy a few raffle tickets. That is, if you want to be able to have a place to show your rabbits again next year. At the end of the show the exhibitors pack up their rabbits and return home. Rabbit shows, especially the national convention, provide an opportunity for breeders to purchase rabbits or make deliveries on prearranged sales. Imported rabbits may be delivered to shows, especially the national show, since they represent a single location that eases delivery logistics.
Though it is often suggested to quarantine rabbits returning from shows this does not always happen. While most breeders realize the importance of quarantining, it is not always possible, due to space and equipment constraints. You should always sanitize any all of your carriers and/or cages (we use Vanodine) after you return home from a show.
It's great way to spend the day. Checking out a sampling of the different breeds and varities of rabbits, and top quality show stock people bring from all around your area, the country or the world. And who knows, it might be you bringing your prize rabbits to place on the table at the next show.