VIRBA was a great show - missed not having Pridelands there, but we got a great turnout overall. First show was judged by John Grimm who did a great job. He liked Titian (red F1 netherland buck) type wise (did dq him) and took his time going over the lionheads with accurate assesments overall. Tended to side with best bodytype - did do a few dq's but not obsessive about it. Wally (Ridgewood) took BOB with a jr. tort buck, and I took BOSB with Bunny Hutch's Ziata (siamese sable doe). He DID dq Passion for colour - I had him entered as a sablept. and he used to look like a darker one... but now he is a choc. brown colour almost! No real shading either? So we agreed for now he is an "it" for colour. Genetically I think he's siamese sable, so that is what he will now officially be... My two sablepts entered (Graphite and Sundance) - he liked Graphite better body type wise - though Sundance had better colour, cleaner face and flanks etc... best body took the win. I sold Sundance at the show (need money right now as not many babies to sell after this winter!). So Mossy Possums Graphite took BOV, Sundance BOSV - only two in class so don't really count this as much of a win... : ) I like my two remaining sablepts better than Sundance for does - and plan on keeping kits of coarse - hence decision to sell Sundance who went to a breeder in WA.
Bunny Hutch's Radiance (pictured in my new logo) did well - taking BOSV for torts overall, but beaten by a jr. buck for variety. She had a nicer mane than him, but he had a better body.... still, NOT bad for an over the year old doe who has had 2 litters! (6 or 7 torts overall). LOVE HER! I'm not going to breed her yet and see how that mane regrows - has done alot in the last two weeks already. I will show her for two more shows locally (Apr. 5th and first weekend in June) then breed her. I'm taking a chance with that hoping nothing happens to her, but my curiousity is too great to see how she matures. She plucks ALL of her mane out for litters - some does do alot less and stay pretty... not Radiance!
Tamri from BH was a beauty of a jr. too - her mane is coming back after a molt, but Radiance has better body type in my opinion. Tamri has yet to have a litter, so looking forward to atleast using her in the mean time while Radiance gets some show time in.
Day 2 show: Really frustrating... Judge was Manuel Hidalgo who judged all open classes very slowly - comes to lionheads and all was done in 15 minutes. No time for written comments, no dq's on anyone even for obvious reasons - barely a glance at all of them. I guess he doesn't like them much. I will NOT show under him again - is a waste of time and money. BOB and BOSB were both given to Wally (Ridgewoods) with jr. torts (one who had been dq'd the day before). He left the table before even pronouncing best of breed - I had to ask him to come back and tell us who won. He glanced over and waved his arm and said, "oh.. the torts of coarse!" And that was it. : ( First time I've felt a judge didn't give us a fair show. But it happens.
I will be writing up a showing 101 page in the future for beginner show rabbit people. I find I get asked the same questions alot and feel this will a valuable resource. But first I have to write an article for Mane Musings... gotta get on it - due in two weeks!!!
But when all is said and done - I am so happy with my stock now... I've paired down to bare bones, but plan to keep alot of jr's now - I should have lots to choose from as almost everyone is bred now and usually the spring breedings take! Bunny Hutch's stock will give me consistent shorter bodies and nice long manes I believe, and Graphite will give me that too... so I'm hoping this will raise my quality of rabbits up again another notch.
