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Off to a good start
Plan to get to the show early,
well ahead of the entry deadline (listed in the show catalog-usually
between 8 and 9 am) Showrooms can be very
crowded. Also, allow extra driving time if you are traveling to
unfamiliar territory-you never know, one wrong turn and you may find
yourself taking a grand tour of the countryside!
-
load your rabbits into
carriers and check to make sure you are bringing the same rabbits you
intend to show. Don't laugh.... we've brought the wrong rabbits
before! (see the previous chapter for ideas on how to mark the
rabbits you intend to bring)
-
Load the rabbits so their
noses and tails face the sides of your vehicle (so in case you stop
suddenly their heads won't jamb up forward against the carrier, possibly
breaking teeth!)
-
secure the carriers so they
cannot 'shift' or move around in the vehicle
-
plan to keep the vehicle
temperature as close to what your rabbits are used to - rabbits subject to
a drastic temperature change, even for a short time, can be tossed into a
full-blown molt! Keep in mind that your rabbits will need to be
comfortable for the ride but just don't go extreme with your heat or A/C.
Arriving at the Show
- first, get out and go inside
to look around. The judging tables are long tables, usually with
carpet coverings, with small cages or built-in open-top wooden boxes
lining the outer edge of each table. Usually shows will set up the
judging tables to they are all in one area of the showroom - either all in
the center, or all along the outer edges near the walls.
Sometimes the show committee already has the judges' names and opening
breeds (the breeds that will be shown first) posted on sheets of paper
taped to each judging table, but not always. See if you can find where
your breeds will be shown as you will want to park yourself and your
rabbits as close to that area as you can.
-bring all your bunnies and
supplies in. Keep a good distance away from all exits and all
judges' show tables - during the show, breeders usually haul several
rabbits over to the judging area and park them in front of the table for
easy access during their classes-these areas can become quite crowded
while judging is going on.
Enter The Rabbit Show
Take your show entry forms,
remark cards, and your money up to the entry table (once someone is there
to take entries). The entry table is usually near an entrance or by
the kitchen area. Turn in your entries as early as you can so the
show people have plenty of time to sort the remark cards into individual class piles.
If you are an adult (age 19
and over) you must show in OPEN, so stand in the open line with your show
entries.
If you are a YOUTH exhibitor
(under 19 yrs old) you have a few options; You can show in YOUTH
and you can show in OPEN, even at the same show - BUT you cannot
show the same rabbit in both open and youth at the show!
Be sure to stand in the correct line to turn in your entries. If
you are confused about open/youth entries, read our chapter on
how to enter a rabbit show
Specialty shows
If
you are going to enter a specialty show at this same show, you will turn
in your separate specialty show entry forms, remark cards and entry fees
to the specialty show secretary - sometimes this person's location at the
show is not apparent - just ask around and someone will direct you to the
right person who can take your specialty show entries and money.
Set Up Your Area
Now you can get your rabbits
and area taken care of - set up your chairs and grooming table if there is
room (the show catalog will most likely tell you if you cannot set
up chairs or grooming tables, but even if this is not mentioned, sometimes, people from the show will
come around and ask you to take these down-especially if it appears the
show will be crowded), Feed/water your rabbits and check them to
make sure they came through the trip fine.
Encourage Your Rabbits To
Eat and Drink Throughout the Show
We always provide hay for our
rabbits to munch on during each show, plus we always bring water from home
for them (they might not drink water from different towns/areas as it might
taste different to them). If we are expected to be long at a show, we also
bring their pellet rations. Keeping your rabbit eating hay and
drinking water while at a show is always a good idea - this helps ward of
intestinal stress problems.
If the Showroom becomes
crowded....
You may have to 'downsize'
your area as more people come into the showroom - you can do this by
stacking carriers on top of one another or if it is a really crowded show,
you may have to take down your chairs/grooming table to accommodate
incoming people! Now don't become a 'ground-hog' and hoard all the
excess space you have - share with others - something we all have to work
on (myself included). Remember to keep a 'path'
open to the main show walkway, not only for yourself, but for people
around you also - it is frustrating when the only way you have to get out
of your area is to climb over carriers!
Can I Change My Entries?
So you've already turned in
your rabbit show entry forms - and at some point afterwards you want to
change or correct something - usually if they haven't started showing your
breed yet, you can change your entries, but not always. Generally, once
they start judging your breed, entries are 'closed' and the only changes
that can be made are 'scratches' which means you just don't show a rabbit
or rabbits. Here are some common scenarios:
While taking care of your rabbits
soon after you arrive, you discover that you brought along a rabbit you did not
enter, or maybe even brought the wrong rabbit for a class you already
entered...what do you do? Just go back up to the table where you
turned in your entry forms and talk to the people working there - they
should be able to find your entry form and remark cards and straighten it
all out before the show begins.
Sometimes you'll discover that
one of your rabbits 'grew', seemingly overnight, and is now too heavy for
the junior or intermediate class he or she is already entered in - if they
have not started judging your breed yet, you might be able to 'bump' your
rabbit into the next higher age class by talking to the show entry folks.
A rabbit too heavy for his or her class may be disqualified during the
show - but you need to check your Standard of Perfection - as some breeds
cannot be 'bumped up' into the next age class. If your rabbit is
already entered in a senior age class and is too heavy for the
breed standard - you are pretty much out of luck- if the rabbit is already
entered, you might as well show him/her anyways - since judges don't
always catch an overweight rabbit and some will allow for a few ounces
over......
On this same note.....a rabbit
that does not make the required minimum weight for the age class he
or she should be entered in - should not be shown! For
example; your French Lop buck is 9 months old and only weighs 9 1/2 lbs.
The minimum weight for a senior French Lop buck is 10 1/2 lbs - so
this rabbit does not meet the minimum weight requirement for a
senior and should not be shown-period. You should not enter this
rabbit in a younger age class such as 6/8 (intermediate) or junior!
Perhaps later in the day, you
might find yourself grooming a rabbit and notice that he has pulled a
tooth during the trip, or a neighboring rabbit sprayed him with urine, so
you decide not to show him - it is best to report these 'scratches'
to the show entry folks, but if your class/breed is already called or is
close to being called, you can just let the 'writer' (sitting at the show
table filling out remark cards) know which rabbit you are 'scratching' so
they can pull your remark card from the class pile and mark it
'scratched'. If you don't let them know you are scratching a rabbit
from a class, valuable time will be wasted while the rest of the class is
waiting for you to show up at the table with your rabbit! Generally
you should not expect to get your entry money back for 'scratches'.
I'm Ready, now what do I
do?
Relax.....you may have some
waiting to do now. Wander around, talk to breeders, watch any
judging that is going on, visit the breakfast/lunch stand, browse and
enter the club raffle (did you remember to bring an item to donate to the
club for their raffle?)
Read a book. During all of this, keep checking to
see when it is your turn to show your rabbits.
Some shows have a public
address system, but don't count on a PA announcement to learn when your
breed is called - meandering around the show tables will keep you better
informed - Usually, a piece of paper will be taped to one end of each
judging station - someone from the show committee will handwrite the next
few breeds that will be judged, adding to the list as the day goes on.
Don't panic if you can't find your breed right away, just keep checking!
Register Your Rabbits
You can always register your
adult rabbits while you are waiting for your classes to begin. Look
for the show's registrar and take your rabbit, your ARBA card and the
rabbit's pedigree up to the registrar's table to begin the process if you
wish.
Supervising Your Children at a
Rabbit Show
Rabbit showing can be a fun
event for the whole family! If you will be bringing young children to
the rabbit show - bring activities to keep them occupied and count on
supervising their showroom conduct. A rabbit show can easily last
all day long and even into the evening, taxing everyone's patience, not
only young kids, but adults as well!
Pay phones and playing in the
parking lots/grounds seem to be quite an attraction to young kids
at rabbits shows....please supervise your kids so they are not tempted to pull a prank
(even an innocent one at that) that could get you in trouble!
For obvious reasons, kids should not be running through the showroom, nor
should they be throwing balls or other items!
It's
always a good idea to monitor where they are eating/drinking
too....at one show that I can remember, we ended up having to scratch a
nice Holland Lop from a class because the kids seated next to our carriers
were goofing off and spilled a whole can of Pepsi on our rabbit.
Almost everyone is familiar with the sticky properties of soda,,,needless
to say, it took us a while to get him cleaned up - and surely this rabbit
felt utterly insulted.....
read our
next chapter - judging begins! |
