Showmanship

 

Showing tips
Here are a few tips.

 

• Smile at the judge.  They enjoy seeing a happy, kind face.

• Keep eye contact. This shows the judge that you are paying attention. Try not to stare though.

• Practice handling your rabbit so that you and your rabbit will be ready when you show.

• Reward your rabbit if it stays still in it’s body type pose for several minutes. A calmer rabbit may do better at this.

• Clean your rabbit one week before the show day and the day of so that your rabbit is mess free.

• Study! This is so important for success.

  Juniors should know how to handle rabbits and about their breed. Also they should know some basic terms.

  Intermediates should know how to handle rabbits, everything about their breed and a bit about most other breeds. They seem to be asked a lot of meat rabbit, parasitic and disease questions. However these are not as complex or detailed questions compared to seniors.

  Seniors are expected to know everything.  They seem to be asked a lot of disease, genetic, and nutrition questions.

  (More to be added later!)

 

 

 

Items You Should Have
Here are items that you will need to have for your rabbit and for showmanship. Some things, such as specific articles of clothing, may vary for different states.

4-H Shows (what you need for shows)

 

• White long sleeve shirt OR lab coat (some locations allow western show attire)

• Black pants (some areas allow dark pants and skirts check with your 4-H office)

• Extra change of clothes

• Carpet square (for your rabbit)

• Leak proof carrying cage

• Grooming kit

• Rabbit(s)

 

Please read and make note of this if you are a girl: Your hair must be out of your face. Pony-tails are the best way to do this for long hair. You should have clean nails, free of colored nail polish. Jewelry is often not allowed, although sometimes it is permitted.  Check with your 4-H leader.

 

 

 

Grooming Kits

Here are the basics that you should have in your grooming kit.

 

• Baby Oil

• Q-Tips

• Nail Clippers

• Baking Soda

• Cornstarch or Stop Bleed(if you don’t have Baking Soda)

• Brush/Comb

• Jig-saw blade (for Rex rabbits)

• Neosporin

 

Baby Oil is used to clean the rabbit’s vents (AKA anal glands) and to clean the insides of the ears. Simply take a Q-Tip, soak one end in the Baby Oil, then clean the vents. For the ears, do the same thing. Q-Tips are for cleaning the vents and the ears.

 

Nail Clippers are for trimming the nails. Be sure not to clip them too short!

 

Baking Soda is used to stop bleeding if you accidentally cut the rabbit’s nail(s) too short. It can also be used to whiten a stained white rabbit. Cornstarch or Stop Bleed stops bleeding if you accidentally cut the rabbit’s nail(s) too short.

 

Brush/Comb used to take out loose fur. Also straightens and smooths the fur.

 

Jig-saw blade (for Rex rabbits) is a special comb for the Rex fur.

 

Neosporin/Triple Antibiotics is for any open wounds on the skin. Do not get the Neosporin/Triple Antibiotics with pain relievers/lidocaine in it,  That is very deadly to a rabbit.

 

I find it best if you have these items all in one place. A plastic container or a makeup box is to be a good way to organize things.