Great Scott's 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club
To Make The Best Better
During the Topsfield Fair we do the Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship and this is how you do the Rabbit Showmanship. Your rabbits doesn't have to be show quality to do Showmanship.
This is the proper way to carry your rabbit to the table. The rabbit should have it's nose in your elbow area and all of it's feet under your arm.
Pose the Rabbit - The rabbit should be facing left. And all the feet should be just about under the body, it's head should be going forward.
Ear canker (right ear) . The rabbit's right ear is already facing the judge so you don't have to move the rabbit. All you have to do is take the ear and push with your thumb on the back.
Ear canker (left Ear). For this pose you have to LIFT THE RABBIT OFF THE TABLE and turn it the other way. So now you take the rabbits left ear and push on it from the back.
Tooth defects- On this one you grab the ears and the scruff of the neck with one hand and the "rump" with the other and gently flip the rabbit over. You can show the teeth either by reaching from above (pictured) or by going up near the paws.
Sex and Vent disease - Show sex to judge. Clamp tail with index finger and second finger; place thumb below vent area and push toward front of rabbit.
Toe nails - Grab hold of a foot and push (with thumb) in the middle showing the nails, do this on each foot until the judge nods on all of them.
Hocks and belly area - On this pose you want to flip the rabbit over and rub the belly up and down and then the rear paws and keep doing that until the judge nods.
Straightness of frot legs - on this one you lift the rabbit and turn it away from you. you grab the tips of the ears and gently lift the rabbit's front legs off the table (you are not hurting them!)
Straightness of rear legs - for this pose you are going to flip the rabbit over and gently push the "hips" down to straighten the legs out. it should look like the rabbit is sitting.
Straightness of tail - turn the rabbit towards you and pull the tail up. keep doing that until the judge nods.
Fly back, normal fur - This pose you want to "pat" the rabbit only going from back to front and when the judge nods pose the rabbit again.
(Picture coming soon) Density, Rex and wool fur - this is for people who have mini rex, rex, angoras and anything with wool. you simply pat the fur down to show how far down it goes.
Fur condition - on this pose you stroke the rabbit once and show your hand, you keep doing that until the judge nods.
Front view - You turn the rabbit away from you and make sure it's feet are tucked in and it's head is straight.
Rear view - Turn the rabbit towards you and lift it's tail up.
Side view- this is your last chance to show the judge what you can do. You want ot POSE the rabbit again and make it look as good as it can.
Other Showmanship reminders:
- ALWAYS SMILE!
- LOOK AT THE JUDGE FOR THEM TO NOD.
- ALWAYS WEAR AT LEAST A LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, A LAB COAT WOULD BE BEST
- NO JEWELRY
- YOU DON'T NEED HAIRSPRAY, BODY SPRAY, NAIL POLISH, FAKE NAILS; ALL THESE THING CAN GET IN THE WAY DURING THE SHOW
- HAIR OUT OF YOU FACE
- THE BEST WAY TO DRESS IT MOST LIKELY, JEANS, SNEAKERS, LAB COAT AND YOUR RABBIT/CAVY!
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE PLEASE CONTACT KENDRA - meagainsttheworld16@yahoo.com