I was probably spoiled by raising Netherland Dwarfs before raising Hollands. It was exciting going to a show knowing that because of color classes in showing, I had a fighting chance to win. I have often wondered how many new breeders don’t last in helping us to improve this wonderful breed because of "show disappointment". I have always been partial to color but the predominant color has been Tort. In the past, it has been hard to compete with other colors because this color has been emphasized and developed to a winning edge. It would be great to offer the same opportunity to develop other colors by breaking up the judging into color classes. I believe that we are doing a disservice to those who are interested in color and those who are new on the show circuit by only allowing competing on the basis of solid or broken. Showing Hollands in color groups instead of just varieties would also be an added bonus in competition. Hollands generally have a large entry in numbers. What encouragement do we give a new breeder when his Frosty Junior Buck is competing with 49 other junior bucks of which 37 are Torts. There seems to be a prejudice with many old-timers toward keeping it as it is because they have been winning for years and have had 15 to 20 years to develop a winning herd. Please give us new breeders an opportunity to develop and promote diversity in color. With the opportunity to compete in their own color groups at shows, the type of these color groups would improve with greater numbers of the colors of the rainbow competing.

I believe that this change in judging could encourage even more to work in the development of our superb breed. It is a time for change. I understand that it was a good idea to not encourage color at the beginning of the development of this breed. But this breed has been developed and is now in need of further development in the area of color. I am not able to attend National Conventions but I would encourage others that believe as I do to vote this change into policy for ARBA consideration. Those only interested in breeding Torts would still have sufficient numbers to compete in their color class and this would make it possible for those of us interested in enhancing the breed by color. We then could compete within the color groups.

I would not favor showing in individual colors only but have them broken down by the groups already approved for our breed. This is already set up within our standard. The groups are: The Agouti Group-The Broken Group- The Pointed White Group- The Self Group- The Shaded Group-The Ticked Group and The Wide Band Group. The present system makes it even difficult for judges because the group size is often too large. Breaking it down into different color groups would alleviate this problem and allow competition for those of us concerned about color. I understand that at the very first there may not be numbers sufficient at some shows by those in these color classes to get a leg because there would not be enough rabbits shown or breeders present for showing. I believe that there is enough interest coming up in colors that with the encouragement of separate classes this would quickly rectify itself. Consequently, more rare colors would be shown with the chance to get grand champion legs and more importantly to improve the type and assist the Hollands of color to become more like the standard.

It is time to develop the color groups. It is time for some breeders to change the focus to improving the approved color varieties. If Holland breeders knew that they had a chance to win legs toward a Grand Champion, there would be a greater focus and emphasis put on developing the approved colors. The incentive for someone new to the breed to be encouraged to develop a beautiful Holland with color is not there. I would be more encouraged to put some time in developing a Chinchilla if I knew that I would be competing against 12 other animals in my color variety then competing against 50 Solid Junior Bucks. One of those 12 is going to get a leg if there are three exhibitors. As a winner in my color variety, I will still have the opportunity to compete against the other best of the Solid Jr. Bucks. Until the other color varieties have had time to develop, Torts will still be the dominant color. The difference would be that our specialty club will grow because we will have more new and old breeders competing in the different color varieties.

Give us a chance. One of the great joys that I have in raising Hollands is in improving the type and balance of the non-Tort colors. I am working on Black, Blue, Chestnut Agouti, Black Otter, Blue Otter, and Opal. I would really appreciate an opportunity to show in a group that would have a fighting chance at winning a leg. You probably have the same problem that I do. There is only so much space to work with. It is a hard decision to make to use precious floor space to work on the color that has less of a chance to win. If the color classes were available in judging, more would be working with the rare colors. This would improve the type on these colored Hollands. Is this not what we should be working for?