Friday, July 15, 2005
Juniors
Going through juniors is fun and disappointing and exciting and a lot of work, all at the same time. I look forward to it and avoid it. But I'm always glad when it's done.
I have a number of young juniors right now, so I knew it would take awhile to go through them. But with an uncoming show and having someone to the barn tomorrow to buy bunnies, I couldn't put it off any longer.
Looking at juniors is fun because, well, it's playing with bunnies. Time with my bunnies is my happy time and my barn is my happy place.
Looking at juniors is disappointing, too, because some don't turn out the way you hoped. And, more often, it's not time yet to make a judgment on a number of them. Just when you think you will get a batch of them sorted out, half end up in the "allow to mature and evaluate again" pile.
Looking at juniors is exciting (that's my favorite part) because, no matter how much you have gazed upon these juniors for the last several months, there's always one that surprises you. Today, I was surprised by a little doe out of Mtn's Sandy and Camelot's Merlin. She's a product of an outcross, so I was expecting her to be the first of a multigenerational project. But instead, I found a wonderful full smooth HQ, beautiful head and ear, and substantial shoulders for such a young one.
Looking a juniors is a lot of work. Most of these bunnies haven't been handled extensively yet. There were a few natural posers who sat up like they've been doing it all of their lives. Most got the message after a couple of minutes. And then there was the wild child.
She's a doe out of two very nice bunnies. I have high hopes for her. Or had. She's going to have to learn some table manners before she will ever go to a show.
Her first order of business was to rake me across the jaw. Her second was to jump off of the grooming table. Her third was to jump off the grooming table again and disappear between the containers under my hanging cages.
Oh boy, all I wanted to do this evening was move around 18 buckets of manure playing find the bunny.
She eluded me long enough that I decided to check out some junior bucks while keeping an eye out for her. She teased me by coming out into the aisle a few inches. But she was watching me and darted back between the containers. Finally, she ventured too far. I blocked her passage and finally scooped her up.
I decided that she looked good enough so she didn't have to get on the table again.
All in all, I'm pleased with what I see out there. I've got more solids than I've had in awhile. That's fine because I had almost all brokens for a stretch there. If you are going to the Shelby, NC, show next weekend, you may see a couple of these new ones.
But the best part is I'm done looking at juniors for another month. I can't wait until next time.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com
¶ 7:02 PM
I have a number of young juniors right now, so I knew it would take awhile to go through them. But with an uncoming show and having someone to the barn tomorrow to buy bunnies, I couldn't put it off any longer.
Looking at juniors is fun because, well, it's playing with bunnies. Time with my bunnies is my happy time and my barn is my happy place.
Looking at juniors is disappointing, too, because some don't turn out the way you hoped. And, more often, it's not time yet to make a judgment on a number of them. Just when you think you will get a batch of them sorted out, half end up in the "allow to mature and evaluate again" pile.
Looking at juniors is exciting (that's my favorite part) because, no matter how much you have gazed upon these juniors for the last several months, there's always one that surprises you. Today, I was surprised by a little doe out of Mtn's Sandy and Camelot's Merlin. She's a product of an outcross, so I was expecting her to be the first of a multigenerational project. But instead, I found a wonderful full smooth HQ, beautiful head and ear, and substantial shoulders for such a young one.
Looking a juniors is a lot of work. Most of these bunnies haven't been handled extensively yet. There were a few natural posers who sat up like they've been doing it all of their lives. Most got the message after a couple of minutes. And then there was the wild child.
She's a doe out of two very nice bunnies. I have high hopes for her. Or had. She's going to have to learn some table manners before she will ever go to a show.
Her first order of business was to rake me across the jaw. Her second was to jump off of the grooming table. Her third was to jump off the grooming table again and disappear between the containers under my hanging cages.
Oh boy, all I wanted to do this evening was move around 18 buckets of manure playing find the bunny.
She eluded me long enough that I decided to check out some junior bucks while keeping an eye out for her. She teased me by coming out into the aisle a few inches. But she was watching me and darted back between the containers. Finally, she ventured too far. I blocked her passage and finally scooped her up.
I decided that she looked good enough so she didn't have to get on the table again.
All in all, I'm pleased with what I see out there. I've got more solids than I've had in awhile. That's fine because I had almost all brokens for a stretch there. If you are going to the Shelby, NC, show next weekend, you may see a couple of these new ones.
But the best part is I'm done looking at juniors for another month. I can't wait until next time.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com
¶ 7:02 PM
