So, my first rabbit arrived. It was a Holland lop - from my barn! Well, at least it was easy to register. He's a tort with two registered parents.
I did get a chance to see some different breeds, though. I was glad for that. I was surprised to see how many rabbits I could not register. Here are some common problems:
- No ARBA card
- Out of date ARBA card
- Lack of three full generations on pedigree
- Lack of weights on pedigree (boy, have I been guilty of that one before)
- Weight of rabbit (they must make senior weight)
- Age of rabbit (must be six months old)
An issue also came up with rabbits and youth. That is, if a rabbit is going to be shown by a youth, it must be registered only to youth. You cannot legally register a rabbit to an adult, or even an adult and a youth, and then show that rabbit in open.
If you and your children co-own rabbits, they must be shown in open. In fact, instruction #12 to registrars is as follows:
"INFORM THE OWNER/S OF THE RABBIT THAT IF A RABBIT IS REGISTERED AS BEING OWNED OR CO-OWNED BY AN ADULT, IT MAY NOT COMPETE IN A YOUTH SANCTIONED SHOW."
Yes, it is printed in caps and none of the other instructions are. You may confirm this rule on page 267 of your current Yearbook. I'm guessing that this is a rule that is often overlooked and/or misunderstood, thus the caps.
Really, this requirement is just a restating of Show Rule Section 30 (p. 261) which states that the animal shown must be the bonafide property of the exhibitor and each person's personal name must be shown on the entry. So that means that a rabbit registered to an adult and youth must have both of those names on the entry - and the adult cannot enter the youth show.
So, before you bring your rabbit to be registered, ask yourself whose name(s) it should be registered in. Be sure that you have a current ARBA card for the owner(s). Check the pedigree for three complete generations, including variety and weights (ear numbers are optional).
And bring $4.
Laurie Stroupe
ARBA Registrar
