The sponsoring club must hire an ARBA approved judge. These judges may come from anywhere in the country and have special training in juding rabbits. The clubs must also follow the ARBA rules and regulations for a rabbit show.
Not all breeds of rabbits are shown at every local show. It is usually limited to the most popular breeds in the area.
These clubs usually hold multiple shows in one day. It is called a double for two shows and a triple for three shows in one day. Shows are also divided into Open and Youth. The Open show is open to all breeders. However, the Youth shows are limited to anyone eighteen or younger.
Holland lops are judged in 8 categories or classes, 4 solid and 4 broken. All the senior bucks are first shown against one another.
The rabbit which best meets the Holland lop standard, according to that judge, wins 1st place for the class. Every rabbit from 5th place up receives points based on the placing of the rabbit and the number of rabbits in the class. The following classes are usually in the order of: solid senior does, solid junior bucks and solid junior does. From each of the solid 1st place animals the judge will pick a best of variety (BOS), and a best opposite sex of variety (BOSV). Therefore, if the solid senior buck wins BOV, the judge will pick either solid senior or junior doe.
The same process is repeated for the broken color. Broken senior bucks usually start followed by the broken senior does, broken junior bucks and broken junior does. ( A junior is under 6 months of age and over 2 lbs. While a senior is over 6 months of age and all must be under 4 lbs.) Again the 4 winners, one from each broken class compete against each other. The judge will pick a broken BOV and a BOSV.
The solid BOV and BOSV along with the broken BOV and BOSV will compete for best of breed (BOB). A best opposite sex
of breed (BOSB) (BOS) will also be picked. These will be your best and 2nd best rabbits out of all the Hollands shown in that show.
The BOB rabbit will go on to compete for best in show (BIS) and best reserve in show (BRIS). In this class each rabbit will compete along with the best of breed rabbit from each breed shown in that show. The rabbits are each compared to their own breed standard. The winner is the one the judge thinks comes closest to their own standard by best representing their breed.
The show day can be a long one, but it can be very exciting if your bunnies are doing well. The best part of the show is being with our bunny friends. (the human ones, of course). We have met some great people showing Hollands.
Please contact us if you would like to attend a show. We are always interested in sharing our hobby and our love of Hollands.