Yesterday was one of the best days of my entire hotot adventure! I was really nervous for my first show. I got up at 5:30 and got everything packed up. Then at 7AM I loaded up the Mickey & Regina and Dad and I headed to the We Be Rabbit Show in Hutchinson, MN.
I was so nervous! We got there around 7:30 and I couldn't believe all the bunnies. There was tons of them.
I managed to get registered and then found Debbie McLaughlin and her and a friend tattooed Regina and Mickey (thanks!!!). Then we sat.... and sat..... and sat. I didn't realize how much sitting you do in a rabbit show! Finally, something about Dwarf Hotot was muttered over the loud speaker and everyone in our little DH unit started buzzing. I panicked, grabbed my two carriers, and chased everyone else over to the hotot table. LOL I think I was a little worked up at first. =) heehee
In the first show the judge was Tonna Thomas. And I should mention - before the first show came, we discovered that one of Regina's toe nails was missing. She must have been hopping around in her cage and jerked it out. :( So she was DQ'd because of that, but I still put her on the table so I could get comments from the judge.
Senior Bucks were up first. That was Mickey. There was 10 other bucks in his class, and my heart was pounding, I'm telling you!
Do I look nervous??? Well, either way, I AM. |
Tonna judging Mickey |
I watched as Mickey kept getting moved closer to the head of the table. I was wondering "does that have anything to do with where they are placed??" Then they started getting placed. I couldn't believe it when the judge said that first place went to HH001. WOW.
Tonna Thomas also looked at Regina, even though she got DQ'd on her toe nail, she still gave comments which was nice. When she saw the toe nail she said "bummer! ..... this doe would have taken first place." So that was encouraging! I will have Regina's babies on the table next time - I'm going to breed her to Mickey tomorrow.
So, after the Sr. Does, Jr. Bucks, and Jr. Does were judged, the best from each class (4 bunnies) were lined up and the Best Of Breed was chosen.
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
So, to make a long story short...... I stayed for the last two shows of the day, and under judge
Alissa Kruger,
and judge Don Havlicek,
Mickey got BOB in both of them!!! I was just hopping around at the end, I couldn't believe it!!!!! He now has three legs and is a Grand Champion. I am SO PROUD of my baby!
Thank you so much to you all who supported me in this big venture. LOL And a special thanks to my very patient Dad who spent 12 hours in "Bunny Hell", as he described it.
You're the best.
:)
...and yes, it was Bunny HEAVEN for me. I had the best time of my life... I'm HOOKED.
Thanks also to Tonna Thomas for giving me some lessons on DH type! She was able to spend a little time giving me some examples with Mickey, and I learned some helpful new tips. Thanks!
Thanks also to Debbie McLaughlin and the rest of the DH crew for all your help and guidance to this newbie at the show. I really appreciated it! :)
And thanks to Lindsey of 4Kings Rabbitry who helped me out a BUNCH with lots of great advice before my first show. Thank you!!!!
ALSO.... a HUGE CONGRATS to Julia of Hoppin' Fun Rabbitry on her win with Hoppin' Hotots Onyx! (Also one of Regina's litter mates). Onyx took FIRST PLACE in all three shows! Nice job Julia and Onyx!
A few other pics from the show....
(there were SO MANY different kinds of rabbits there!!!)
Some hotots...
Junior Bucks getting judged.....
So... thus ends my big mega-post. My first show went so well, I had a blast. I'm hoping there will be many more..... ;-) (Oh Dad, what did you get yourself into???) =)
I have 9 babies and more litters coming up right now, so I'll have to post about them soon, too!
Thanks again everyone!!! :-)