Sunday, September 29, 2013

Rare Breed ARBA Club

Rare Breed ARBA Club

A member contacted American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and spoke to them about a rare breeds rabbits class & also an actual rare breeds rabbit club. They were told only clubs that are all-breed or for 1 specific breed can be affiliated. On the rare breed class, it would have to be for fun, no points or legs, since the different breeds would be showing against each other.

What ARBA told you is correct. We've talked about this in the Rare Breed Rabbit yahoogroup. So what we did at a few shows Calif was to include a Best Rare Breed In Show Award in addition to Best In Show and Reserve In Show. Just for bragging rights, not points or legs. Judges were asked to look at the Rare Breeds List and to pick out the best of that group as they were looking. All the judges we asked loved the idea and were very happy to help us with the award. There is a club on West Coast called Northwest Rare and Heritage Rabbit Club that hosts all breed shows with specials for the Rare Breeds. Using an all breed show to promote rare breeds is counter intuitive but it makes sense fiscally. A lot of clubs cut costs by not giving ribbons or trophies for rare breeds which often have few entries. By re-allocating some funds from the popular breed entries to buy ribbons for all the breeds helps promote the smaller breed entries. The shows are to promote Rare Breeds but are open to all breeds. Any All Breed Rabbit Club can support rare breeds by including ribbons for all breeds and an extra award for Best Rare Breed In Show.

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