Sunday, November 1, 2009

What's the deal with Legs?

Everyone has seen them rabbits with "insert number here" Legs. Now the first reaction most people have is "Shouldn't they have 4?" A Leg is a little certificate stating that the rabbit won it's class (of at least 5 rabbits, shown by at least different people). Now you have the wow what an amazing rabbit comment.

Now lets see. The rabbit won it's class, meaning at that show is was better then the ones being shown against it, it doesn't mean the rabbit itself is that great, it just means it was better then the other ones brought to the show that day.

Nearly 7 years ago now I had a little tri-colour Mini Rex doe, not the greatest rabbit in the world and now looking back I have to say to myself what was I thinking?! That rabbit I brought out to a small now extinct, ARBA show she was one of 9 Mini Rex that showed up that day. She ended up winning BOSB and recieved a leg. She was an awful Mini Rex, she was just a little better then the other rabbits that happened to show up.

So a rabbit that has a leg is always good? You got it, no way.

More recently I bought a Jersey Wooly buck, he has 3 legs, he is a nice rabbit, his son on the other hand has a total of 0 legs, and has beat him in every show they have ever competed against each other in. Now why is that? Well when he is at an ARBA show there aren't enough exhibitors, or rabbits, or he is either molting and not able to go. Meanwhile at DR&CBA shows (which are basically the same as ARBA shows same people showing, basically same standard) this rabbit has gone on to win Best Fancy Etc over his father.

So don't let the glory of a rabbit winning legs fool you. When buying a rabbit make sure you know what you're looking for don't buy a rabbit just because it has a leg or two. It seems just because a rabbit has a leg under it's belt it's a good excuse to jack up the price.

This doesn't mean the rabbit is awful either if a rabbit has a billion legs there is probably a good reason for it :)

2 comments:

Keep said...

I completely agree- just because an animal has legs, or is a GC doesn't mean it's worth a billion dollars :)

Annette said...

or that it will produce animals are will win classes either.