Showing Lionhead Rabbits

The lionhead is a wonderful rabbit to keep as a pet but this breed has the potential to be so much more than that.

When showing lionhead rabbits, you have to make sure that they meet the requirements for the breed standard and you need to learn the basics about showing rabbits.

In here you will learn more about the specific standard for the lionhead breed and receive some tips for entering your rabbit in a show. This information will help you to decide if showing your lionhead rabbit is really something you want to do.

Lionhead Rabbit Breed Standards

Before entering your lionhead rabbit into a show, you need to make sure that he meets all of the qualifications. Judging for rabbit shows is based on the standard for each breed which is published by the governing body that is holding the show – generally the ARBA in the United States or the BRC in the U.K.

Make sure that you have a copy of the breed standard for whatever show you plan to enter and compare your rabbit to that standard.

It is important to note that if your rabbit doesn’t meet the qualifications, you should not enter him in the show because you will be disqualified, so check everything first. Below you’ll find an overview of lionhead rabbit breed standards.

Lionhead Rabbit (ARBA) Summary of Breed Standard

Total Points (100)

  • (General Type) – 40 points
  • Body – 25 points
  • Head – 10 points
  • Ears – 5 points
  • Fur – 45 points
  • Mane – 35 points
  • Coat – 10 points
  • Color & Markings – 10 points
  • Condition – 5 points

Body

  • The body should be short, compact and well rounded.
  • The shoulders and chest are to be broad and well filled, with shoulders matching hindquarters.
  • The depth at the shoulders should be deep enough to allow the animal to show full chest and then round back to hindquarters of slightly less depth.
  • The hindquarters should be broad, deep and well rounded.
  • The lower hips should be well filled.
  • Legs should be of medium length and medium-boned, relative to the size of the animal.

Head

  • The head should be bold.
  • It should have a good width and a slight roundness between the eyes, but should not be round from all directions.
  • The muzzle should be well filled.
  • The head should be attached to the body with a high head mount and no visible neck.
  • Eyes should be bright and bold.
  • Eye color to be as described in the individual variety.

Ears

  • Ears are to be erect and well set, but not necessarily touching.
  • In a relax state, ears should be carried in a slight ‘V’.
  • They should be well furred, of good substance, and slightly rounded at the tips.
  • Ears should balance with the head and body.

Mane

  • The mane should be comprised of wool that is strong and full of life with a medium soft texture and an evident crimp.
  • Softer wool on juniors is permissible.
  • Guard hairs may be present, but should not create a coarse feeling to the wool.
  • The mane must be at least 2 inches in length and form a full circle around the head which may extend into a ‘V’ at the back of the neck.
  • The wool of the mane should be dense enough to make the mane full and prominent.
  • The greatest density possible is desired.
  • The mane may form a wool cap across the brow, which should enhance the prominence of the mane.
  • The center of the foreface below the wool cap may have transition wool up to 1″ in length.
  • The cheeks extending into the whisker bed may be heavily trimmed.
  • The side trimmings and chest wool may be noticeably longer in length.

Faults

  • Long and narrow body.
  • Flatness over shoulders or hips.
  • Chopped off, pinched, or undercut hindquarters; any specimen that shows raciness.
  • A long and narrow head.
  • Pointed or narrow muzzle.
  • Low headset.
  • Head that is round from all directions.
  • Ears that are pointed, lack furring, or do not balance with the body.
  • Heavy wool more than halfway up the ear.
  • A mane that lacks density or balance.
  • Wool that is too cottony or prone to felting on seniors.

Disqualifications

  • Lack of any mane, or a mane that is of such poor quality that it shows open areas with no wool.
  • Mane that is less than 2 inches in length.
  • Transition wool longer than 1 inch on the face below the wool cap.
  • Ears that exceed 3-1/2 inches in length.

Lionhead Rabbit (BRC) Summary of Breed Standard

Total Points (100)

  • Type – 25 points
  • Mane/Chest – 30 points
  • Coat – 25 Points
  • Color – 10 points
  • Condition – 10 points

Body Type

  • The body is to be short, cobby and well rounded.
  • The shoulders and chest broad and well filled, with shoulders matching hindquarters.
  • The depth at the shoulders should be deep enough to allow the animal to show full chest and bib.
  • Hind quarters should be broad and deep.
  • The whole body should be firm to the touch.

Head

  • Should be broad.
  • Should have good width between the eyes.
  • The muzzle should be well developed.
  • The head should be attached to the body with no visible neck.

Eyes

  • Bold and bright.
  • Eyes of whites should be red or blue.

Ears

  • Not to exceed 3.5 inches (8.89cm) in length.
  • Should be erect and well set, but not necessarily touching, well covered of good substance slightly rounded at the tips, but not furnished as an Angora.
  • In a relax state, ears should be carried in a slight ‘V’.
  • Ears should balance with the head and body.

Legs

  • Should be medium length, relative to the size of the animal.
  • Not too fine in bone.

Important Note

Lionheads should be posed with front legs resting lightly on the table. When viewed from the front the stance is high enough to show the full chest, mane and bib, the head should not pushed or forced down.

 Mane/Bib

  • The extended fur should be strong and full of life with a medium soft texture.
  • Guard hairs may be present, but should not create a course texture.
  • The mane should form a full circle of fur between 5.to 7cm (2 to 3ins) in length extending to a ‘V’ at the back of the neck, falling into a fringe around the head, with extended fur on the chest to form a bib.
  • The greatest density possible is desired.
  • The mane may form a cap across the brow, which should enhance the prominence of the mane.
  • The extended fur on the cheeks should extend into the whisker bed but the center of the foreface below the eye line should be clear of extended fur.

Coat

  • The coat should be dense, of medium length, and rolled back.
  • The saddle should be free of extended fur.
  • There may be a flank line of extended fur known as a skirt.
  • A normal short coat should be visible.
  • The skirt should not cover the entire sides, and should not touch the saddle.

Condition

  • The rabbit should be in perfect health and bodily condition, free from all soiling, particularly on the feet, ears, and genital parts.
  • Free from knots and matting around the mane, bib and skirt.
  • The coat should reflect the overall good health of the exhibit, which should appear alert and vigorous.

Color

All colors as long as they conform to a recognized color and pattern. It is important to remember when judging color, that the fur of the mane, bib and skirt will be the undercolor in that area of the coat. The skirt on a banded color like an agouti- all the bands may be visible.

Faults

Narrow or long in body, chopped off or undercut hindquarters, any specimen that shows raciness. A long narrow head; pointed or narrow muzzle; low head set; ears too long, ears that exceed 3.5ins (8.9cms) in length or do not balance with the head or body (an unbalanced rabbit would be penalized even if its ears are not over 3.5ins).

Ears that are pointed, lack furring, or do not balance with the head or body, or that are heavily furred more than half way up the upper ear. A mane that lacks density or balance is also a fault and the extended fur on the face below the eye line.

In an under five month exhibit where there is no distinction / definition of the back coat (no signs of the baby coat starting to clear).

Disqualification

Malocclusion Wall Eye, putty nose, incorrect colored toe nails.

If the furnishings on top of the ears are like an Angora it is disqualified.

Lack of mane or bib; extended fur in the saddle area is also not acceptable.

In an under 5 months any exhibit that resembles an Angora or Cashmere in coat type and quality. Rabbits that have a heavy soiling; knots and matting are disqualified as well. Adults over 1.7kg (3lbs 12oz) or under 3.36 kg (3lbs) in weight.

Preparing Your Rabbit for Showing

Registering for the show

After making sure that your lionhead rabbit is an excellent specimen of the breed, you can start thinking about entering a show. The first thing you need to do is become a member of whatever organization you hope to show your rabbit with – this will likely be either the ARBA or the BRC.

Once you have become a member you will be able to register your rabbit under your name and enter him in shows. It can sometimes take a little while to complete this process so stay up to date with shows in your area so you can enter your rabbit as soon as your registration is completed.

When you are ready to enter your rabbit into a show, start by reading the rules and regulations for that specific show. In most cases, registering your rabbit for a show is fairly easy but you want to make sure you don’t overlook anything that might get you disqualified. Make sure you adhere to the deadlines for registration and have all of the information you are likely to need handy.

Here is the information needed to compete: 

  • Your name and address.
  • The breed of your rabbit.
  • Your rabbit’s color and age.
  • The sex of your rabbit.
  • Whether you bred or transferred the rabbit.
  • Whether you are a juvenile exhibitor.

Once you have registered your rabbit all that is left is to wait until the show day.

Leading up to show day

Prior to the day of show, make sure that you know how to get there and make sure you have a copy of the schedule so you know exactly when your rabbit is to be shown.

In the days leading up to the show you should put together a kit of items that may come in handy on show day.

Keep in mind the following things needed:

  • Your registration information.
  • Food and water for your rabbit.
  • Nail clippers – for emergency nail trimming.
  • Hydrogen peroxide – for cleaning injuries and spots on white coats.
  • Slicker brush and other grooming supplies.
  • Business cards, contact information.
  • Paper towels and wet wipes.
  • Scrap carpet square – for last-minute grooming.
  • Collapsible stool – when chairs are not available.
  • Extra clothes, food, and water for self.

On show day

On the day of the show, plan to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes prior to judging, and then proceed to your assigned pen.

At this point, the best thing to do is to sit back and watch – you can learn a lot just by observing at a rabbit show. When it comes time for judging, all you can really do is wait and let the judges do their duties.

Your rabbit must remain in his pen for the duration of the judging. If you rabbit wins anything, a prize card will be placed on his pen. When the judging is over, you can take your prize cards to the secretary and collect your prize money.

At this time, you can feel free to leave the show or you can stick around to keep learning. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with other people showing lionhead rabbits – you never know what you might learn or how a new connection could benefit you.  

Need more? Read the Ultimate Guide for Lionhead Rabbits

Book - Lionhead Rabbits: The Ultimate Guide for Lionhead RabbitsIf you’re still looking for more detail on breeding your rabbits, I’d recommend reading “Lionhead Rabbits: The Ultimate Guide for Lionhead Rabbits”. You can find it on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle.