Going to Your First Rabbit Show: Beginner Tips and Giant Angora Baby Updates
- Tammy Vaughn
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
A simple first-show roadmap, plus Village Rabbit Barn news, yarn updates, and a table full of three-week-old Giant Angoras.
Watch the video on the Sinfully Soft YouTube channel here:
I had plans for this week’s live.
I had notes. I had a short lesson prepared for people who are thinking about attending their first rabbit show. I even had several boxes ready so I could bring the three-week-old babies inside for a little show-and-tell.
The babies had plans of their own.
At three weeks old, they are no longer quiet little nest-box babies. They are hopping beans. I would put one into the box, add a second, and somehow two would jump back out. I was in a hurry, which made everyone more nervous, and I had to remind myself of something I already know, "Slow down, Tammy!"
That little bit of baby-bunny chaos turned into a good reminder about both rabbits and rabbit shows. New experiences feel much easier when we give ourselves time, stay calm, and do not expect to understand everything on the first try.
The Village Rabbit Barn Is Ready
One of the biggest updates I shared is the new Village Rabbit Barn on the Sinfully Soft website.
I have struggled for years to find a comfortable, reliable place to share rabbits that are available. Facebook is wonderful for community, but it does not allow animal sales. I wanted an off-site space where listings could be clear, organized, and easy for serious breeders to find.
The private Village Rabbit Barn is now open to Village Elders. I will begin adding available rabbits there first. That includes white and chestnut Giant Angoras, along with other rabbits that may help someone’s breeding program.
The Chocolate Agouti youngsters are a little different. I am not ready to offer many of them, and any that do become available will be placed very carefully with serious breeders. Some may also need to travel to Reno with me so they can take part in the Chocolate Agouti COD exhibit.
My next step is to create the public side of the Rabbit Barn after the Village Elders have had their first look.
Learn more about the Colored Giant Village:
Village Elders can enter the Rabbit Barn here:
A Few Fuzzy Fiber Updates
I also received a surprise box of M&M Merino yarn. He's a beautiful Morritt, made beautiful deep chocolate colored yarn.
M&M was one of my favorite rams. He was a beautiful boy with lovely wool, although he eventually became too large and aggressive for us to handle safely. I had sent his wool out more than a year ago and, honestly, I had nearly forgotten about it.
The yarn is wonderfully squishy, but it has small pieces of vegetable matter in it. I have 38 skeins, and I am determined to work through them and remove as much as I can. I do not want to sell something unless I am happy to use it myself.
On the very same day, four large bags of Betty Chu’s English Angora wool were packed and shipped to the mill. For years, I have heard that English Angora fiber is too fine to make practical yarn. Maybe it is the obstinate teenager in me, but when someone says it cannot be done, my first question is, “Why not?”
The Betty yarn will be blended with a compatible soft wool, so the finished yarn keeps that beautiful Angora softness and halo while gaining durability and structure. I cannot wait to see what the mill creates.
Four Simple Steps for Your First Rabbit Show
If you are new to rabbit shows, my biggest advice is simple: just go.
You do not need to enter a rabbit the first time. Attend as a spectator, watch what happens, meet people, and get past that first fear of the unknown.
Here is the simple four-step roadmap I shared in the video.
1. Find a Show and Show Up
The ARBA Show Search lists sanctioned rabbit and cavy show and allows you to look for events by location.
Find an ARBA-sanctioned show:
Choose a nearby show and make your first goal simply to attend. You do not need to know everything before you walk through the door.
2. Find the Catalog and Contact the Show Secretary
The show listing normally provides the show secretary’s contact information. Email and explain that you are new. Ask where to find the catalog and whether the secretary knows which Angora exhibitors may be attending.
The catalog contains the details you need, including the location, schedule, entry instructions, fees, and special show rules.
3. Prepare and Pack
If you are bringing a rabbit, prepare your supplies ahead of time. I am putting together a more detailed video about what I pack for a rabbit show, but even spectators should bring a chair and be ready for a busy, noisy building.
Some shows ask exhibitors to wait before setting up chairs so there is enough room for everyone to bring in rabbits and equipment. Follow the host club’s directions and keep aisles open.
4. Arrive Early, Find Your People, and Help
When you arrive, find the show secretary and introduce yourself. Ask where the Angora exhibitors are set up. We often gather near an entrance because our blowers and grooming equipment are easier to manage outside.
Watch the judging order so you know when the Angora breeds will be called. Angora exhibitors often help one another carry rabbits to the table, but always ask a breeder before touching or carrying someone else’s rabbit.
After you have attended a few shows, consider volunteering as a table writer. Rabbit shows depend on volunteers, and sitting beside the judge is one of the best ways to hear comments and learn.
Baby Bunny Playtime
Once the show lesson was finished, it was finally time for the babies.
I brought out several litters from my Chocolate Agouti and Colored Giant Angora breeding project. Some are the next generations from my earlier Rex outcross, while others are moving closer and closer to the purebred Giant Angora type and wool structure I want.
At this age, I am watching several things:
How the babies respond to handling and new situations
Whether they relax after a few minutes of gentle interaction
Early body shape from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail
The smooth, rounded “football” rise I want in a Giant Angora
Wool texture and developing density
White spots or markings that may affect show quality
Spending time with babies makes a difference. At first, several were nervous because I had rushed while gathering them. After they sat with me, smelled my hands, and received some gentle attention, they settled down.
Temperament has a genetic component but handling and interaction matter too. It takes time and effort to raise confident rabbits that come to the front of the cage and are comfortable being examined.
It is still far too early to know which babies will become show animals or breeding keepers. Eight- to ten-week-old rabbits can look like gangly teenagers, and some that seem average during an early evaluation grow into beautiful adults. For now, I am enjoying them and watching the pieces begin to come together.
Other Projects Moving Forward
The Angora Royalty Kickstarter reached its goal, the funds arrived, and I am beginning the printing and fulfillment process. I am also testing heavier paper and lamination for the tuck boxes I will make with my Siser Juliet.
There is also a colorful pile of hand-dyed Angora shirts waiting to be ironed, photographed, and added to Sinfully Soft. They are not doing me any good sitting in a tub looking pretty.
There is always another project here, but that is part of the fun.
If you are preparing for your first rabbit show, I hope this gives you the confidence to take that first step. Find a show, walk through the door, introduce yourself, and let the learning begin.
For the love of Giants… Go Team Giants!
BTW, if you want to join our Colored Giant Village on Discord, Here's more information;
We’re creating more reasons for people to stay engaged, to show up at shows, and to fall in love with Angoras all over again. And that right there… is what this is all about.
Stay Fluffy My Friends,
Tammy,
Life’s just better with a Giant Angora hug
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