ABOUT MINI REX
Monna Berryhill, Founder of the Mini Rex and the NMRRC
Monna Berryhill from Texas began working on the Mini Rex breed when she won a
pair of DWARF REX donated by Marylouise Cowan at the 1984 ARBA Convention in
Orlando Florida. A little buck, ZORO, survived and paired with a small Lynx Rex
doe named Cotton they produced a litter of 7. There were 3 does in this litter
that were kept to become the foundation for the Mini Rex breed. Happy, Bashful
and Dopey have long faded from the pedigrees that we see today. Anyone who has
been raising Mini Rex since the early years have old pedigrees in their files
that can trace back to this beginning.
Happy and Bashful were sent to Linda Thompson and Gloria Middleton in
Sarasota, Florida. Where they were used to start a breeding program there.
Gloria retired from rabbits in 1995 while Linda Thompson continues today with
her Southern Belle's Mini Rex. You can find Southern Belles in the pedigrees of
the top winning Castors including the first and second Mini Rex to win BIS at
an ARBA Convention.
In 1986 at the ARBA Convention in Columbus a very
nervous Monna Berryhill presented the Castor Mini Rex. After what seemed like a
life time while the Standards Committee made a long careful scrutiny of the
animals, they approved the working standard for the Mini Rex rabbit. The cheers
rose and tears flowed as we hugged and predicted that this was the breed of the
future.
1987 was a busy year for Mini Rex breeders. New varieties were cropping up in
litters all over the country due to the Netherland Dwarf influence of the Dwarf
Rex. It was not a surprise to find Tortoise, Sable, and Smoke Pearl that first
year. There were a lot of experiments with small Standard Rex and Mini Rex
crosses to improved body type and fur. It wasn't long before there were
Chinchilla, Seals, Californian(now called Himalayan), Red, White, Blue, Black,
Broken and Chocolate just to name a few. Virginia Minden from California and
Bill and Laurie Turner from Arizona volunteered to help in the presentation
process for new varieties starting in Portland at the 1987 ARBA Convention.
This was the second year for the breed and the first showing of 15 new
varieties. They were: White, Blue, Black, Chinchilla, Seal, Californian,
Chocolate and Beige presented by Virginia Minden. Red presented by Bill and
Laurie Turner. Tortoise and Smoke Pearl presented by Linda Thompson. Opal,
Broken and Lynx presented by Monna Berryhill. Otter and Sable presented by
Gloria Middleton. The Beige, Smoke Pearl, Sable and Otter failed, all others
passed with a working standard for their first showing. Madison, Wisconsin was
the site of the 1988 ARBA Convention where the final showing of the Mini Rex as
a new breed was made. If the Mini Rex were accepted as a breed, the Standards
Committee agreed to allow the other varieties presented in Portland to be
accepted as recognized varieties provided they passed their presentation at
Madison. The Mini Rex became an accepted ARBA breed and history was made!! Not
all of the varieties presented were accepted the Blacks and Chocolates would
have to wait until Tulsa to try again where they would once again fail in 1989.
The process would start over with two different breeders.
The 1989 ARBA Convention in Tulsa Oklahoma saw a the first official
convention entry of the Mini Rex Breed. Monna and Ken Berryhill took both BOB
and BOS with a stunning pair of Castors. It was already evident that this was a
breed rewrite ARBA show history.
Eric Brennan of Texas took over the Black variety and Freda Kraus from
Maryland took over the Chocolate variety. Both the Chocolates and Blacks made a
new presentation at the 1990 Convention in Tampa and both passed. The
Chocolates successfully completed the process in 1992 at Columbus where it all
began. It was here that a Chocolate junior doe from the 1992 presentation was
sold in the Mini Rex auction for a record $900. That auction record still
stands. The Blacks failed one presentation and finally completed the process in
1993. Today the Black(both the Solid and Broken) varieties are very strong
competitors and have won BOB at Conventions.
In 1991 Linda Thompson made the first presentation of the Tricolor Mini Rex
in Pomona California, and in 1994 they too were approved. Lilac Mini Rex were
first presented by Judy Ball of Virginia in 1992 at Columbus and finally
recognized in 1995.
In 1994 and again in 1995 Mini Rex made ARBA history when Anne and Lou Lassen
of California took back to back BIS with Castors at ARBA Conventions. In the
following years entries of Mini Rex at Conventions were in the top two with
entries of 900-1000 Mini Rex. Each year we find Mini Rex in the number one
position for ARBA registrations, Grand Champions, and BIS wins.
2005 saw
the addition of Blue eyed Mini Rex to the line up. Jan Coffelt's beautiful 2001
Blue Eyed White presentation at the ARBA Convention in San Diego California
passed the first showing and only improved for the second showing in 2002. The
BEWs passed their third presentation with flying colors in 2004, joining the
ranks of ARBA sanctioned Mini Rex varieties in 2005.
New varieties being worked on include the Otters presented by Armando
Cabrerra from California, and the Sable Point Mini Rex. Armando will make his
third presentation of the Otter Mini Rex in 2005 at the ARBA Convention in
Indianapolis. Update: Otters and Sable Points were passed.
It takes a lot of hard work, devotion, and determination to make a successful
presentation happen... and a healthy bank account !!!
[History courtesy of Freda Kraus/Iris Patch
Rabbitry]
Breed Facts
Breed Slogan
Heir to the Throne
Showroom Varities
RECOGNIZED: Black, Blue, Blue-Eyed White, Broken Group, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Himalayan, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Otter, Red, Sable Point, Seal, Silver Marten, Smoke Pearl, Tortoise, White
COD: Sable, Tan
Weight
Junior Weight: Minimum weight 2 pounds, not over 3.75
pounds
Senior Bucks: 3-4.5 pounds, ideal weight 4 pounds
Senior Does: 3.25-4.50 pounds, ideal weight 4.25 pounds
Appearance
Mini Rex are a smaller rabbit known for their excellent fur quality.
Coat Type
Mini Rex have Rex fur
General Personality
Mini Rex are generally known for their gentle
temperament.
ARBA Schedule of Points
General Type....45
Body....35
Head....5
Ears....5
Fur....................35
Color..................15
Condition...............5
TOTAL POINTS....100
Breed History
Country of Orgin
United States
Founder
Mona Berryhill
Brief History of Mini Rex
Mona Berryhill began working on the Mini Rex when she received a pair of dwarf Rex at the 1984 ARBA Convention. Her first litter from one of the does became the foundation of her Mini Rex program. Two of the does from that litter were sent to other breeders so that they could begin work on this breed as well.
Monna first presented the mini rex in 1986 at the ARBA Convention in
Columbus, Ohio. They passed their first presentation. At the ARBA convention 1987 15 new varieties were presented. Finally in 1988 the breed passed its final presentation and several of the varieties which had passed their second presentation were permitted by the ARBA to bypass thier third presentation and the Mini Rex was born.
Year of ARBA Acceptance
1988
Conservation Status
Mini Rex are currently not at risk
Recommended Breeders
Breed Links
National Club
National Mini Rex
Rabbit Club
Regional Clubs
Local/State Clubs