SHOWMANSHIP EXAMINATION STEPS
These are the steps I used when doing showmanship in 4H and what helped me to make it to round robin. The biggest thing in showmanship is having a good rabbit and working with your rabbit a lot on posing and doing the examination and being held and messed with.
4 POINT TURN WHILE HOLDING RABBIT IN SHOWMAN HOLD (OPTIONAL DEPENDING ON IF THE JUDGE WANTS THIS)
LAY CARPET DOWN, POSE RABBIT, TAKE ONE STEP BACK, DO THE SHOWMAN STANCE, OPTIONAL: LAY BRUSH DOWN WHEN LAYING CARPET DOWN IF THE JUDGE CALLS FOR THAT.
NOSE: COLOR ON NOSE IF BROKEN (MATCHING PATTERN COLOR, NO PREFERENCE FOR A SPOT IN THE WHISKER BED OVER A FULL BUTTERFLY) OR OTTER (TAN PATTERN ON THE NOSE), RUNNY/SNOTTY NOSE (IF YES: CLEAR OR MILKY, SNEEZING), WARTS, DEFORMITIES, SCABS WHICH WOULD INDICATE VD OR AN INJURY, FOREIGN MATERIALS, MENTION DISEASES
EYES:RUNNY EYES, WALL EYE (EXPLAIN), MOONY EYE (EXPLAIN), FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE EYE, BLINDNESS, MENTION DISEASES (EYE FACING JUDGE, 4 POINT TURN, OTHER EYE, 4 POINT TURN BACK)
EARS: TATTOO (EXPLAIN REGULAR AND REG. #), EAR MITES, EAR CANKER, RUNNY, FOREIGN MATERIALS, COLOR ON EARS IF BROKEN OR OTTER, LENGTH AND THICKNESS (EAR FACING JUDGE, 4 POINT TURN, OTHER EAR, 4 POINT TURN BACK)
NECK: COLOR IF OTTER, FUR MITES
SHOULDERS: LONG/LOW SHOULDERS V. GOOD SHOULDERS, RISE FROM SHOULDERS TO BODY
MIDSECTION: TYPE DEPENDING ON BREED, LENGTH, RISE, PEAK, PROPORTIONATE
HINDQUARTERS: FALL, WIDTH, FULL LOINS
FUR: TEXTURE, DENSITY, TYPE, LENGTH, COLOR
TAIL: STRAIGHT/BROKEN/WRY
FLIP: 4 POINT TURN UNTIL HEAD FACES YOU SCISSOR THE EARS AND SUPPORT THE NECK, SCOOP THE HINDQUARTERS AND FLIP GENTLY AND EASILY SUPPORTING THE RABBIT WITH YOU HAND AND ARM ALONG ITS SIDE THE OTHER HAND ON THE HINDQUARTERSTHE HIND QUARTERS SHOULD END UP BETWEEN YOUR ARM AND YOUR SIDE AND YOUR ARM SHOULD RUN ALONG THE RABBITS SIDE UP TO ITS NECK AND THE SCISSORED EARS SO THE RABBIT FEELS SAFE AND SECURE.
TEETH: MALCLUSION
CHIN/CHEST: WARTS, ABCESSES, INJURIES, TUMORS,
DEWLAP: IF DOE: WARTS, ABCESSES, INJURIES, TUMORS, GREEN DEWLAP
RIGHT FRONT LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
LEFT FRONT LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
UNDERBELLY: COLOR, FUR, TEXTURE, ABCESSES, INJURIES, WARBLES, TUMORS, NIPPLES (IF DOE), MASTITIS (IF DOE)
RIGHT BACK LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
LEFT BACK LEG: BROKEN, STAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
VENTS: CLEAN AND HEALTHY
SEX: IF DOE VULVA, IF BUCK PENIS AND TESTICALS, HEALTHY FREE FROM WARTS/DEFORMITIES/BUMPS/ABCESSES/SCABS
TAIL: STRAIGHT AND COLOR IF BROKEN OR OTTER
EXTRAS:
BRUSHING: SOME JUDGES WILL HAVE YOU HAVE A BRUSH. IF THIS IS THE CASE EACH TIME YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE TOUCHES THE RABBIT OR THE RABBIT MOVES TAKE THE BRUSH AND BRUSH THEM DOWN A MAXIMUM OF 3 STROKES.
CARRIER: PLACING THE RABBIT IN A CARRIER: 4 POINT TURN THE RABBIT TO FACE YOU, PICK THE RABBIT UP IN A SHOWMAN HOLD, WALK THE RABBIT TO THE CARRIER, OPEN THE CARRIER LID, PLACE THE RABBIT IN THE CARRIER HINDQUARTERS FIRST, CLOSE THE LID, TAKE A STEP BACK AND DO THE SHOWMAN STANCE, LOOK TO THE JUDGE FOR APROVAL, OPEN THE LID RETRIEVE THE RABBIT LIKE YOU WOULD PICK THEM UP FROM THE TABLE AND DO THE SHOWMAN HOLD, CLOSE THE LID, RETURN TO THE TABLE PLACE THE RABBIT BACK DOWN AND REPOSE IT RETURNING TO THE SHOWMAN STANCE.
WEIGHING: 4 POINT TURN THE RABBIT TO YOU, PICK THE RABBIT UP DOING THE SHOWMAN HOLD, CARRY THE RABBIT TO THE WEIGHT SCALE, MAKE SURE THE BOX IS CENTERED AND SAFE, MAKE SURE THE SCALE IS SCALE TO 0, PLACE THE RABBIT ON THE SCALE, WEIGH, TELL THE JUDGE THE WEIGHT, PICK THE RABBIT BACK UP IN THE SHOWMAN HOLD, MAKE SURE THE BOX IS RECENTERED IF IT ISNT AND MAKE SURE THE SCALE IS SCALED BACK TO 0, RETURN TO THE TABLE, SET DOWN AND REPOSE THE RABBIT, RETURN TO THE SHOWMAN STANCE.
WALKING FACING THE JUDGE: THIS IS A BIT HARD TO EXPLAIN SO TRY TO FIND A SHOWMAN LOCALLY WHO KNOWS THIS. I WILL TRY TO GET A VIDEO OF FULL SHOWMANSHIP INCLUDING EXTRAS UP SOON. THE BASIC THING WITH THIS IS YOU ARE JUST KEEPING EYES ON THE JUDGE AT ALL TIMES AND THAT YOUR BACK IS NEVER TURNED TO THE JUDGE EVEN WHEN WALKING.
QUESTIONS AND SCENARIOS: PLEASE SEE 4H INFORMATION QUESTIONS AND SCENARIOS FOR THIS INFORMATION.
LAY CARPET DOWN, POSE RABBIT, TAKE ONE STEP BACK, DO THE SHOWMAN STANCE, OPTIONAL: LAY BRUSH DOWN WHEN LAYING CARPET DOWN IF THE JUDGE CALLS FOR THAT.
NOSE: COLOR ON NOSE IF BROKEN (MATCHING PATTERN COLOR, NO PREFERENCE FOR A SPOT IN THE WHISKER BED OVER A FULL BUTTERFLY) OR OTTER (TAN PATTERN ON THE NOSE), RUNNY/SNOTTY NOSE (IF YES: CLEAR OR MILKY, SNEEZING), WARTS, DEFORMITIES, SCABS WHICH WOULD INDICATE VD OR AN INJURY, FOREIGN MATERIALS, MENTION DISEASES
EYES:RUNNY EYES, WALL EYE (EXPLAIN), MOONY EYE (EXPLAIN), FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE EYE, BLINDNESS, MENTION DISEASES (EYE FACING JUDGE, 4 POINT TURN, OTHER EYE, 4 POINT TURN BACK)
EARS: TATTOO (EXPLAIN REGULAR AND REG. #), EAR MITES, EAR CANKER, RUNNY, FOREIGN MATERIALS, COLOR ON EARS IF BROKEN OR OTTER, LENGTH AND THICKNESS (EAR FACING JUDGE, 4 POINT TURN, OTHER EAR, 4 POINT TURN BACK)
NECK: COLOR IF OTTER, FUR MITES
SHOULDERS: LONG/LOW SHOULDERS V. GOOD SHOULDERS, RISE FROM SHOULDERS TO BODY
MIDSECTION: TYPE DEPENDING ON BREED, LENGTH, RISE, PEAK, PROPORTIONATE
HINDQUARTERS: FALL, WIDTH, FULL LOINS
FUR: TEXTURE, DENSITY, TYPE, LENGTH, COLOR
TAIL: STRAIGHT/BROKEN/WRY
FLIP: 4 POINT TURN UNTIL HEAD FACES YOU SCISSOR THE EARS AND SUPPORT THE NECK, SCOOP THE HINDQUARTERS AND FLIP GENTLY AND EASILY SUPPORTING THE RABBIT WITH YOU HAND AND ARM ALONG ITS SIDE THE OTHER HAND ON THE HINDQUARTERSTHE HIND QUARTERS SHOULD END UP BETWEEN YOUR ARM AND YOUR SIDE AND YOUR ARM SHOULD RUN ALONG THE RABBITS SIDE UP TO ITS NECK AND THE SCISSORED EARS SO THE RABBIT FEELS SAFE AND SECURE.
TEETH: MALCLUSION
CHIN/CHEST: WARTS, ABCESSES, INJURIES, TUMORS,
DEWLAP: IF DOE: WARTS, ABCESSES, INJURIES, TUMORS, GREEN DEWLAP
RIGHT FRONT LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
LEFT FRONT LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
UNDERBELLY: COLOR, FUR, TEXTURE, ABCESSES, INJURIES, WARBLES, TUMORS, NIPPLES (IF DOE), MASTITIS (IF DOE)
RIGHT BACK LEG: BROKEN, STRAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
LEFT BACK LEG: BROKEN, STAIGHT, SORE HOCKS, PADS
NAILS: 4 NAILS AND A DEWCLAW, BROKEN, COLOR (ALL ONE COLOR MISMATCHED ONLY ALLOWED ON BROKENS), CLIPPED
VENTS: CLEAN AND HEALTHY
SEX: IF DOE VULVA, IF BUCK PENIS AND TESTICALS, HEALTHY FREE FROM WARTS/DEFORMITIES/BUMPS/ABCESSES/SCABS
TAIL: STRAIGHT AND COLOR IF BROKEN OR OTTER
EXTRAS:
BRUSHING: SOME JUDGES WILL HAVE YOU HAVE A BRUSH. IF THIS IS THE CASE EACH TIME YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE TOUCHES THE RABBIT OR THE RABBIT MOVES TAKE THE BRUSH AND BRUSH THEM DOWN A MAXIMUM OF 3 STROKES.
CARRIER: PLACING THE RABBIT IN A CARRIER: 4 POINT TURN THE RABBIT TO FACE YOU, PICK THE RABBIT UP IN A SHOWMAN HOLD, WALK THE RABBIT TO THE CARRIER, OPEN THE CARRIER LID, PLACE THE RABBIT IN THE CARRIER HINDQUARTERS FIRST, CLOSE THE LID, TAKE A STEP BACK AND DO THE SHOWMAN STANCE, LOOK TO THE JUDGE FOR APROVAL, OPEN THE LID RETRIEVE THE RABBIT LIKE YOU WOULD PICK THEM UP FROM THE TABLE AND DO THE SHOWMAN HOLD, CLOSE THE LID, RETURN TO THE TABLE PLACE THE RABBIT BACK DOWN AND REPOSE IT RETURNING TO THE SHOWMAN STANCE.
WEIGHING: 4 POINT TURN THE RABBIT TO YOU, PICK THE RABBIT UP DOING THE SHOWMAN HOLD, CARRY THE RABBIT TO THE WEIGHT SCALE, MAKE SURE THE BOX IS CENTERED AND SAFE, MAKE SURE THE SCALE IS SCALE TO 0, PLACE THE RABBIT ON THE SCALE, WEIGH, TELL THE JUDGE THE WEIGHT, PICK THE RABBIT BACK UP IN THE SHOWMAN HOLD, MAKE SURE THE BOX IS RECENTERED IF IT ISNT AND MAKE SURE THE SCALE IS SCALED BACK TO 0, RETURN TO THE TABLE, SET DOWN AND REPOSE THE RABBIT, RETURN TO THE SHOWMAN STANCE.
WALKING FACING THE JUDGE: THIS IS A BIT HARD TO EXPLAIN SO TRY TO FIND A SHOWMAN LOCALLY WHO KNOWS THIS. I WILL TRY TO GET A VIDEO OF FULL SHOWMANSHIP INCLUDING EXTRAS UP SOON. THE BASIC THING WITH THIS IS YOU ARE JUST KEEPING EYES ON THE JUDGE AT ALL TIMES AND THAT YOUR BACK IS NEVER TURNED TO THE JUDGE EVEN WHEN WALKING.
QUESTIONS AND SCENARIOS: PLEASE SEE 4H INFORMATION QUESTIONS AND SCENARIOS FOR THIS INFORMATION.