Buying vs Breeding a Winner

During one of the shows I attended earlier this year, I looked over at the grooming table of a nearby exhibitor and was very impressed by the lineup of both BOB and BOS trophies being displayed. When I looked at the carrying cages, I could see that there were a good number of different breeds represented and it seemed that the person was taking both of the above awards for each breed he entered. I made a comment to another exhibitor and was informed that money did not seem to be any problem and the parents were laying out whatever was necessary to purchase top quality show animals.

By the time the show was over there certainly was an impressive display of winnings to be taken home and I am sure added to many others already there.

What was gained by coming to the show and taking home all that hardware? Certainly the new additions would add to what was, I imagine, a large collection. It would attest to the superior qualities of this exhibitor’s stock and would, no doubt, help when it came to advertising and selling stock. There definitely would be some positive results from this day of showing. The problem is there could be some negative affects that would be far more detrimental than what was gained. It’s true the exhibitor in this case was a youth, but the problem is not reserved for the youth by any stretch of the imagination- and that is the reason for this attempt to put the problem onto paper.

In the July-August 95 issue, the TROUBLEMAKER wrote very well on the problem of people entering rabbits under three names in order to guarantee a leg for a Grand Champion. The problem of buying winners is also very real and needs to be discouraged, if such is possible. During the years that I have had rabbits, I have bought stock and because they were still in good show condition have put them on the table and have won some and lost some. There is no unwritten law about not showing purchased stock, and I see nothing wrong with that provided the exhibitor follows some common courtesy. The first courtesy is to recognize that the animal is not of his/her breeding and that the reason it has won is due largely to the work that someone else has put into their breeding program. Let’s give credit to the ones who have worked to develop your winner.

In the case of adults not much can be done as they are, in most cases, firmly in the mind-set of buying winners instead of breeding them and probably continue to do so. In the case of a youth though, it is very simple to encourage them to produce their own show animals. The parents can simply stop buying the best available and letting their sons and daughters put them in the show. The should, instead, insist that their children do some breeding while keeping in mind the good points of the breed they are working with. If the children are not interested in working at improving their stock then possibly they should be encouraged to get out of rabbits altogether. As "third party" exhibitors we can do our part by complimenting those young people who do produce their own winners. A pat on the back and a handshake can do wonders.

What is the long term effect of having a constant line of purchased winners? Many people will feel that to have a BOB or higher award is almost a given and a "right" for them, and when they do lose the shock of it will be much harder on them than if they had taken their share of lumps all along. Constant losing is not good either and cam make the person, adult or youth feel that the can’t do anything right. I believe the worst result from winning virtually every show with someone else’s stock especially for our youth is the impression that money can solve their every problem.

Let’s work towards encouraging all breeders, youth or adult, to produce the best they can for the show tables. We will all gain and so will our rabbits, if we strive to breed and show the best stock we can develop.

Written by Ray Montgomery