Getting involved at a show
by ,domino stud
Stewarding is probebly the easiest and best way to get used to handling rabbits.
Position yourself at the table when the judge and his book steward appear and ask if you can help steward. Stewards are always needed and they will be happy for you to help. The book teward will call out the pen numbers and these relate to the pen that each rabbit is in. Go to that pen that has been called and collect the rabbit and bring it back to the table. If this is the first time the rabbit has been out then you will be given a small white sticker with its pen number on it and this should be placed inside the ear.
The stewards jop is to hold the rabbit so that it dosent interfere with the other rabbits on the table or leap off. Different breeds need to be handled in different ways to help them show themselves at there best. An angora for example, is to be held as little as possable and is picked up with hands underneath so as not to flatten the coat that its breeder will have worked hard at getting fluffed up whilst a netherland dwarf needs to be pushed at the rump to encourage it to raise its head.
If you end up stewarding your own rabbit, NEVER say that it is your rabbit. Always treat all the rabbits you handle with as much care and respaect as you do your own.Once the judge has picked up and examined each exhibit he will decide the order of placement and once the decision is made the stewards will be told to returne the rabbits to their pens.
A steward old or new should never be afraid to ask how to handle a rabbit and most judges and other stewards are friendly and approachable and will answer questions if asked. Stewarding can be rewarding and imformative but be prepared for aching legs at the endof the show
