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2024 Ontario Rabbit Shows Schedule

Below is a listing of upcoming shows in Ontario as well as our neighbouring province of Quebec. This list will be updated as shows are announced.  You can also use the Canadian Rabbit Shows calendar to easily view upcoming Canadian rabbit shows and add them to your own electronic calendars. Rabbit shows in Ontario are held under one of two organizations: The American Rabbit Breeders Association ( ARBA ) which is an international organization that has shows across the world, and the  Dominion Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association ( DRCBA ) which is a Canadian organization that puts on shows in Ontario.  You do not have to be a member of any of the above clubs in order to participate in the shows. Simply contact the show secretary to register your entries. All shows are open to public visitors. --------------------------------------------- APRIL DRCBA:   Sun, Apr 21 - Barrie, ON  ARBA : Sun, Apr 28 - Burford, ON - triple show MAY ARBA : Sat, May 11 - Rockton, ON - triple show plus specia
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Recognizing REW Babies

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We've all been there. Waiting on pins and needles for the babies to arrive and then waiting on more pins and needles to find out what color they are. There are several colors that can look the same at birth and require for us to wait until either enough coat grows in or until the eyes open in order to begin to identify it.  Many colors start off as pink babies at birth. Anything that is white or non extension, so REW, BEW, Torts, Fawns, and Pearls to name a few. Once the hair starts growing in, you can at least tell if that pink baby is turning white or tan, but if you have a suspected litter of REWs and BEWs or possibly Ermines, your wait will continue. But it doesn't have to. There is a very simple and reliable way to identify REW babies soon after they are born. In fact the earlier, the better.  When rabbit babies are born, their skin is still very thin. This includes the skin of the eyelids. Their eyelids are so thin in fact that we can to some degree see the color of their
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Vote on Significant Changes to Recognized Angora Colors

Please note, this article is not in it's finished version. I am publishing this draft version in order to get this information out there as soon as possible as this is an urgent matter and time for action is limited. The voting ballot for these proposed changes must be printed in it's entirety (it is 10 pages long) and mailed in within the US Mail post mark deadline of February 15.  ------- The most recent National Angora Rabbit Breeders Association (NARBC) club newsletter, which was sent out to all current club members on December 6, contains a voting ballot which all Angora enthusiasts should be aware of.  The board of directors as well as the members of the NARBC Standards Committee have agreed upon a number of changes to the club's constitution as well as changes to the breed standards. In order for these changes to become reality, they must first be voted on by the club's members. The newsletter preface for this ballot includes this statement: "The Committee h
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2023 Royal Agricultural Fair Show

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The rabbit show takes place in the Ring of Excellence Once a year, the country comes to the city. That's the tagline that I remember for the Toronto Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as it was advertised when I was a kid. RAWF is a large indoor fair with tons of crowds attending, international horse competitions, all sorts of agricultural displays, vendors, farm animals, as well as food and animal competitions.  Scope of this event, all held indoors at the gorgeous historical CNE Coliseum building, built in 1921 The Royal rabbit competition runs under the Dominion Rabbit and Cavy club rules, a Canadian rabbit breeders association older than ARBA. While the rabbit show itself might not be the biggest one in Ontario based on the number of entries, it is quite the event to experience given the grand venue and never ending crowds of onlookers.  Helen being a wonderful demo bunny Helen and her wool after the shave This time I only brought 3 angoras. Two entered in the show and one to shave
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2023 Komoka ARBA Show

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One of the perks of showing at Komoka, professional photo for all competitors. This year's theme was year of the rabbit.  Komoka is the unofficial season ender show for ARBA competitions in Ontario. It is always a big and well ran show. This year as always, there were 3 open shows plus multiple breed specialties. There were 6 judges booked for this event: Danielle and Justin Lowe from IN, Chuck Pelham and  Penny Jackson from MI,  Tom Schweikart from PA, and Jodi Hartman from NY. I was very excited at the opportunity to be able to show under some new to me judges. When the show entries closed, 600 rabbits were entered and the organizers scrambled to find 2 more judges at the last minute to help the show run in a timely manner. Ontario's John Richter and Mark Stewartson graciously stepped up.  The showroom towards the end of the day after some people had already left This show ended up being utterly insane for me, mostly due to the number of animals and different breeds I brought
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