Keeping angoras cool
Very difficult in hot weather.
If you have an angora with any length of coat in hot weather, it is best to keep them in air conditioning. Some owners bring them in during the day and then put them back out at night when it is cooler. Shade and a short haircut is most important with bunnies that are housed outside in hot weather. Fans to move the air, frozen water bottles or frozen ceramic tiles put in each cage are a big help. I spray down the concrete floors with cold water so that it keeps things cool as it evaporates during the day. There is a misting hose that runs around the outside of the rabbitry that sprays cool water and does drop the temps by a few degrees. Ice cubes in the drinking water bottles are a help as well as those frozen blue ice packs in the cage pans where the rabbit can't reach them. A fine mist spray bottle for cooling ears is also helpful as well as keeping the rabbit calm just letting them chill out during the day. Cool treats are also enjoyed, cold baby carrots, cold kale with the rinse water still on it or some chilled apple sclices. Anything that keeps you and your bunny cool and happy is great in heat like this. Keep cool!
Smoothing out his coat.
Looking for the Judge
I'm ready, look at me!
Some show rabbits are just natural posers and some have to be worked with for awhile before they understand what to do on the show table and some are just carpet huggers. It is a joy to see a bunny that loves showing so much that he actually is up on his hind legs trying to get the judges attention. He turns to follow the Best in Show judge so he is makes sure the judge will not to miss his best points.
This is RIS GC Shepherd's Bellhop and he just loves to show. It took him longer to blossom then his sister, RIS GC Shepherd's Ring My Bell, but he has surpassed her with his wins. 8 GC legs, 1 RIS, 8 BOB (unusual for a buck to beat a doe), 1 BOS and 1 BOG. His sister has 5 GC legs, 1 RIS, 2 BOB (one at PASRBA with over 65 woolies entered), 2 BOG and 1st. Junior Doe.
Their other sister, Belladonna, is a scardy cat and becomes one with the carpet at shows. Although she is just as nice, she only has one win under her belt. If only she would struff her fluff, she would do much better at shows. She did try her best to out pose Naomi Campbell at the Harpers Bazaar photo shoot by leaning into the fan every time the assistant moved it in the models direction. Maybe she is just prefers a different type of posing.
Some are naturals, some you can teach and some are just happier staying at home. This poser cracks me up, he is just so comical. Thanks to Anita Picco for these fun photos and love Alyssa Bowlby's beautiful English Angora sitting so nicely on her carpet.
Editor Hugo Lindgrin from the NY Times Magazine.
Not a great photo but if you are riding in the back of a New York City taxi and watch the TV monitor you may get a chance to see the Editor of the NY Times Magazine with an English Angora bunny on his head and other places in his office. You can also go to www.nytimes.com and go to the Innovation section for the magazine to see the video of how 4 bunnies turned into so many more. The video is very funny and my Dad and I had alot of fun with the shoot. The editor was very easy going and even let me put a bunny on his head. Most fun was watching all of the very experienced staff of the magazine on the whole 6th floor go ga-ga over the bunnies. Something that we just take for granted seems to make other people go a little animal crazy. They were taking photos with their phone, knocking on the glass divider walls trying to get the bunnies attention and begging to touch one. Very cute.
So I don't know about fortune but if I get a chance to go for a shoot, I always take it. They pay very well for the time spent working and will also pay for the expenses of traveling there. The bunnies really seem to like the attention and are usually very well mannered. I even had one Jersey Wooly, Belladonna, trying to upstage Naomi Campbell by putting her face towards the fan everytime the assistant moved it in the model's direction. Everyone seems to love them, the jobs help to pay for rabbit food and it puts a very positive spin on bunnies as pets and how well they are treated.
I also get to experience situations that I would never be involved in otherwise. What other chance would I have to meet Naomi Campbell or Italian supermodel Fabrizia? Or interact with child superstars in the making? Or have my rabbits photographed by famous fashion photographers? Or my favorite of all, to get a chance to view row upon row of next seasons designer shoes and boots and try on a huge diamond flower ring from Jacob and Co.?
Ok, back to reality, time to clean the rabbit pans...........but a girl can dream..................
