"The Fluff of the Fancy"
General Characteristics:
Jersey Woolies are a small compact rabbit which usually range from 3-3.5 lbs. They have a docile tempermant and make wonderful loving pet. Although they are a "wooled" rabbit, its not the quick matting angora type. Jersey Woolies posess a easy care coat due to the excess gaurd hairs found throughout the coat, giving it a more coarse texture. The ideal coat is between 2-3 inches in length and should be as dense as possible. The Jersey Wooly's body is to be short and compact with well filled shoulder and hindquarters with a good rise over the topline. The head should be well filled throughout the muzzle and should balance with the ears and body.
Jersey Wooly Background:
The Jersey Wooly came into exhistance with the help of Bonnie Seeley. In the late 1970's Bonnie Seeley of High Bridge, New Jersey began a selective breeding program using French Angoras and Netherland Dwarfs. She performed an initial breeding and then continued to reduce the size of the animals by breeding them netherlands. Bonnie Seeley sought to create a wooly rabbit that was dwarf rabbit size and had an easy to manage wool coat. Ultimatly she created a wonderful pet and fancy rabbit. The Jersey Wooly made its first presentation to ARBA for breed recognition at the 1984 National Convention in Orlando, Florida. The Jersey Wooly was finally accepted at the 1988 ARBA National Convention in Madison, WI.
Jersey Wooly Colors
Jersey Woolies are shown in six color groups which house individual varieties which share similar characteristics. These six groups are Agouti, AOV (Any Other Variety), Broken, Self, Shaded, and Tan Pattern. Below are the varieties that are recognized by the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) that are featured in each group.
Agouti: Chestnut, Chinchilla, Opal, and Squirrel
AOV: Pointed White Black, and Pointed White Blue
Broken: Any Recognized Variety in conjuction with white
Self: Black, Blue, Blue Eyed White (BEW), Chocolate, Lilac, and Ruby Eyed White (REW)
Shaded: Tortoise Shell, Blue Tortoise Shell, Sable Point, Seal, Siamese Sable, and Smoke Pearl
Tan Pattern: Black Otter, Blue Otter, Smoke Pearl Marten, Sable Marten, Black Silver Marten, Blue Silver Marten, Chocolate Silver Marten and Lilac Silver Marten
Judging Jersey Woolies
Jersey Woolies are judged based on the Schedule of Points featured in the ARBA Standard of Perfection. The Jersey Wooly Schedule of Points is featured below.
Jersey Wooly Schedule of Points
GENERAL TYPE....................58
Body...................30
Head..........16
Ears...........10
Eyes.............2
Feet and Legs.......0
WOOL.................................27
Texture............14
Density..............8
Length...............5
COLOR................................10
CONDITION...........................5
TOTAL POINTS...................100
"The Original Chin"
General Characteristics:
The Standard Chinchilla is a medium sized rabbit weighing in at about 5-7 lbs. for senior bucks and 5.5-7.5 lbs. for senior does. The Standard Chinchilla is to have a compact body with well filled shoulders and hindquarters. Standard Chinchillas are to have a nice topline with a width equal to the depth of the animal. The Standard Chinchilla is almost equally judged on its fur, color and type, so each area is very important to the breeder. Standard Chinchillas have been know for being good meat animals due to their medium bone structure and well filled loins. Standard Chinchillas have a great disposition and are very friendly.
Standard Chinchilla Background:
The Standard Chinchilla came into exhistance with the help of M. J. Dybowski. M. J. Dybowski was a French breeder who produced the Standard Chinchilla through a selective breeding process. He origanlly bred a wild grey rabbit, the Garenne to a Blue rabbit, and also a Himalayan. The litters of the Blue and Himalayan rabbits were then bred together in order to create the Standard Chinchilla rabbit that we have today.
Standard Chinchilla Color
Standard Chinchilla are only shown in one variety. The chinchilla color is most notibly recognized by its beautiful ring pattern that is seen when one blows into a Standard Chinchilla's coat. This ring pattern is created by each of the 5 bands that appear on the shaft of each hair. The four very distinct bands of the chinchilla color are called the undercolor, the intermediate band, and the two bands that make up the surface color. The undercolor is to be a dark slate blue at the base of the hair shaft. The intermediate band is located at the middle of the hair shaft and is to be a pearl color. The lighter this pearl color the better. The surface color is comprised of both a pearl band and the black tipped gaurd hairs of the Standard Chinchilla coat. The surface color of a Standard Chinchilla is not to be that of a salt and pepper appearance, but to have waves of black and pearl throughout the coat. The definition of the rings is very important and they should be as distinct as possible. The Standard Chinchilla also has several other features besides its chinchilla color that coves it's back. Its also has black ear lacing surrounding the top rounded portion of the ears, pearl eye circles inclosing the eye, and pearl nose and jowel markings. The Standard Chinchilla also sports a bright white belly, along with the underside of the tail. The top of the tail is to be black which is intersperced with white hairs. The Standard Chinchilla chest color is to be slightly lighter than the body, but still lightly ticked with pearl.
Judging Standard Chinchilla
Standard Chinchillas are judged based on the Schedule of Points featured in the ARBA Standard of Perfection. The Standard Chinchilla Schedule of Points is featured below.
Standard Chinchilla Schedule of Points
GENERAL TYPE....................30
FUR....................................30
COLOR...............................30
Undercolor......................16
Ring Color & Definition.....10
Surface Color...................2
Condition...........................10
TOTAL POINTS...................100
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