Updates and New Bucks

Eeeek! I finally have a moment to post again! On Sunday, I was very pleased to be picking up my new DH buck who came all the way from northeast Texas! I love him so much. He lost a touch of weight and condition on transport but immediately went to drinking and digging through his handful of hay once I set him in a cage. After he settled in a bit, I got him out to pose and was blown away. Ladies and gents, I've never seen an Hotot in person with such a compact body... I mean, wow! Compared to the rest of mine, he's missing half of his body, Lol! Figuratively speaking of course. ;-) He's just 3 months old so he will need some time to grow and mature before I begin breeding him. I'm excited to try him with all of my does and see how he meshes. Thank you Lindsey King for such a nice little guy! I really needed this to get me going again! <3 ((HUGS))

4King's Bodhi
(Photo credits to Lindsey King)
Sorry for the lack of new photos! I haven't wanted to
bother him too much.

Also, another little buck that Lindsey helped me to acquire was Percy's 302. This little buck has a super wide HQ and has produced some nice stock. I'm excited to begin working him into my lines. Did I mention that Bodhi is a grandson of 302 on both sides? I love line breeding! Photo credits go to Lindsey King again. He looks so nice, pure, and sharp in these pictures. He's very molty at the moment so I don't dare post pictures until he finishes up.

Very excited about these new additions! Unfortunately, I did end up selling a doe in order to make up for two additions. I sold Huckleberry's Cosette on Sunday. She was a fabulously well-typed doe but I didn't see her working well with my lines down the road. Will miss her dearly! She's headed off to live with Angela and her family in Arizona. I hope you love her Angela!

Anyways, late last night I was feeling very anxious and couldn't sleep so I decided to make a list of everything I had in the barn at the moment. I took count of all of the seniors that I was keeping and also counted up how many jrs and babies I had. I realized that I have 38 juniors at the moment. What a scary thought. This is why I never count my rabbits. Lol! I'm anxious to cut back on numbers a bit here, soon. We will certainly be cutting back our junior numbers by convention, of course. By then, they will be old enough to get an idea of their type and I'll decide whether they will stay or be sold. There are several juniors that I have my eye on. It will be a very exciting next few months! I'm already starting to get inquiries and transports lined up for convention! I think Fort Worth Convention is going to be the time of my life! :-D

Well On Our Way To 3 Years!

 After yesterday's post, I began thinking about how long it has really been since I really started getting back into rabbits. In February 2012, I picked up two Dwarf Hotot bucks with the full intention of using them for the revamping of my project. Which means that I am two years and five months into it!
Now here comes a total shocker... I was finally able to get a hold of my first foundation pair of Hollands in July 2012. Unfortunately, I had an 11 month dry spell in my Holland program where I couldn't even get my does bred. Considering selling out of Hollands, I made a desperate attempt to contact countless breeders for their opinion as to what my problem could be. After several "I don't know" answers, I was beyond discouraged. However, one breeder's message stuck out to me. She suggested that I should try treating my older buck with LA200 to see if he had some sort of hidden infection causing him to go sterile. I treated him just once and bred him yet again to those does. I believe this was my 17th attempt to breed him to my best doe who I had purchased alongside him so many months ago. To my surprise, 31 days later, one of the does kindled a litter of four live babies! That was the beginning of my Holland programs success. Ladies and Gents, the day that my first HL litter was born was July 7th, 2013- exactly a year ago, today.
I never dreamed that I would be anywhere near where I am today in such a short time. This past year has been absolutely packed with struggles and loss but the successful outcomes far outweigh the bad. I never dreamed that I would have a chance at winning Best In Show during my youth career. However, I took home a double BIS on two homebreds, two weeks before my one-year mark.
I remember writing my 2014 Goals this last December, completely doubting myself and the thought of winning just one leg on a homebred in the next twelve months before I would be sitting down again to write yet another year's goals. However, here I sit awaiting six legs to come in the mail, four of which belong to homebreds. Although it may not seem like it, this experience has completely humbled me when it comes to the power of a "newbie". It has also taught me a great deal about my own self worth and capabilities. I learned that I was foolish to have doubted myself to such a degree; to believe that this breed was absolutely too competitive for someone such as myself. I've learned that even as a youth, if I apply myself and collect vast amounts of knowledge, I am capable of moving mountains so to speak. This life lesson has completely changed my perspective of myself as well as my barn full of Hollands, as well as Hotots.
I hope that through writing this post, I have had the opportunity to inspire my fellow youth and new breeders in some way. I hope that each of you have the opportunity to move mountains. My advice would be to trust yourself. You know much more than you think you do. Whenever you feel weak, remember those who made you strong and whenever you start to doubt yourself, remember those you believe in you.

Double Best In Show

^_^ Yes, that is indeed the look on my face at the moment. I'm speechless still, two weeks after winning a double Best In Show with.....*drum roll*..... two homebred Holland Lop junior bucks! Eek!! :-D I entered seven animals on June 21st for our WRBA show in Salt Lake City, five of which were homebreds who were on their first time out. Additionally, I entered my new herd buck, Zivago and my sable program herd buck, Thompson. Here's how everyone did: 

Show A Results

1st SSB- G.C. TF Zivago

4th SSB- Little Rascal's Mr. Swagger

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1st SJB- Little Rascal's Tyler

2nd SJB- Little Rascal's Classy

3rd SJB- Little Rascal's Beau

_____________________________

1st SJD- Little Rascal's Southern Girl

_____________________________

2nd BSB- Xcaliber's Thompson

Tyler went up for Best Of Breed and won without hesitation from the judge. Believe it or not, my jaw dropped. lol In no way did I expect my little junior buck to beat out Zivago, the best buck in my barn who has taken five legs in open and two legs in youth against some of the top Hollands in the nation. Now here's a confession... Tyler was in the cull pen from 4-5.5 months and was nearly sold as a pet several times. My bad! :-O I couldn't believe it! I was absolutely speechless. 

Carrying my T-Man up when they called all Best of Breeds to be judged for Best In Show, I expected nothing impressive, once again. After all, this was a homebred in my arms. The rabbit world trains us younger breeders to believe that we indeed, will not prosper until our rabbitry reaches it's 25th+ birthday. Doesn't it? ;-) Regardless, my heart my pounding, I was sweating just a touch, clenching my jaw, and my knees were a bit shaky as always while anxiously awaiting the verdict. She announced 2nd Reserve, 1st Reserve, and nearly made me faint when I heard "Holland Lop" announced for Best In Show. Once again, my jaw dropped and I starred at my dad with shock plain on my face. After the split second it took for me to regain my cool, I did what resembled a bit of a happy dance which made my tense competitors giggle and relax a smidge. What a peace-maker, I am. ^_^ All the while, this was my dad's first rabbit show and he had no idea what was going on so he was trying to ask me what was happening as I took a moment to mentally celebrate. Lol!

On to the next show!

Show B Results

1st SSB- G.C. TF Zivago

4th SSB- Little Rascal's Mr. Swagger

_____________________________

1st SJB- Little Rascal's Classy

2nd SJB- Little Rascal's Tyler

4th SJB- Little Rascal's Beau

_____________________________

1st SJD- Little Rascal's Southern Girl

_____________________________

2nd BSB- Xcaliber's Thompson

The results varied just a touch in this show but for the majority of my entry, they placed just the same! I once again was not expecting much however when I heard the judge announce BOB and ultimately, BIS once again, I was speechless! All I can say is wow! I can't believe it even as I sit here now. It just doesn't seem like it really happened yet. Looking at the awards, I still feel as though it was a dream! Regardless of whether it was a dream or reality, I'm so excited! 

Best In Show- Show A
Little Rascal's Tyler

Best In Show- Show B
Little Rascal's Classy

I actually recorded videos of most of the judging and those can be found here:

Show A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTlCJ4KaDb0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st2YIU4zOa0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ema8Suix2zc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQujeTxV4SE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDugn2CDMl0

Show B:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehc4J7y3jDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkqaur8YFE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry9aetfceHg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxxQH2UAnpk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wznCvxHiCg