Theo is the first. The rabbit with the floppy ears is waiting next to his mistress on a meadow in the Upper Franconian province for his appearance. In Haidengrün near Schauenstein (Hof district) the “carrot cup” in the “rabbit hop” discharged, one hurdling competition. When Mum Theo takes off the leash, the rabbit darts off. It masters the first six hurdles with ease. Before the seventh it stops and hops around it. The spectators smile. Twelve animals are in the race. It’s about qualifying for them German Championships in the “rabbit hop”.
Carolin Bauer has been training since 2018 Sport rabbit group in the small animal breeding club Hof-Vogelherd and organized the race. He’s in the meadow course set up, secured all around by a barrier so that the animals cannot hop away. Next door there is an additional track for warming up. It’s not fenced in, so the rabbits walk on leashes there.
Carrot Cup 2023: Animal rights activists are critical of the competition
The hurdles are mostly self-made, says the trainer. In the elite class, the rabbits would have to be up to 50 centimeters high and 70 centimeters wide can jump over obstacles. are rabbits active and could easily be encouraged to jump hurdles. It starts with young animals with low obstacles. Jumping gives joy to the animals, stress might be the arrival and departure by car, but that is also the case getting used toaccording to Bauer.
she knows that animal rights activists Take a critical look at “rabbit hop”, for example when the animals wear leashes. The trainer explains that this is for safety reasons. So rabbits, especially if they are still beginners, cannot hop away. However, the leash must be kept loose. Bauer finds it important that “rabbit hop” takes place in the club. There will be checked that the Animals forced to nothing become.
The German Animal Welfare Association opposes “rabbit hop” competitions, a spokeswoman says. are rabbits escape animals and jumpy. Change of location, strange people and strange animals meant stress. But doing “rabbit hop” at home is fine, too not recommended. Children in particular are usually not able to clearly interpret the needs of the rabbit and expose it to considerable stress.
Too much stress for the animals? Leashes as “animal protection violation accessories”
Linen restricted the movement options of an animal, and it could also be pulled on. The Animal Welfare Association regards linen as “anti-animal accessories“. The spokeswoman goes on to say that in competitions with animals there is a risk that the animal will be overwhelmed due to human ambition. “It is doubtful whether the animals will enjoy it. Rather, people are happywhen a rabbit hops over obstacles.”
rabbits need Run in a large enclosure. However, there is nothing wrong with setting up small hurdles there so that the animals can keep themselves busy as long as there is no risk of injury. The “rabbit hop” rules are at Central Association of German Rabbit Breeders (ZDRK) fixed. Kai Sander is the one there “Rabbit Hop” officers. In the phone conversation, it quickly becomes clear: the man is used to protests from animal rights activists. However, the association has an animal welfare officer, a veterinarian, says Sander.
In the “rabbit hop” of course not the performance principle in the foreground stand. Rather, it is about dealing with the animal. Competitions would be overseen by trained referees. If you want to take part in “rabbit hop” races, you have to be a member of the association. That’s how “rabbit hop” and that is supposed to be animal welfare be reconciled. The rabbit sport started in Sweden and Norway a good 30 years ago, he says. That’s where the sport rabbits came from. that are sports ramswho usually have a slimmer physique than breed ram. Rabbits with floppy ears are called Aries.
Organizers comment on the criticism: “We have nothing to hide”
Sander sees the “rabbit hop” training in the club positively. The owners meet regularly and the trainer keeps an eye on the rabbits. It is important not to force the rabbits, says Sander. there is different characters, some were easy to animate, others not. If animals feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings, the owners should also take this into account. For transport boxes give it Requirements: enough space, food, water and suitable temperatures. This is exactly what the German Animal Welfare Association emphasizes. As a result, car trips with rabbits should be limited to visits to the vet.
View book tip now on Amazon: keeping rabbits in a species-appropriate manner
To the Criticism of walking rabbits on a leash during the race, Sander also refers to safety reasons. “The rule here is: If you pull too hard on the leash, you will be warned or disqualified.” He has already invited representatives of the Animal Welfare Association to a tournament so that they can get an idea. “We have nothing to hide.”
The competition continues in Haidengrün, a referee notes mistakes and results. If an animal hops past an obstacle, the keeper can put her rabbit back, which counts as a correction. If a rabbit breaks a hurdle, it counts as a fault. And if an animal turns around and jumps the wrong way over a hurdle, it’s out of the running. At the end the rabbit Sune lands on the first place. Her keeper Verina Liß from Zirndorf is delighted.
Rules on the course relaxed mood. There is coffee and cake, of course also a carrot cake. The club chairman Uwe Porst is happy about the club life. Through the “Rabbit-Hop” group, the club got back influx of young people receive.
