Type Controversy Site *MDR Rabbitry*

Type Controversy Site

Provided by *MDR Rabbitry*

The purpose for this website is to show the contradictions in the ARBA Standard of Perfection. In almost EVERY breed, they call for the high point to fall directly over the center of the hips...But is this the correct place? In this image, you will see a "well typed" rabbit. Notice the position of all areas of the body, as well as the marks on the image made by myself. This is a Havana Blue Senior Doe, Weight 6lbs.

The definition of HIPS by the 2001-2005 standard page 9 is as follows, Hip: The joint that attaches the hind legs to the trunk of the body. That would undisputedly be the actual hip socket where the ball joint of the thigh and the hip socket meet.The current high point of each animal is shown as a red dot. This red dot normally falls at the thigh and stifle joint. Naturally, The placement of the correct high point decided the placement of the shoulder, and its relative position in LENGTH. There is shoulder length, and midsestion length. The MID SECTION is described on page 10 of the SOP as follows, Mid Section: The portion of the body starting at the 6th rib back to the rear legs. It does however, fail to tell you what portion of the rear legs it stops. The thigh joint, the stifle, the hocks, or the above the foot? This leaves it wide open to personal interpretation. I feel that the mid section stops where the last rib touches the thigh/stifle joint, as it is the first portion of the legs that you touch when moving from the ribs to the Hind Quarter.The ARBA standard of Perfection calls for the high point to be at the top of the HIP, marked by a blue dot. Some of the images have a green line showing what the ARBA standard is supposedly asking for in your rabbits. As you can see, it obliterates the smooth rounded fall from the top of the hip to the lower HQ, causing a chopped off flat appearance.

Now, if you go to page 35 of your current SOP, center row, first image, you will see a picture of a commercial breed. This animal is showing the SOP "CORRECT" interpretation of the high point being over the center of the HIP, YET!!! Read the caption under the image. HIGH POINT "BEHIND" THE CENTER OF THE HIP, CAUSING THE HIPS TO "CHOP OFF". RATHER FLAT TOPLINE. There is the contradiction right in front of you, in PRINT by our ARBA, and SOP. The next image, if you look closely, has the high point in the same place, but rather the hips chopping off, they are sloping out, instead of rounding towards the table. The peak that they are showing you in these images with the poor HQ are ones where the high point is located over the center of the HIP SOCKET *Page 35 shown below*.

Now notice on page 37, top row, last image. it is of a White New Zealand, clearly showing proper balance for the size of the animal. The high point is directly over the thigh joint (use a ruler, start at the bottom of the animal, and slowly slide it up,the high point is over the thigh/sniffle joint.) NOW, read the caption. "Proper pose, front feet even with eyes(although they are behind the eye in this picture)rear feet firmly on table, toes just even with the haunch (thigh joint). Note the slight rise from shoulder to loin, just over the *haunch*, and rounded hindquarter. RIGHT THERE!! Haunch! Haunch was listed at the thigh joint, and it is stating that that is where the high point should be.

In order for the animal to have the proper shoulder, midsection, and hind quarter, the high point must be over the top of the THIGH JOINT, not the HIPS as the standard states, and then UN-states. You will see in the images below, where the high point, the SUPPOSED high point should be, and in a few, a green line showing you what the animal would look like if the high point was over the hips, and not where it is. Its amazing how much a difference something like that can make.*page 37 shown below*

I know that I am going to get a lot of heat from this site as well as the discussions that will be pertaining to it, but if anyone would like to see something, has suggestions, pictures to donate, or anything else, please email me at Chini_mini_rex@yahoo.com. Please address them in reference to the Type Controversy Site. Since I plan on getting quite a few responses, I will answer the emails as time allows. Please be patient, your input is very important to me.

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Sheep follow the leader...I am a goat.