While observing the judging I saw something that made both myself and com padres cringe. An exhibitor was lifting their rabbits from a ground level carrier by the scruff of the neck and lifting it over the holding coop and dropping it inside. I wanted to say, "Jeez lady, bend over and/or scooch down, pick your rabbit up properly to convey it to the show table. That's not only being lazy but also being cruel." The thing is sometimes when you do try to intervene for the animal's benefit it falls on deaf ears. Course that doesn't always stop us. Some folks are true beginners and don't know the difference. Or they are copying what they've seen other uninformed people do. Rabbits aren't to be handled like a mother cat handles kittens. Rabbits do feel the pinch, they do feel the pull of their own full body weight on those few inches of squeezed skin.
To pick up or lift a rabbit - Slide one hand under the body, behind the front legs, use the other hand to cup and support the hindquarters and bring the rabbit towards your chest for additional support. If the bunny acts up, tuck its' head between your body and inside your elbow. Much like you'd tuck a football. Having their eyes covered helps calm them. The old "head in the sand" effect or "if I can't see them, they can't see me". Don't be shy about asking someone to show you the proper way. We'll be glad you want to know.
Lifting rabbits improperly, like by the scruff of the neck, is not only uncomfortable for the rabbit, it causes poor flesh condition. It also "breaks" the hairs across the back of the neck and top of the shoulders. Part of how well an animal shows is having great flesh condition and a nice even coat of fur. Grabbing over the scruff of the neck can break tiny blood vessels that take weeks to heal. Have you ever been pinched and gotten a broken blood vessel? Not pleasant, is it? Now consider this, how would it feel if someone continued to pinch you there, over and over, you wouldn't like it much either.
While on the subject of pet peeves at shows. Always, always bring a carpet to the shows. Don't put your animal directly on the carrier top where it may get injured. It always amazes me when someone asks me to look at and evaluate one of their rabbits when they have nothing to put it on. They place it on a carrier top and wonder why the animal tries to get away or struggles for better footing. Look at it this way... if you think enough of your rabbit that you have paid an $3-$6 entry fee, keep a $1.00 carpet square handy. If the rabbit is good enough for the show table, it is good enough for proper care too. Don't rely on using other exhibitors carpets or grooming tables. Ask permission and if turned away, don't take it personally. The exhibitor is only protecting their own rabbit's health and their own equipment which they've taken the pains to haul around. Besides that, it is one thing when our own rabbit has an "accident" on our grooming table. Who wants to clean up after someone else's rabbit or deal with a soiled carpet on a long ride home?
Happy Showing!