AHARC Competition Rules and Regulations for Rabbit Hopping

Set out by the American Hopping Association for Rabbits and Cavy Rules Committee September 29, 2017.* 

* Note - Rules were reviewed October 4, 2017 at general membership meeting and with two minor modifications, final acceptance was given by AHARC Officers and Board of Directors.

Competition Rules and Regulations

for Rabbit Hopping

CHAPTER 1 COMPONENTS OF HOPPING ..........................................................      2

            1.1 Competitor ........................................................................................    2

            1.2 Rabbit ................................................................................................    2

            1.3 Course................................................................................................    3

            1.4 Warm Up Area…………………………………………………………………..………….           3

            1.5 Equipment..........................................................................................    3

            1.6 Types of Jumps……………………………………………………………………………….         4

            1.7 Harness and Leash………………………………………………………………………….         5

CHAPTER 2 COMPETITIONS ................................................................................  5

2.1              Prior to the Event ……………………………………………………..……………………. 5

2.2              General…………………. ………………….…………………………………………………..  6

2.3              Faults and Corrections………………….…………………………………………………  7

2.4  Disqualification and Elimination………………………………………………………        8

2.5  Judging System……………………………………………………………………………….        9

CHAPTER 3 CLASSES AND COURSES ...................................................................    9

            3.1      General Spacing……………………........................................................     9

            3.2      Straight Line Course Spacing.….………………………………………………….          10

            3.3      Combo Course……………………………………………………………………………          10

3.4      Bent Straight Course ………………………………………………………………….          10

            3.5      Crooked Course …………………………………………………………………………          11

            3.6      Judging High and Long Jump .........................................................      11

CHAPTER 4 PERSONNEL AT COMPETITIONS........................................................    12

            4.1 Judges ….............................................................................................. 13

            4.2 Show Secretary…………………………………………………………………………………      13

            4.3 Time Keeper ........................................................................................ 13

            4.4 Ring Crew............................................................................................. 13

            4.5 Steward................................................................................................ 14

CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE JUDGE CERTIFICATION………………………………………….       14

CHAPTER 6 PROMOTION TO NEXT LEVEL .........................................................       15

            6.1 Promotions………………….....................................................................      15

            6.2 Promotions Point System……………………………………………………………….          15

            6.3 Class Test ...........................................................................................     15

CHAPTER 7 SWEEPSTAKES (TBD).............................................................................          16

Chapter 1 – Components of Hopping

Section 1.1 - The Competitor (Handler)

§1.1.1       Exhibitor and competitor is used alternately to mean the same thing.  Handler is used to clarify the person holding the leash of their rabbit.

§1.1.2       The competitor must be a minimum of five (5) years of age, and can safely control their rabbit and follow the directions from the judge to participate in official events.  Parents of youth need to be nearby in case the youth needs help.  If questions arise concerning the ability of a youth to handle or control their rabbit in a safe manner, it will be the final decision of the judge whether the competitor is allowed to continue.

§1.1.3       If entering an event during an ARBA convention, the competitor must be a current ARBA member.

§1.1.4       The competitor must show sportsmanship and good behavior to all organizers, judges, and competitors. Judge’s decision is final when in accordance with the rules and regulations.

§1.1.5       If the competitor is guilty of negligent treatment of a rabbit, judges and organizers may make decisions about exclusion from a competition, as well as the whole event. Serious or repeating cases will be brought to the BOD (Board of Directors) of the AHARC (American Hopping Association for Rabbits and Cavies) for further disciplinary actions.  Negligence includes, but is not limited to, extreme care issues including sickness, malnutrition, sores, or abusive handling of the animal at the event (i.e. use of force by hand, foot, or lead, along with other actions).

§1.1.6       Competitors must not get assistance from spectators or assistants while on a course run. (For example, telling a handler which way to go on a crooked course.)

a)      The competitor will receive one warning.

b)     A second assistance will result in disqualification from the competition.

c)      If the help is coming from another participant, he/she will be disqualified after one warning.

d)     The handler is only allowed to have a helper to catch the rabbit if it competes without lead in high or long jumps.

§1.1.7       Handler must be able to retrieve and pick up their rabbit at the end of the course.

§1.2 -The Rabbit

§1.2.1       All breeds and cross breeds are eligible to compete

§1.2.2       Rabbits must be at least four months old to participate in competitions. The minimum age is eight months for participation in elite class competitions and one year for participation in high jump and long jump competitions. In the event of any violation, the results for the rabbit in question shall be struck from the standings. Intentional or repeated violations shall be reported to the AHARC and can lead to exclusion from future competition events.

§1.2.3       All rabbits must have a permanent and legible tattoo in their left ear. The tattoo is to only contain numerals 0-9 and/or letters A-Z. The tattoo is to contain no language of a profane or sexual nature.  Rabbits not legibly earmarked must be disqualified from the class. Legibility of the earmark is at the discretion of the judge.  Leg bands are prohibited in hopping due to safety concerns.

§1.2.4       Rabbits must be entirely healthy and free of any contagious disease to participate in any competition or show. Violating this provision will result in disqualification, and the rabbit in question shall be barred from competition until it has become healthy and free of any contagious disease. The determination as to whether any rabbit is fit to compete rests with the presiding judge.  Rabbits exhibiting signs of illness shall be immediately removed from competition and staging area. Ring crew shall clean the surface areas where the ill rabbit has resided.

§1.3 – The Course

§1.3.1       Hopping and agility competitions should take place on a level, shock absorbent surface that can be easily cleaned.  If hopping or agility is done on grass it must be free from fertilizers, pesticides or other harmful chemicals. The type of hopping surface that will be used must be published in the show catalog.

§1.3.2       Carpet or foam mats must be used if the competition is held on hard ground or indoors. Carpet and mats should be a minimum 24” in width for a straight course.

§1.3.3       All course surfaces on which rabbits compete must be designed and maintained to reduce factors that could lead to injury for both rabbit and handler.  The course surface should never be elevated above the ground and must be non-slip, and easily cleaned.  This includes competitions, practices, demonstrations and warm up courses.  Should a stage be used, there shall be adequate space including a minimum of 10’ to the edges.

§1.3.4       Competitions must not take place in extreme weather conditions that may compromise the welfare or safety of the rabbit.  Provisions must be made for cooling conditions for the rabbit after competing.  Fans and water should be available during warm weather.

§1.3.5       If multiple courses of the same level and discipline are offered they must be equal in measure, including height and distance.

§1.3.6    The course shall be arranged in such a way as to eliminate interruptions to the competition. If interruptions are unavoidable, the judge shall start the competition at the end of the course with the disruption. Subsequent runs by the handler, shall be at the handler’s discretion and risk. See §4.1.4

§1.4 - Warm Up Area

§1.4.1    A warm up area is required.  There should be at least 3 jumps in the warm up area. 

§1.4.2       The warm up area should be placed near the competition course, but far enough away that it doesn’t disturb the competition. 

§1.4.3    Handlers are required to fix rails and clean up any debris on the course so it is ready for the next competitor.

§1.4.4    Warm up areas are only open to competitors currently running and should not be considered a training area.  Show organizers may set a time limit on use of the warm up area.

§1.5 – Equipment

§1.5.1   Jumps

a)         All jumps must be sturdy enough to not tip over during light wind or ground movement.  The rails must fall freely from either direction.  Rails must sit unattached against lateral supports and must not sit down in more than 33% in the jump cup; For square rails, the jump “cup” must not be wider than the rail.

b)         The jumps must be constructed of a suitable material and must not have any sharp objects sticking out where rabbits, handlers or crew can become injured.

c)         Jumps may not give off a strong odor of cleaning solvent or paint.

d)        The rabbit must easily be able to understand how to clear the jumps.  Jumps should be simple enough so that the rabbit does not become confused what part of the jump they need to clear.  Large amounts of decorations can be confusing to the rabbit.  If multiple rabbits are confused by the jump, the jump should be evaluated, and then replaced or modified.  Rabbits that competed prior to the change should be allowed to redo their run once the jump is adjusted.

e)         Rails for straight and crooked courses must be 24”-30” in length.    Rails for high and long jump must be at least 30” long, but 39” is recommended for optimal performance.

f)          Rails must be a minimum of 1/2” thick and should not break or splinter.  If slats are used they may not be more than 3 ½” in height and should be made out of a lightweight material.

g)         Course decorations or decorations beside the jumps must not hinder the competitor while going through the course. Upsetting a decoration is not counted as a fault.

h)         Starting and finishing jumps should be available, but faults will not be accrued for these jumps. 

i)           Transitional jumps (§1.6.1) are used when it is necessary to have a turn in the course due to space constraints.  Faults are not accrued for rails knocked down, but if the rabbit goes around the jump it is considered a missed jump and is an elimination.

j)           Rails for all jumps are to be 2” apart.  The top of the bottom rail should be 2” from the course surface.  Each subsequent rail is to be 2” from the top of the previous to the top of the next.

k)          If using slats instead of rails the slats are to be 4” apart with a minimum of ½” open space between them. 

l)           The upright must be 2” higher than the top of the top rail.

§1.6 TYPES OF JUMPS

§1.6.1 Start, End, and Transitional Jumps.  These jumps are 4”-6” in height.  The start jump is used to mark the start of the course; the end jump marks the end of the course; and the transitional jump is to provide a transition when the course must be bent. These jumps are shorter in height than course jumps.

§1.6.2 Single Jumps   4”-20” in height. Rails are 2” apart.  Slats, if used, are to be 4” apart.

§1.6.3 Spread Jumps These jumps may be constructed as a single piece unit or have multiple uprights placed close together.  Jumps with a slope should be the same slope from either direction.  Distance or depth between the rails is 3-6”.

§1.6.4 High Jump      This is to be the only jump on the course.  The jump is a single jump, only taller. The minimum height of this jump should be 36”.

§1.6.5 Long Jump     This is to be the only jump on the course.  The jump is to be made so that the beginning jump is lower than the end of the jump. (See §3.6) The beginning of the jump is to be 4” high and at 10’ the height should be 12” high.  Shorter lengths should have the same angle. The minimum length of the long jump is 36”.   

§1.6.6 Measurements of the jumps

a)      Height = the distance between the hopping surface and the highest point of the highest rail. Measured at hopping surface level.

b)     Length = the distance between the front side of the first rail of a jump and the back side of the last rail.

c)      Width = the smallest distance between the inside of the side pieces.

d)     Bases = Jump bases should not extend more than 2" under the rails or the path of the rabbit. All other sides of the base

                    should not exceed more than 6" from the upright.

e)      Decorations = Should not extend past the jump base.

§1.7 - Harness and Leash

§1.7.1       Only approved H-style harnesses are allowed.  The H-style harness must have detachments from the neck strap and girth strap and the D-ring must be in the back to ensure the least pressure on the rabbit’s neck.  No vests, collars, figure 8 harnesses nor harnesses with the metal part at the rabbit’s throat area are allowed in the competition.   

§1.7.2       Leashes must be a minimum of 4 feet with a snap hook.  The leash is to be made from soft flat material no less than 3/8” inch wide. Retractable and elastic leashes are prohibited.

        §1.7.3       Rabbit’s leashes must be securely attached at the girth straps of their harnesses and may only be used to carefully retrieve and guide rabbits.

        Leashes should hang loose whenever rabbits jump.

                §1.7.3       Harnesses must be worn at all time when competing. (See §3.6 for exceptions)

Chapter 2 - Competitions

§2.1 - Prior to the event

§2.1.1      Judging system and maximum time MUST be announced before the start of the competition.  (See §2.5)

§2.1.2       A maximum time must be set.  Recommended maximum time is 2 minutes. For events at the national and regional levels, the maximum time must be set at 2 minutes. Course that are considered difficult, for example crooked courses at advanced and elite levels for example, may be set to 3 minutes. The shortest allowed maximum time is 1 minute. Going over the maximum time is calculated as a DNF (Did not Finish) for that run. The DNF does not affect the score for subsequent runs.

§2.1.3       The maximum number of faults prior to elimination must be published in the show catalog. (See §2.3.1 for calculation)

§2.1.4       The hosting club must clearly post the Judging System being used where all competitors can see. The posting will include the number of runs, maximum time, and maximum number of faults. It is the competitor’s responsibility to know and understand the Judging System prior to competing.

§2.1.5       The type of course shall be listed in the show catalog. (See §1.3.1)

§2.1.6       Animals other than rabbits must not enter the course and should not be within the competition area. Organizers must inform the audience with animals of the rule and ask them to be considerate of all rabbits.

§2.1.7       The show catalog must state if a combo-course will be used and what two classes will be combined. (See §3.3)

§2.2 – General

§2.2.1       Handlers and rabbits are not permitted to enter the course area before the start of the competition.  Judges may open the course for review by the handler only.  The rabbit must not be on the course during this review.  Violation will cause disqualification from the competition in question.

§2.2.2       Handlers and rabbits must report to the show secretary prior to the start of the event. Anyone who fails to report in may be considered a “no show” and removed from the competitors list.

§2.2.3       Anyone who fails to report by the time indicated in the show catalog shall be scratched from the competition.  The Steward will call 3 times that the event is starting.  It is the responsibility of the competitor to communicate and update the steward. 

§2.2.4       Reasonable accommodations will be made to work with an exhibitor.  However, once a course has been changed over to a new class, a competitor who missed their course time must wait until the course is reset.   If the course can no longer be reset without interfering with the scheduling of other classes, the exhibitor forfeits the class and no refund shall be issued.  Exhibitors may be required to jump with longer distances than their class if the course has been reset to a higher class. Heights will be at their level.  Organizers may set a scheduled time for each class to begin. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure they compete prior to that time.  The schedule shall be posted in a location that is visible to all competitors

§2.2.5     Each rabbit can only compete one time per course per day. All entries for the rabbit for the day may only be under one handler’s name. 

§2.2.6      In the event a handler is not able to participate due to injury or illness, another handler may be assigned.  However, the handler must be physically present during the run.

§2.2.7       The rabbit must move through the course of its own free will. The rabbit may be guided in the right direction by the handler’s hand. Use of the foot in any form, whether touching or blocking the rabbit, is not allowed.  The rabbit should not be pulled or lifted by the lead at any time. The lead must not be used as a whip.  Stomping or loud noises are prohibited, as this is defined as neglect/abuse.   Rabbits must always be handled carefully so as not to cause them harm.

§2.2.8       A clean run is one with no faults.

§2.2.9      The rabbit that completes the course and commits the fewest faults wins. In the event of a tie, the competitor with the fastest time wins. Two competitors with the same number of faults and the same time will be tied in the standings. If standings are at issue the competitors in question must participate in a run-off.

§2.2.10     The rabbit may be lifted over or out of a knocked down jump without being given an extra fault. The rabbit is placed where it naturally would have landed. If rails are lying in the landing area, they can be removed for the safety of the rabbit. The clock does not stop.

§2.2.11    Harnesses that have slipped can be adjusted during a timed run without stopping the time.  Harnesses completely lost must be replaced without stopping the time. Rabbits must start again from the place, where the harness was compromised.    

§2.2.12     If the rabbit or handler accidentally knocks down a wrong / earlier jump it is a fault. But if the rabbit hops entirely over a wrong / earlier jump, it is DNF.

§2.2.13 Jumps that are put up incorrectly are counted as completed with no consequence to the exhibitor.

§2.2.14     If rails or jumps are blown down by wind or ground movement during the competition, that is not the fault of the rabbit/handler, the time must be stopped and the current position of the rabbit on the course is noted. If the competitor has already passed the disrupted section of the course, no action is needed.  After the course, has been adjusted, the competitor continues from the point where the time was stopped and the results are counted regardless of how far the rabbit went before the time was stopped.  In extreme disruptions, the judge may offer the competitor a re-run.  However, if a known disruption occurs, such as a doorway opening, there is no re-run.  See §4.1.4 and §1.3.6

§2.2.15    The handler is responsible for cleaning up any debris left by their rabbit on the competition course during a competition and in the warm-up area.  Violation can result in exclusion from competition until the situation is resolved.

§2.2.16    If the rabbit is not in a carrier in the competition area, it must be supervised and under control at all times. The rabbit must not be left tied to any object.

§2.3 – Faults and Corrections

§2.3.1        A simple calculation is used to determine the maximum number of faults before DNF.  This calculation shall be done prior to the competition. The total number of jumps including start, end and transitional jumps is divided by two.  If that number is a fraction, the maximum number of faults shall be rounded up to the next highest number. An exhibitor exceeding the maximum for the run shall be given a DNF for the run but will be eligible for subsequent runs. 

For example, an intermediate course has 10 jumps and the venue needs a transitional jump due to space constraints.  That makes 13 jumps divided by 2 and it's 6.5.  Rounded up, the maximum number of faults will be 7. An exhibitor exceeding the maximum for the run shall be given a DNF for the run but will be eligible for subsequent runs.

§2.3.2 Faults include:

                a. Knocking down of a rail or entire jump by rabbit or handler is 1 fault regardless of the number of rails knocked down.

                b. Hopping around the jump, so that the lateral supports of a spread jump are passed.

                c. Knock down of an earlier jump or wrong jump by the handler or rabbit.

                d. Lifting a rabbit over a jump with all rails on.

                e. Three corrections give one fault. (See §2.3.3)

                f. Starting before the judge indicates for a competitor to start.  This is called a false start.

                g. The rabbit is lifted in its lead over a jump. First time a warning is given. Second time results in DNF from all subsequent runs and disqualification from the class.

                h. Refusal. The rabbit turns away from the jump or significantly hesitates before attempting the jump.

                i.  Failure to pick the rabbit up at the end of the run.

                j. The handler deliberately takes an action that appears to be for the purpose of training the rabbit rather than trying to run the course correctly.

                k. The rabbit bites the judge, handler, or others at the event.  Any signs of vicious intent and the animal will be disqualified for the balance of the day. 

                    Multiple incidences will be reason to refuse the rabbit from future events.