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'Showjumping' at Rabbit Grand National!
Photo: Action Press/Rex Features
Breeders travel in from Sweden to compete

In defiance of the usual practice of using horses for showjumping, this year's Burgess Premier Small Animal Show has included a Rabbit Grand National complete with showjumping. Entrants had to jump barriers in the recognised manner, albeit smaller ones than are usually used in horse-based events. Some breeders travelled in from as far away as Sweden to compete.

Originally popularised after a brief appearance on the defunct television show That's Life!, rabbit showjumping has become a competition sport in the UK, US, Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In Scandinavian countries, the sport is known as 'Kaninhoppning'. The inaugural European Kanin Hop Championships were held in Sweden in October 2011.

Like any sport, Rabbit showjumping requires a combination of agility and training. Rabbit showjumping experts discourage the training of particularly large rabbits due to the potentially harmful concentration of weight on the front paws during landing. It is also recommended that smaller breeds of rabbit, due to their inability to jump particularly high, are not used. However, smaller rabbits have been known to overcome these obstacles through a combination of sheer will and jumping style, and smaller rabbits have made it to the highest Scandinavian classes. Lop-eared rabbits are forbidden from competing due to the risk of injury.

The world record for a high jump in rabbits stands at 995 millimeters (39.17 inches), and is held by Tösen and Tine Hygom of Denmark. The world record for a long jump stands at 3000 millimetres (118.11 inches) by Yaboo and Maria Jensen, also of Denmark.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.