|
Saving of the Sable Rabbit
By Gail Johnson
(Editor of the A.S.R.S. newsletter "The Sable Cable")
Since the conception of the American Sable Rabbit Society
in 1982, the Am. Sable Rabbit has leapt into the main stream of rabbit shows
with the enthusiasm only equaled by their human counter-parts - the "Sable
Savers". Savers is literally the appropriate word to use since Sables were to
be dropped from the A.R.B.A. Standard of Perfection into oblivion if 25 animals
were not shown at the A.R.B.A.
Convention of Seattle, WA (1982) and/or Colorado Springs, CO (1983). Thanks to
our fourteen charter members and their followers plus those rabbits who hopped
across the judging tables, the breed was saved. From the late Al Roerdanz's
herd of seven purebred Sables and a trio of Sables imported from England,
rabbits were distributed to club members to start saving the breed that most
had previously never heard of. The gene pool was checked and information
provided that genetically Sables could be and were bred to Standard
Chinchillas, Sable Martens, Sable Rex, Havanas, New Zealands, Californians,
Tort Mini Lops, Palominos, and Harlequins. From this motley beginning American
Sables were launched into the future.
The first sanctioned A.S.R.S. Sable Show was held Memorial
weekend 1982 in Meadville, PA with Harry Rice judging. Five Sables were
shown by three exhibitors (Al Roerdanz, Tom Coatoam, and Jay & Marg
Lawton). The Am. Sable Rabbit Society was organized on the spot and Charter
Members were: President -
Charles Desmett (OH), Vice Pres. & Historian - Thomas Coatoam (PA), Sec./Treas.
Jay Lawton (OH), Four Directors: Maurice Phillips (PA), Susan Bowlin (AL), Pat
Brose (NY), T. Henry Buchanan (OK), Publicity Director - Al Roerdanz (OH), Sable Cable editor - Marg Lawton. Other
Charter members were: Nick Bowlin (AL), Dr. Terry Reed (IN), John & Cheryl
Focht (OH), and Susan Gould (PA).
Twelve Sables were shown at Seattle
by three exhibitors and Colorado
Springs easily met it's quota with the A.S.R.S.
tripling it's membership in a year. The A.S.R.S. was a reality and American Sables
were on their way.
Type - Fur - Shading
Work was now needed on breeding Sables to be more uniform
with each other while eliminating faults of:
1. Scattered white hairs and/or white
toenails.
2. A flat spot over the shoulders. (A
mandolin type was called for in the first standard instead of commercial type.
Flat spots still show up in litters today).
3. Correct texture, length, and shading of coat color.
Breeding in commercial type, while breeding out scattered white
hairs and toenails, was not a major problem. Even reducing the number of
rabbits with a flat spot over the shoulders just took time. However, Sable
color and shading proved to be more difficult. A very dense soft under coat and
good length of guard hairs is what makes the pelt feel like the Russian Sable
which is highly valued. The correct Sable fur is roll back and it has a unique
feel to it. Stroke the rabbit and there will be a slight residue felt on your
fingertips. (It is quite similar to the residue felt after putting talcum
powder on a babies bottom and then rubbing your fingers together). Blotchy
patches are not as prevalent today as they were in the past. Shading of coat color is extremely
important whether it be in light, medium, or dark Sables. Color has to be
the most difficult part of a Sable to describe and maintain. The dark points on the head & ears, back,
feet & legs, and tail should gradually
shade into lighter hues on the jaws, flanks, and belly of the rabbits in
any one of the three color intensities. Coats change with the age of the
animal. A mature rabbit will be darker
than a junior or even pre junior. Does
that have frequently kindled are usually darker than does who have not had
litters. Bucks have a tendency to hold
coat color longer than does but, seem to get blotchier with age. On top of this, the coat has a tendency to be
darker in winter than summer. Colder
climates seem to produce darker fur than hotter climates. No wonder that 45
points are placed on Fur coloring and shading, and 50 points on type! Of the two disqualifications listed, white or
mismatched toenails are by far the most common occurrence. Very few rabbits are
lacking the ruby glow to the eye.
Growth
A.S.R.S. requests for show sanctions were coming in and new
members were spreading out across the nation.
Sable stock was still at a premium but, three generation pedigrees were
now available. New members and judges
were being educated about how the Sable differed from most breeds having
commercial type. In 1983 a charter was
issued for the Society of Ohio Sablers - our first state club. Standards were updated. Youth Sweepstakes
started in 1995 and grows stronger each year.
With the approach of the each new year more and more attention is given to the Sable
for Best Four Class, Best In Group, Best In Reserve, and Best In Show. Today the rabbit world, along with the
A.S.R.S., see these higher awards are achieved with a Sable that has greatly
improved in meat type, color & shading, and fur texture & density. Combine this with a mellow disposition,
excellent mothering instincts, a meat type rabbit with medium bone, a size easy
to handle and you have a rabbit that will appeal to new breeders as well as
long time breeders interested in saving and improving the American Sable Rabbit.
|
