When I started showing rabbits I had just one colour, the Smoke pearl. Looking for a second colour I was uncertain. There were the REWs, Agoutis, Otters and Sables. However my mind was made up when, at a show, my wife pointed to a pen and said "I like that rabbit". It was of course an Himalayan.

Then came the problem of getting stock. Himalayan breeders are few and far between, later I was to realize why. The year was 1993 and I was directed to a breeder in Hertfordshire who offered me a mated doe. Sadly she missed and never again mated successfully.

Next I got a doe from a breeder in Norwich and a further doe from an established breeder in Yarm. Now of course, I need a buck. Probably the most successful breeder of Himalayans at that time lived in Lancashire. I made contact with him and after a short time he rang to say he head a buck to offer me. So off to Lancashire. How fortunate I was for I obtained a superb 12 month old buck. I still can't understand why he parted with it. But I was extremely grateful for it was to become not only my stud buck but also a very successful show exhibit.

I entered this rabbit in the Bradford Championship show and won the class from a fair number of entries. I was ecstatic at getting a red card and as soon as I got home placed this rabbit on a pedestal along with red card for a photo shoot (see photo). That same year he also won the National ASS at Halifax (I think the last time the ASS was held there) out of a class of 22. Sadly the days of large classes of Himalayans have passed. There seem to be fewer and fewer exhibitors of this colour. I'm sure one of the reasons is that they are so frustrating to breed. All too often the kits will have good type but no colour or visa versa. They are certainly not the colour to choose if you are looking for "Best in Show" or even "Best of Breed". In my experience the very best Himalayans struggle to compete with the REWs, Agoutis, Otters and Sables.

Some breeders mate Himalayans to Dark Siamese Sables to improve colour and type but this has never worked for me. I keep strictly Him to Him and this has produced at fairly regular intervals a reasonable show exhibit. I try to breed straight down the line from my original buck but did eventually have to buy another buck. This too became a buck producing the odd show winner. My breeding line is now a combination of does from my original buck and the buck I bought in.

I know from the enquiries I get there are several breeders who would like to try with Himalayans if only they could get the stock. Those of us breeding now should surely try to produce more stock that may be suitable for offering within the fancy.

Eric Brooks