Click on the name below to read more...
| ARDEN WETZEL |
Former COD Holder - Unsuccessful in past Presentation Attempt |
 |
I have been a member of the ARBA for about 15 years. Way, way, way before that, I had rabbits when I was in 4-H. One weekend, a friend of mine (she still is a friend even though she started me on this long roadJ) stopped and asked if I wanted to go the rabbit show in Rice Lake. I came home with a trio of Satins and what follows is the “rest of the story”. |
| |
|
| GAIL GIBBONS |
Former COD Holder - Unsuccessful in past Presentation Attempt
|
 |
We started raising rabbits when our oldest son became interested in rabbits for meat and to use as a 4H project. Back in1978 our family goal was to produce as much of our own food as we could, the rabbits were a good addition. Eventually he worked his meat rabbits into a small business for himself and his siblings, selling between 40 and 60 dressed fryers a month. When the boys left home the girls were less interested in meat and more interested in show, so the emphasis of the rabbitry changed. In the beginning we had Satins, almost exclusively with a few Rex. |
|
| BOB WHITMAN |
Former COD Holder - Dropped COD; Passed Away 2009 |
 |
Bob Whitman loved odd and unusual things and it was this love for the unusual that inspired his interest in the Lionhead Rabbit. He was instrumental in bringing Lionheads into the U.S. from England beginning in 2001. Shortly after his second shipment arrived, he secured a Certificate of Development for the breed with the ARBA, in line behind Arden Wetzel and Gail Gibbons. He was fascinated with these animals, loved the many beautiful colors they came in and tried to get the ARBA to accept all the varieties like they did in England. |
|
THERESA MUELLER
(on right) |
Current Active COD- Successful 1st Presentation 2010 ARBA Convention
Black, Black Tort, and REW
|
 |
PrideLands Rabbitry began as two friends sharing a passion for the rabbit hobby. They live in the beautiful state of Washington, near Seattle. Theresa lives with her husband and two daughters in Ravensdale, and good friend Cheryl Rafoth and her husband live on the peninsula in Port Townsend. Both had been raising rabbits for many years before they formed their co-op with our Hollands Lops in 2001. Shortly after forming their co-op with the Holland Lops (Forget-Me-Not Rabbitry), the Lionheads (PrideLands Rabbitry) followed. |
| |
|
| DAWN GUTH |
2nd COD - Black, Siamese Sable, REW, Pointed White and Smoke Pearl |
 |
I’ve had a pet rabbit since I was about five years old. My pet Pointed White Jersey Wooly had to be euthanized the summer of 2002 and I went on a search on the internet to find what breed I wanted next, for a pet. I discovered the Lionheads and started my search to find one. |
| |
|
| LYNNE SCHULTZ |
3rd COD - Chestnut Agouti & Orange; also Red (on separate COD) |
 |
I recall seeing an ad for Lionheads in the Domestic Rabbits magazine. A friend also mentioned the new maned rabbits she had seen at a show but it was awhile before I actually saw any myself. My husband Gale really liked them and eventually I broke down and bought a little Blue SM doe, supposedly for him. I had to admit it was a pretty cute bunny. One thing led to another and we started acquiring more |
| |
|
| LEE A. NEVILLS |
4th COD - Chocolate and Chocolate Tortoise |
 |
Having been an ARBA member since 1978, I raised a lot of different breeds because I wanted to learn what makes each breed unique. I really enjoyed the challenge of breeding to each individual breed standard and achieving success on the show tables. My favorite breeds that gave me a great education about breeding for specific goals for type, fur, color and markings are Harlequins, Silvers, Rex, all kinds of Lops, Havanas and Dutch. |
| |
|
| REGINA MAYHUGH |
5th COD Otter (black, blue, chocolate & lilac) and Sable Marten |
 |
I was able to keep my rabbits while in college and after I got married and commuted to take care of them. In 2004 we built a house and was able to move the rabbits over and into a shed. I am now happy to say that this summer my husband built a barn for them and we are finishing the barn so they can be moved in this winter. |
| |
|
| KIM CROAK |
former COD holder - passed away 7/27/10 |
 |
Kim began her journey in the rabbit hobby at the age of 16 forming Kim’s Cuddly Kritters Rabbitry and has been a member of the ARBA on and off for the last 30 years. Kim got her love of animals from her mom who is a very success trainer of German Sheppard Service Dogs. Kim would always bring news of her mom’s accomplishments to the shows and the pride in which she took in her mom was obvious in her voice and beaming smile. Kim moved to PA from IL in the early 90s buying a home at the base of the Tuscarora Mountains where she could continue her passion for rabbits and other animals in the midst of Amish country. Over the years Kim maintained: horses, cows, chickens, ducks, exotic birds, dogs, cats, goats, and even a pet turtle but her main love was her rabbits.
|
| |
|
| MARILYN STEVENS |
6th COD - Blue, Blue Tort, and Sable Point |
 |
I don’t remember where I first saw my first Lionhead rabbit; but wherever it was, I was awe stuck by the tiny ears and the mane encircling the head……..that’s what I had to have. My daughter found 2 Lionheads in Baltimore, Md., at Bundles for Bunnies. This is the same rabbitry where Amy Whitmore got her first Lionheads and just about the same time in 2002. |
| |
|
JOE HORACEK &
NITA SHANNON |
7th COD - Seal, Siamese Sable, and REW |
|
I acquired my first lionhead in the spring of 2003. My sons wanted a 'hare' to go with the Sulcata Tortoise we had and my online searches generated a 'really cool' kind of rabbit that the boys decided they had to have. We picked up Sake, from Diane Ricketson in the parking lot of JC Penny's. Her pedigree had names like Statler's Miss Kitty and Hellenic Stud #43. An F3, she was a product of some very early American Lionheads.
Read More HERE |
 |
We love the rabbit hobby! When we started this endeavor 6 years ago, I told the girls it would be only 7 rabbits and that’s all I would permit…Ha! That lasted maybe 2 months or until we had our first litter. As a family, we have thoroughly enjoyed the hobby of raising and showing Lionhead rabbits. We have met amazing people and consider so many of our breeder friends as family.
Read More HERE |
| |
|
| Melissa Kelly |
8th COD - Silver Marten (Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac) and Chestnut |
 |
I acquired a few other rabbits in the first months of my rabbitry, but it was not until I was having trouble breeding and decided to drive to CT that my rabbitry really took off. I met up with Jane Rameriez, of Lions Lair Rabbitry, and bought a doe, her litter, and the litter that the doe was fostering. The doe, Twilight, turned out to be an excellent producer, but in that fostered litter was my herd buck, Valens. Valens ended up taking first place out of the senior buck class at the 2007 Nationals! |
