Leaping Lagomorphs (also known as hares and rabbits) is the topic of the blogging through the alphabet challenge. This week the letter is L.

I first learned of rabbit hopping as a sport about five years ago now? i was preparing a rabbit class for some homeschoolers and was looking for activities one could do with their pet rabbit. Rabbit hopping came up as one of the options. Later at one of the rabbit club shows, the 4-H kids put on an agility rabbit demonstration. I learned how to start training a rabbit to do rabbit hopping.

Rabbit hopping, Rabbit jumping, or rabbit agility (different names for different folks) was started in Sweden. It gradually made it’s way across Europe, coming the North America in 2001.

I am by no means an expert on rabbit hopping, so don’t get mad if I’m wrong in some of my facts. My understanding is there are different levels. You start at beginner and then, as your rabbit succeeds, you move on to the next level. Levels get more difficult as you work your way up.

From what I understand there are a number of different ways your rabbit can compete beyond the levels.

Rabbit Hopping events:

• A straight line of jumps.
• A twisty line of jumps.
• A line of jumps and obstacles.
• High Jump
• Long jump

How to Train

First you need to get your rabbit used to hopping just on the mat provided for them. They wear a harness and you gently guide them. You may or may not want to pointer train them first. Then you add the jump standard without a bar and gradually increase the difficulty and the type of obstacle.

All that remains after you have solid training is to take your rabbit out to show and see how he does with the stress of competition.

In Canada there is the rabbit hopping club (website and facebook).

In the United States there is the American Hopping Association.

Others in this Series

• American Fuzzy Lop.
• Baby Bunnies.
• Culling well.
• Discussing Death.
• Errors in Judgement.
• Feeding Rabbits.
• The G’s of rabbits.
• Holland Lops.
• Interesting facts about rabbits.
• The Joy of Bunnies.
• Choosing Rabbits to Keep. 
•  

Letter L Link Up

Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
• Christine @ Life’s Special Necessities 
• Kimberly @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
• Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag
• Wendy @ Life On Chickadee Lane
• Yvonne @ The Life We Build
• Jennifer @ A Peace Of Mind
• Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest To Teach
• Kirsten @ DoodleMom Homeschool