So many things to learn!

Drew and I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan August 14-16.  We attended an all-day workshop with Colleen Boyd, a long-time Angora breeder.  She brought in about 20 rabbits of all different Angora breeds so we could see the differences.  She covered all the basics of housing and feeding.  We covered sexing and breeding.  She even mated a pair of black Giant Angoras while we were there!  Mr. Bunny was so eager, he started at the wrong end.  Colleen got her turned around though and there was a successful mating. :-)

We got to practice cutting out mats in the wool and she demonstrated shearing with clippers.  She blew out the coat of a white Giant that she plans to take to the national show in Texas.

Some of the most important practice was in picking up, flipping over, and carrying the bunnies in a football hold.  We can now look forward to far fewer scratches (me, because I don't wear gloves) and a lot more confidence that we will keep control without hurting our darlings.