THE ORIGINS OF RABBIT HOPPING
During the early 1970’s Sweden developed rabbit show jumping with rules, guidelines and jumping equipment that was similar to horse show jumping, only in miniature style.
In 1987, the first national championship for “straight line easy course” was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
The sport grew throughout Sweden and several rabbit jumping clubs were formed to support the growing interest.
In the early 1990’s, Norway joined in with rabbit jumping activities, developing new clubs and joining Sweden in rabbit jumping competitions.
1993, Denmark started “Kanin Hop” clubs and put on their own hopping competitions and the sport grew throughout the region.
1994, the National Rabbit Show Jumping Organization of Sweden was formed with a permanent set of rules for their championship. Rabbit show jumping is very popular in all parts of Sweden today.
1995, England started rabbit show jumping and slowly developed their own small clubs and rabbit jumping competitions.
At the end of 1999, it was decided between the countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, that the rules for “rabbit jumping” and “rabbit hopping”should be combined in some way through the rules, allowing everyone from other participating countries to compete together under a similar system.
The rules were revised and updated, now being called the Nordic Rabbit Hopping Rules. Each country modifies and regulates the rules through their own judges committees. They make changes where necessary, printing the rules in their own language in each country and became available in 2001.
2000, Germany joined the other countries in starting their own rabbit hopping club. Training and participation with translations for a new set of rabbit hopping rules came from the judges committee in Denmark.
2001 brought forth the Rabbit Hopping Organization of America. The rules and guidelines for rabbit hopping were established for all Americans with the help of the judges committee in Denmark and with personal assistance from hopping judge Aase Bjerner.
2007 the rules to rabbit hopping were sent from R.H.O.A. to the Rabbit Club of Japan.
2013 has now seen the beginnings of The Rabbit Hopping Society Of Australia also with the assistance of Aase and Rasmus Bjerner.
Combining rabbit hopping with rabbit owners throughout the world, has brought all of us together with a rabbit sport that everyone enjoys.