On a cool Sunday morning at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, the Pet Pavilion is filled with the scents of fresh donuts and hay. Surrounding a well-defined patch of astroturf are vibrant jumps of varying heights, arranged in a neat row. The crowd is here to witness an exciting event known as kaninhop, or rabbit showjumping, a sport that originated in Sweden and has gained global popularity since the 1970s.
Among those in attendance is Natasha McGarry, a prominent figure in the world of rabbit hopping. Not only does she serve as a senior judge at the event but is also the president of the Rabbit Hopping Society of Australia. Her dedication to the sport was ignited as a teenager back in 2013, and since then, she has regularly participated in competitions held in the greater Sydney region. Having won the title of National Rabbit Hopper of the Year four times, Natasha shares her home with an impressive collection of 25 house-trained rabbits.
The competition features four main events: the straight course, crooked course, high jump, and long jump. McGarry tenderly explains the regulation for the straight course to the intrigued onlookers: victory is awarded to the rabbit that accrues the fewest “rail knocks” and completes the course in the shortest time. Meanwhile, the voices of those around her dwindle as a young girl, adorned in long purple braids, approaches with her black and white Harlequin rabbit named Batman, equipped in the standard competition H-shaped harness and lead.
“The rabbit leaps over the rails to the crowd’s exuberant cheers, while the handler, a young 13-year-old named Ciara Kaye-Stavens, sighs in relief,” as described by Simone De Peak/The Guardian. Already holding the title of winners in the crooked course category with her rabbit Daredevil, Ciara proudly wears a “Split Happens” T-shirt, a cheeky play on her preference for the dappled-coloured breed.
As Natasha resumes her judging duties, she assures that each set of jumps is precisely calibrated in 5-centimeter increments, enabling fair play. As the competition prosecutor Alison row measures meticulously, the next round of competitors—Marbles, Daredevil, and Oreo—are prepared.
The long jump category adds another facet of challenge, requiring the rabbits to clear a red and white-railed barrier at least once out of three attempts. Lorraine Stavens prepares her rabbit Mezmerise with a technique that involves gently securing the bunny close to her chest before the leap.
As Mezmerise, doesn’t quite make the jump due to concerns over the weather, a specially introduced rainbow cooling mat provides a momentary safety pause for the competitive bunny.
In the pursuit of the hallowed Rabbit Hopper of the Year title, which is decided based on collective scores, Loren and Stonecold, a formidable Chinchilla Giganta, ultimately take the lead. Natasha passionately describes rabbit hopping as a source of therapy for both her and the animals. This shared enthusiasm creates a supportive community where knowledge and advice are readily exchanged among enthusiasts, as exemplified by Jenna Sinclair who has been hooked on the sport since 2013.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/21/sydney-royal-easter-show-2025-rabbit-showjumping
