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Conformation and Balance
By Oren Reynolds

Is there a difference? What really is conformation? Many breeders will say they are one in the same thing, but I just don’t quite agree.

Conformation, according to Webster’s Dictionary means " the shaping of a thing by orderly arrangement of it’s parts" and balance is said to be, " to poise evenly, to be or make proportional or equal in value." Looking at the two words under these definitions, conformation is the arrangement that leaves a pleasing picture and balance is the proportion of the parts to each other to give the conformation it's pleasing picture. From this it is safe to assume that type is actually BOTH conformation and balance.

With reference to animals, Webster says; " Type in an animal is having such a combination of characters by which a number of individuals may be classified together." Certainly conformation and balance lead to this.

Type is or should be the most important, single, individual item to determine true quality in all breeds of rabbits.

Many times, in trying to determine the type of a rabbit, the decision is based on the individual’s like of a particular section which, while important to the standard, does not represent type in it’s entirety. A flat animal is not a good one regardless of how wide or how smooth it may be. By the same token, an animal with good depth is not a good animal unless it has width and broad, smooth hindquarters all the way down to the table. In short, it has overall and COMPLETE conformation and balance.

It might be amiss not to mention that type is what you see and NOT what you feel for. When you place your hand on the animal you are feeling for flesh condition, fur, or width of loin.

Correctly pose an animal on the table and look at it from all angles. Look for roundness, width, fullness, depth and overall conformation and balance and you will be looking for type.

Every herd, including the best in the country has it’s faults that crop up from time to time and has to be dealt with by the owner if his/her herd is to continue successfully. In working to correct a particular section, don’t ever forget the overall picture. Head, ears, bone, shoulder, saddle, and hips are all in correct proportion to each other and are necessary for good type, conformation and balance. This leaves a pleasing picture or maybe just plain beauty!

The main point to remember is that in trying to determine the full quality of the rabbit’s type, it really means the conformation and balance and this includes the ENTIRE animal from the tip of it’s nose to the tip of it’s tail and not just one outstanding section.

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