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Lionhead rabbits are an amazing new breed of rabbit! They were first introduced in the US. In 1999. Joanne Statler imported the first shipment of lionheads into Minnesota from England. There were 5 original imports that she imported into the US. Statler's Mr Tibbs - buck Broken Chestnut Agouti (from Belgium imports), Statler's Cricket - buck Black - Sport (BEW Carrier), Statler's Rugby - buck Siamese Sable (Harlequin Carrier), Statler's Elsa - doe Silver Tipped Steel, Statler's Dandy Lion - doe Harlequin (Black/Orange). Additional breeders imported these lionheads fallowing statler. Pridelands imported a black buck of swedish imports that help shape there breeding program as well. When the lionheads started to spread in the US breeders quickly started breeding in other breeds to widen the gene pool and to breed out the " NO NO Colors". Almost all of the original imports presented genetic bagage so to say. a number of them carried harli and BEW. The fallowing years the NALRC was formed in 2001. The first presentation to become a breed was in 2005, Arden Wetzel held the first COD for this breed he was not succesful and the presentation rights moved on to Gail Gibbons who will be presenting this year in the colors varieties of Black-tort., REW, Siamese Sable, Sable Point, and chestnut. The soonest this breed can be accepted by ARBA is 2011. Many breeders are working to improve there herds and several COD's have been pulled for variouse colors.
Lionhead rabbits present the first genetic mutation in a long time and are the first new breed to be introduced for a long time. There manes are wool of medium density and good crimp. They have normal fur on there backs in the saddle area, fallowed by some having a wool skirt or whats called transitional wool. Although no skirt is ideal. The saddle should be a rollback type of coat! They should have nice short well rounded ears set well on the head making a slight V when relaxed. They should have nice short bodies with well filled hindquarters and thick boned. There are many breeders really pulling together to get this breed consistant in quality all across the board, but there are some breeders out there that will try to take advantage of newbies just to make $$$$$. Its easy to tell quality if you do your homework and I always encourage newbies to look for an experienced breeder before jumping in to learn about the breed.