Palomino - Luster - Clover - Rabbit wishes for Snow

On this Episode I talk about the Palomino Rabbit.    
The Palomino is a golden colored, like the famous Palomino horse.   Much like the beautiful Palomino horse that the Palomino rabbit resembles in color, the breed features a golden, wheat-colored coat. The color is very distinctive and comes in two shade varieties, the golden and the lynx. The Palomino breed is affectionately termed 'Pals'.
The Palomino has a heartwarming history.   The breed was developed by Mark Youngs of Coulee Dam of the Lone Pine Rabbitry in Washington State.  Mr Youngs, who had been involved in the rabbit hobby since 1910, had an intense desire to create a "new" breed of rabbit.  He had been raising and breeding rabbits for 30 years but began to dream of creating his own breed. He coined the term "Color Blend Breeding" when describing his process in development of the breed.
For many years Mr. Youngs purchased meat rabbits from the youngsters of the area.  During the course of time while developing the Palomino, Mr Youngs would save fryers initially destined for processing. The majority of these original rabbits were mostly black or brown in color. In time, these rabbits, or "sports" as Mr Youngs referred to them, were bred to sports he obtained from various sources. Occasionally a "buckskin" or tawny rabbit would result from breedings made from the original sports. When these tawny rabbits were bred, kits were saved that also bore the tawny or golden color. As these gold-colored rabbits were bred to others of like color, the percentage of tawny kits in each litter would progressively increase. Matings of various color shades were accomplished following a combination of line breeding, in-breeding, as well as out crossing. Over the course of time, Mr Youngs began seeing litters with 100% of a light gold-colored (or beige) offspring.  During the late 1940’s and early 50’s, crossing various commercial-typed rabbit eventually gave him fawn rabbits he called tawnies.  Mr. Youngs selected what appeared to be sports from some of these live fryers and would mate them together. Occasionally he would obtain in some of the litters buckskin or light yellow-brown youngsters. Youngs would also refer to this color as “tawnies”. These off colored yellow-brown rabbits were all saved and interbred. He would also introduce blood from other sources into his project that he termed “color-blen breeding”. Future generations would produce a fawn or golden colored rabbit.  Soon he enlisted the help of several “co-breeders.”  Together they developed their sunny bunnies into a breed.  As with any new breed, Mr. Youngs persisted despite color problems that showed up such as smut, ticking, eye circles and white spots.  
In 1952 Mark Youngs began refering to these "beige" rabbits as the "American Beige". In some of the early litters, off-colored sports began to appear with a smokey or "sooty white" color with dark eyes. Future generations developed into a more golden shade and the breed was renamed the "Washingtonian" (for the state in which they were developed). After continued breeding, a variation of the gold color began appearing, which Mr Youngs referred to as "fawn". These different colored offspring were saved and soon 100% of these fawn-colored rabbits were appearing in litters.
Mr. Youngs, along with his wife Mabel, presented the new breed for the first time at the 1952 ARBA convention and show at Portland, Oregon, and dubbed the breed “Washingtonian”, however he did not like that name so he placed a coffee can next the cages holding the exhibition rabbits, which would serve as a suggestion box for naming the new breed. People offered such names as; Honey-Dew, Honey-Fawn, Golden Palomino and of course we all know the winning suggestion was Palomino.
“Presented” means that they are there on exhibit for the ARBA committee to see and vote on if they would like to accept the new breed.
The Washingtonians were presented at the 1953 Amarillo, Texas ARBA Convention when the name was officially changed to Palomino.  They were presented at the 1954 York, Pennsylvania convention, the 1955 Columbus Ohio Convention, the 1956 St Paul, Minnesota Convention. The Standards committee still had not approved the new breed because they felt they need further improvement. Then in Little Rock, Arkansas Convention in 1957 we would see the Palomino recognized as a new breed in America, with one variety, the Lynx. The most popular color of the breed is the Golden, which received final approval in 1958 at the Springfield, Illinois Convention. The first Palomino ever registerd was in the fall of 1957 by Francis E. Baughman of Findlay, Ohio.
It was at this point (1953) that the current name of "Palomino" was adopted. In 1955, the name Fawn Palomino was dropped in favor of the name, Lynx Palomino upon the recommendation of the ARBA Standards Committee since it was felt this name was more descriptive of the lilac tint present in the fur.
The Palomino rabbit leveled off into its two distinctive varieties - Lynx and Golden (the Lynx being the first variety of the newly recognized Palomino breed in 1957 and the Golden following with its official recognition as the second variety in 1958). By the late 1960's the Palomino, being a relatively new breed, was actually breeding truer than many older more established breeds. This was due to the dedication of Mark Youngs and those early breed supportors in promoting and continuing the advancement of the Palomino breed. The Palomino Rabbit Co-Breeders Association - established in 1955, even before the Palomino's official acceptance, has been commited to continued improvement and support of those who breed and exhibit the Palomino in the spirit of cooperation to all who express a sincere interest in this beautiful and utilitarian rabbit.   After much hard work and dedication, the Palomino was officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. in 1957
Unfortunately, records of the rabbit breeds used to develop the Palomino were not kept but the Youngs would purchase meat rabbits from locals for breeding.  
Overall Description
The Palomino Rabbit is a large to medium sized commercial breed rabbit.  Like some other rabbit breeds, the Palomino does are heavier than the bucks, such that the female Palomino Rabbits body weight ranging from 9 lbs to 11 lbs (4 kg to 5kg), whereas the male Palomino Rabbits will have a body weight between 8 lbs and 10 lbs (3.6 kg and 4.5kg). The body of the Palomino Rabbit breed is medium in length with firm flesh and it has well rounded hindquarters. The body type is commercial, similar to that of a New Zealand.  Their body contain a smaller bone structure than other meat rabbit variety. And such smaller bone structure offers the breeder a superior meat ratio.
The ears of the rabbit are large, upright and erect and it has brown colored eyes.
Coat
The coat of the both types of Palomino Rabbits have coarse, short to medium rollback fur, which does not require much maintenance.   This breed has what is called flyback or rollback fur  In order to keep it show-worthy, During off-seasons shedding times, bi-weekly grooming sessions are perfectly acceptable.  During the spring, owners may want to increase the number of brushings depending on how much the rabbit’s shed.  Once to twice per week should be plenty during these molting periods.
Colors
The breed recognizes two varieties: golden and lynx.  Genetically, golden is a bright fawn.  Lynx is not a true lynx (lilac agouti), but simply the dilute version of golden, which most breeds call cream.  
The golden color is reported to be the most common color, which is an orange-beige color over a white or cream undercoat. The Lynx colored rabbit has a gray or silver surface color, mixing with an orange-beige in-between over the cream or white undercoat.
The Palomino Rabbit breed can be easily recognized by its unique fawny orange color.
Any of these color color problems that show up such as smut, ticking, eye circles and white spots variations are considered faults or disqualifications when the rabbits are shown at an ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) rabbit show.
Care Requirements
This particular breed does well either in indoor or outdoor enclosures, as its coat is dense and coarse enough to handle cold temperatures (even with snow), so long as its outdoor enclosure is protected from the elements (sun, rain, snow). Outdoor enclosures should also be covered on three sides to protect rabbits from cold drafts in the winter, as well as provide ventilation and shade at the same time during the hotter months. Indoor enclosures should be made of wire and have a solid bottom in order to lay down rabbit-safe bedding (horse bedding is acceptable as well). Bedding should be spot-cleaned everyday to keep it sanitary and needs to be completely replaced at the end of every week.
If kept in a cage, the enclosure should be at least five times the size of the rabbit with plenty of room to stretch and stand upright. Wire mesh flooring should be avoided because the rabbit’s feet could get caught in them. A hide box or sleeping quarters should be provided for times when the rabbit needs to hide or sleep in private.
Diet:
Like other rabbits, Palomino Rabbits are herbivorous. The main ingredient of their diet is hay, preferably Timothy grass hay, which is rich in the fiber needed to prevent diarrhea, obesity, and hairballs.  Leafy vegetables, though also essential to a rabbit’s health, should be given sparingly to prevent digestive disorders.   For variety, treats may be given (although occasionally because of potentially high starch or sugar content) such as carrots, peaches, plum, apples, papaya, pears, strawberries, and other fruits.  Commercial rabbit pellets also add nutrients to the daily diet.  Fresh water should always be available, either from a sipper bottle or in a stable water bowl.  As with any rabbit, the Palomino’s consists of 70 percent high-quality hay (such as orchard hay), with the rest being a healthy mixture of leafy greens, pellets, fruits and vegetables.   Adult rabbits can eat about 1/4 cup of high-fiber pellets everyday for every 5 lbs. it weighs.
Health
Like other small mammals, Palomino Rabbits can be susceptible to colds and viral infections. Exposure to draft, sudden changes in temperature and stress can lower the rabbit’s resistance to sickness.  Rabbits are also vulnerable to conjunctivitis (a bacterial infection of the eyelids caused by smoke, dust, and fumes) and ear mites.  Intestinal ailments like coccidiosis (parasites propagated by unsanitary conditions), bloat, and hairball obstructions are also common in rabbits.
Due to the Palomino’s short, coarse coat, it is not at-risk for digestive issues such as woodblock.  It is still susceptible to other problems such as overgrown teeth, flystrike and ear mites.  Owners should check the Palomino rabbit ears every 2-3 weeks for mites and if your rabbit’s diet does not consist mainly of hay, it may develop overgrown teeth.  This will affect if/how much they eat, as its constantly growing teeth can grow into its jaw, and be painful.  This can be corrected with a quick trip to your vet at first, and then switch to a diet that is higher in hay, as it naturally grinds down your rabbit’s teeth.
Palomino Rabbits are very clean animals and will groom themselves and also each other. Palomino Rabbits are crepuscular-(meaning the are most active at morning and evening) and do most of there feeding in the evening.  
Temperament/Behavior
In order to see its personality blossom, the Palomino rabbit needs plenty of time outside of its enclosure to explore and form a lasting bond with its human family.  Palominos have friendly personalities.  The Palomino Rabbit breeds display an extremely cute look with a very calm personality to match too.   The Palomino rabbit is a hardy and strong breed. It is a docile breed in temperament and considered to be one of the best breed of home pets. They are friendly and have a very calm personality. They enjoy human company.  They have an extremely passive and friendly temperament, and they mostly fond of in company with people. The Palomino Rabbit breeds are not a pure breed, but they are a blend of several other rabbit breeds and they were developed to find the best combination perfect for commercial and petting.  Palomino       Rabbits are calm, friendly, and very gentle.
Pet Palomino Rabbits should be kept in pairs for Companionship, its important for a rabbits happiness and it can live longer with a companion. They are best kept in pairs or trios but preferably one per cage to minimize injury from occasional infighting.  In the wild, rabbits are very social.
Female Palomino Rabbits can produce about 2 to 4 litters of bunnies per year with 4 to 6 babies.  Breeders say that does make excellent mothers and raise healthy-sized litters.  Fryers grow quickly to dress-out size.
Uses
Rabbits tend to be bred for one of four things: meat, fur, show, or pet use. The Palamino rabbit is referred to as an “All-Purpose Rabbit” because it fulfills all four of these purposes.  It is a Multi-purpose rabbit, and It is a fine breed for either meat production or for showing, and they should also make for a great pet!  Even though this is a large breed of rabbit, they are gentle and easily handled. This makes them good for pets or show rabbits as well as meat production.
The Palomino Rabbit breed is recognized for its toughness, outstanding production traits, and fast growth. It is a breed ideally suited for either exhibition or meat production. The Palomino Rabbits contain a smaller bone structure than other meat variety rabbits, which offers breeders a superior meat ratio.   As a large breed, the Palomino rabbit is suitable for meat production. They can be a good choice for meat rabbit farming business.  The Palominos have always been known for their amazing hardiness, excellent production qualities along with their rapid growth for fryer size animal. Having been specifically bred to be a meat rabbit, the Palomino has a medium-sized body with well-rounded shoulders and hips and firm flesh.  Palominos grow to fryer size rapidly but they do take time to full mature. Because the bone structure of the Palomino is lighter than most commercial breeds, they produce a larger quantity of meat. This is because of the meat to bone ratio being higher. When this breed is raised for meat, it gives them an added edge in meat production.
Apart from being recognized as one among the meatiest commercial rabbit breeds, the Palomino Rabbit breeds are also considered to be one among the best breed of home pets, as well.
The Palomino rabbit makes a wonderful first-time pet.  The Palomino Rabbits are cuddly and make for amazing  Pets.  Palominos love to be out of its enclosure and into the world.  Due to its gentle nature, it does well with children so long as it is handled carefully and has enough time out of its enclosure to become social animals.  If it spends too much time in its enclosure, it will become depressed and/or bored, especially if it has no companion rabbit.  The Palomino Rabbit is a wonderful first-time pet, as it is relatively low maintenance so long as you provide it with essential items to keep it safe, healthy and happy.  Because it is a sociable animal, these rabbits are also good pets for couples and seniors, so long as retirees are able to physically to tend to the rabbit’s needs.  Palomino rabbits have been exercised as Animal Assisted Treatment animals, as well.
They are well-suited for show and exhibition.  Palomino rabbits that are used for rabbit shows are known for their big ears, and they have smaller shoulders, but they will be in proportion with the remaining parts of their body in time.
Club
The Palomino Rabbit breed was approved as a separate breed by the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association during 1957.  Then the Palomino rabbit had been exported to Europe.  By the 1960s the breed was more common and gaining popularity, but the Palomino rabbits are not yet recognized by the British Rabbit Council.  The breed has been introduced into Europe, Malta, and even South Africa
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership.  Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition.
There are two beautiful varieties accepted in Pals today: Golden and Lynx. The breed is known for its hardiness, excellent production qualities, and rapid growth. It is a breed equally suited for either meat production or exhibition.
The Palomino Rabbit Co-Breeders Association, established in 1955, is the official breed specialty club promoting this All-American breed. The goal of our organization has been to foster a spirit of cooperation and an interest in the success of 'Pals' and those individuals who have an interest in raising the wonderful breed.  The name - 'Palomino Rabbit Co-Breeders' exemplifies this committment with the handshake featured in their emblem as an illustration of this ethic.  The name of the breed’s national specialty club is unique: the Palomino Co-breeders.  The club’s emblem includes two clasped hands over a golden rabbit, commemorating the handshake that the breed’s founder, Mark Youngs, would give new breeders when he sold them rabbits
Despite its good temperament and valuable commercial properties, the Palomino rabbit escapes many people’s attention.  There are a number of breeds in its size and body type category that have special coloration: the American Sable, the Crème d’Argent, and the American Chinchilla, to name a few.
The average lifespan of a Palomino Rabbit is around 5 to 8 years and in captivity can live up to 10 years.
Word of the week: Luster
Plant of the week: Clover
Story of how rabbit Wishes for Snow

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https://rightpet.com/breed-species/small-exotic-mammal/rabbits/palomino-rabbit
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