| EYE OF THE FANCY |
| THE HISTORY OF THE HOTOT Came from Hotot-en-Auge, geographically nestled in a lush green valley of Normandy (near the port of LeHavre in Northern France --- an area know for it's apple cider and superior dairy products) comes the name and the rabbit Blanc de Hotot ( White of Hotot). Madam E. Bernhard, chatelaine du Calvados, who owend a large rabbitry of Geant de Flanders (Flemish Giants) and Geant Papillion Francais (Checked Giants), has been given total credit in originating the Blanc de Hotot. Bernhard's goal was to produce a large white rabbit with black eyes of multi-purpose qualities for meat, fur and show. The years in witch she began her breeding to produce the Hotot is some what clouded, the published dates lead me to believe it was in 1902. It was resolved by Bernhard to work only on the Giant Papillion Francais. Through process of elimination, and only keeping the animals that were lightly marked, and other goals the Baroness had set you her-self and the numerous (500+) breedings,would produce what we now know as the standard Hotot,(Blanc de Hotot). The first markings to disappear were the flank spots. The ears and spine markings proved to be extremely difficult, in spite of the various splits in these markings. The last of the markings to fade were the eye circles (bands) being almost impossible eradicate. Several years passed and Bernhard refusing to sell any of her stock, as litters were still throwing marked rabbits, Fredderick Joppich, a great German breeder of the Hotot for over 30 years, confirmed this, stating, "the marked rabbit throw-backs were nearly impossible to eliminate, as in the English Spots and Checkered Giants". The Hotot rabbit we now have has had the desired characteristics since 1912. But it was not until WW1, the Hotot had an actual name. In his journal Eugene Meslay, talked of a white giant with black eyes of Madame Bernhard. It was not until 1920 that the breed was first shown at the Exposition Internationale d'Aviculture in Paris, under the name Geant Blanc de Hotot The standard established by Bernhard, was officially recognized and accepted by the Commission des Standards de Francaise on October 13th 1922. In the original French text, there was no mention of black bands around the eyes, but of black eyelashes and lower eye lids, more or less grey in color. Switzerland imported the Hotot in 1927 and it was here where the breed found the greatest recognition. Berne, Switzerland and the surrounding area became known as the "stronghold of the Hotot". Bob Whitman imported the first Hotots to America. The first two pair arrived in Houston, Texas at 2:45 pm on June 25th, 1978. The pair came from Fernande Eberli of Saint Louis, France. Margaret Henderson received the second shipment of Hotots from Silvea Amen of Castres, France consisting of three does and a buck. The four rabbits arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 2nd 1978. America,s first public viewing of the Hotot was at the New Mexico State Fair when Hendersom and Whitman exhibited two 6/8 does, These rabbits were judged per the translated French standard on September 17th 1978 by Jack Munhenk. On March 5th 1979 at the 55th ARBA Convention & Show in Saginaw, Michigan the ARBA Standard Committee recommended the acceptance of the Blanc de Hotot to the Book of Standards. The ARBA inc. approved the Blanc de Hotot as a standard breed into the organization, and published in the Domestic Rabbits Magazine. |
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