Swedish Rabbits Compete in Show Jumping Championships

In Sweden, rabbits don't just hop around backyards—they compete in organized show jumping competitions. Kaninhoppning (literally "rabbit jumping" in Swedish) is exactly what it sounds like: domestic rabbits navigating obstacle courses while their owners guide them with leashes, mimicking the format of equestrian show jumping events.

The sport emerged in Sweden during the late 1970s when rabbit enthusiasts started organizing informal jumping competitions. What began as a quirky pastime evolved into a structured competitive sport with official rules, regulations, and a national federation. The Sveriges Kaninhoppares Riksförbund (Swedish Federation of Rabbit Jumping) was formally established in September 1994 and now boasts over 1,100 members across 20 clubs throughout Sweden.

How Rabbit Show Jumping Actually Works

Competitors have two minutes to guide their rabbits through a course of jumps, aiming for the fewest faults possible. The rabbits must jump voluntarily—handlers can't force or lift them over obstacles. The bunny must also stay in front of its owner throughout the run, maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Courses come in several formats:

• Straight course: Linear series of obstacles
• Crooked course: Winding path with turns
• High jump: Testing vertical ability
• Long jump: Measuring horizontal distance

The sport features five difficulty levels—mini, easy, medium, advanced, and elite—with progressively taller jumps and more complex obstacle arrangements. Elite courses can feature jumps significantly higher than a standard rabbit's resting height.

These Bunnies Are Surprisingly Athletic

Don't underestimate these fluffy competitors. The current world record for rabbit high jump is an impressive 107 centimeters (42.1 inches)—more than three feet straight up. That record was set in March 2023 by Holloway GtCh Tennessine, a Czech rabbit owned by Marie Kozubková.

The long jump record is even more astounding: 301 centimeters (nearly 10 feet). Miss Pinky's Grand Champion Harajuku, nicknamed "Dobby" and owned by Julia Samson of Sweden, achieved this remarkable feat in August 2017. For context, that's longer than many Olympic long jumpers managed before the 20th century.

From Swedish Oddity to International Sport

What started as a uniquely Swedish phenomenon has hopped across borders. Official rabbit jumping federations now exist in Norway and Finland, while competitions are held in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The sport's growth demonstrates that given the right training and encouragement, rabbits possess athletic capabilities most people never see in their backyard bunnies.

Training a rabbit for competition takes patience and positive reinforcement. Handlers typically start with low obstacles and gradually increase difficulty as their rabbits gain confidence and ability. The human-animal bond developed through this training is often as valued as the competitive success itself.