You may ask yourself how I ever got involved with the Himalayans, which are also fondly known as ‘himis’?
Cutie
A few years later, along came two more rescues - bucks Merlin (black) and Choccie (chocolate).
Merlin 
Choccie
Merlin’s claim to fame has been the many pet shows he has been to and won. He holds a BRC Pet Award for winning five times “Best Pet” at shows. He won many more “Best Pet” diplomas but, very sadly, developed a hernia a few years ago. His bladder came away from his stomach wall, leading to major surgery. Thankfully, Merlin is still with me today and enjoying a very well-deserved retirement.
Smutts, a black Himalayan, joined Goldiestud in December 2005 and a few months later Katie (a big thank-you to Soyen Stud!), another black Himalayan. It wasn’t long until these two thoroughbreds produced the very first litter of black Himalayans, a buck and a doe. Mikey and Smuttie were born on the 17th of October 2006.
Katie with her first litter: Smuttie & Mikey 
Smuttie and Mikey
Mikey and Smuttie have been most successful at every show that they have been to so far, constantly ding-donging for honours, with either Mikey winning the Himalayan class or Smuttie.
Mikey and Smuttie being judged at the Heckington Show in 2007
In April 2007, another valuable stud buck arrived - Victor. With his superb bone structure and rich points it is hoped that he will further improve on the existing stock.
Victor
The 10th of May 2007 saw the arrival of the second litter of black Himalayans: Sooty and Sweep, Sox and Blue, an unexpectedly blue Himalayan. 
While the very first litter developed white fur after a few days and did not develop any points until a few weeks later, however, this latest, second litter looked like 'ugly ducklings', with all kits showing a dusty grey colour, and with points developing within days of them being born. 
Apparently, the grey Himalayans will develop the richest colour. Time will tell how these little crackers will develop.
One thing is certain: My love for these gentle and loveable Himalayans will never fade. Oh, before I forget: Here is the father of all the off-spring. Without him none of the first two generations of himis would have been possible - Smutts - 
BRC Breed Standard - Himalayan
Ring Size B
| 1) | Ears |
15 |
| 2) | Nose |
15 |
| 3) | Front Feet |
15 |
| 4) | Hind Feet |
25 |
| 5) | Eyes |
5 |
| 6) | Tail |
5 |
| 7) | Shape |
5 |
| 8) | Coat |
5 |
| 9) | Weight |
5 |
| 10) | Condition |
5 |
| Total | 100 | |
| 1. | EARS. - Black, short, tapering and well set | |
| 2. | NOSE. - Black, even and well up between eyes | |
| 3. | FRONT FEET. - Black, long slender and markings well up. | |
| 4. | HIND FEET - . Black, to correspond markings well up hocks | |
| 5. | EYES - Bold, bright pink. | |
| 6. | TAlL - Neat, black | |
| 7. | SHAPE - Snaky | |
| 8. | COAT -. Short, fine and pure white | |
| 9. | WEIGHT - About kg 2.037 (4.1/2 lb) | |
| 10. | CONDITION | |
|
COLOURS: BLUE HIMALAYAN. Colour to be light medium blue |
||
| CHOCOLATE HIMALAYAN. Colour to be Chocolate as near as the Havana colour as possible. | ||
| LILAC HIMALAYAN. Colour to be normal lilac | ||
| PENALTY POINTS. Slight eye stain to lose 5 points | ||
| Body stain to lose 25 points | ||
| Heavy eye stain to lose 10 points | ||
| DISOUALIFICATION - White toe-nails. |
2008
The year 2008 has started very well, with currently two litters of Himalayans thriving. One of the litters was the result of a mating with Hyacinth (thank you Glen!) to my most successful Himalayan so far - "Blue".
Here is Smuttie, caught busily carrying some hay to make her nest - isn't that a beautiful sight?
Hyacinth gave birth to five kits on the 4th of May, a day earlier than expected. Very sadly the smallest kit in that litter died nine days later. Here she is, 'shepherding' one of the little ones back to what is left of her nest.
A chance mating with "Choccie", who was over 6 1/2 years old at the time of the mating to "Smuttie" saw the arrival of a litter of seven kits on the 14th of May, all of which carry the chocolate gene. Here, at Goldiestud, there has always been a desire to breed Himalayans in all the recognised colours and it is lovely to know that the chocolate colour will eventually find its way into the stud.
The 19th of May saw the arrival of a true-bred chocolate Himalayan buck, "Alfie", thanks to James Bent. This future stud buck will, hopefully, be the start of many future generations of chocolate Himalayans to come. It is hoped that Smuttie's litter will have some does, which will then be mated up to Alfie next year.
It is the 1st of June today and all kits are thriving, much to my delight. Some of Hyacinth's kits had a ring put on today. Here they all are:
Here at Goldiestud we firmly believe in feeding the rabbits a diet, which is as close as possible to a diet found in the wild.
All rabbits are being fed fresh greens/vegetables and/or fruit daily, depending on the season. Youngsters grow up with dandelion leaves and soft thistle from the garden whenever available. They receive either cabbage leaves, broccoli, carrots, spinach and celery sticks, or apples and pears. Hay or 'Readigrass' are being fed daily, as are high-fibre pellets. As a special treat, once a week the rabbits are also being fed either barley rings, dried wholemeal bread, crisp bread, or a small piece of rich tea biscuits or some peanuts.
Feeding time is one of the most enjoyable time of the day, not just for the rabbits. It is such a lovely sight to see all the rabbits come to the front when feeding time has arrived.
15th June 2008
I have been very fortunate to obtain a beautiful ex-show/breeding (black) doe today.
Rosie, as I named her after her owner's wife is, apparently, from one of the best and oldest lines of Himalayans ever produced, dating back to Sid Farmer, who used to do a lot of winning with his 'himis' at the time.
Rosie travelled all the way up from the Isle of Wight, at 4am this morning.
She's settling in well, considering that she had been on the move/away from home for a total of 10 hours.
It is hoped that Rosie will further improve on the existing stock.
2009
Friday, 20th March 2009
Today saw the arrival of four healthy himi babies, which are all snug in the nest as we speak. The mother, a black (chocolate carrying) doe is 'Sarah', who was a maiden doe. The father is Alfie, my runner-up for Best of Breed at the London Championship Show 2008. It is hoped that this litter will contain Goldiestud's very first home-bred chocolate Himalayans.
Mother and babies have been doing well so far.Another lovely doe, Smuttie, is expecting her second litter of babies. She has been busily collecting hay and shavings in order to build a lovely nest for the arrival of her babies, who are due at around the 29th to 31st of March 2009. The father of that litter is Victor who will, hopefully, have produced a fine litter of black Himalayans.
Soon after, Sarah too had a lovely litter of four bucks. Three of them are carrying the chocolate gene but one of them, Choccie jun., is the first pure-bred chocolate himi to arrive at Goldiestud. The other three bucks' names mostly refer to the theme of chocolate: Mars, Hershey and Alfie jun.
Choccie jun. too will shortly be off to the London Championship Show. His father, Alfie sen., was runner-up Best of Breed there last year.
For Goldiestud, the breeding season for this year has now come to an end. All does will have a very well deserved rest.
3rd September 2009
12th - 13th of September
This was undoubtely the most successful show with my Himalayans, when one of my black Himalayans, 'Sox', made his way up to 'Victory Row'.
Sox wasn't meant to have gone to the show and 'merely' stood in for a rabbit that was too moulty to go. Sox came out of his official retirement again, at the age of 2 1/2 years! He looked spot on, apart form a slight eyestain, and he had only just finished a proper moult.
He received many prize cards, a rosette and a Certificate of Merit for 'Best Black Himalayan'.
It didn't stop there, as Goldiestud's first-bred chocolate Himalayan, 'Choccie jun.', secured many prize cards as well. Furthermore, he too received a Certificate of Merit for 'Best Chocolate Himalayan'.
What a lovely way to end the breeding season.
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