Why can't we ride Zebras like horses

[LynneSin]

I mean they too are a horse like creature, it probably wouldn't be that difficult to tame them and ride them like horses. I want a pet Zebra that I can ride as a horse!!

[NewJeffCT]

1. I'm guessing

probably the same reason that people have dogs as pets but not wolves - too difficult to domesticate.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph8Vag9VxRU&feature=related

[freshwest]

8. Well there ya go. Take a trip down to Texas. Lots of horsey people there.

[rurallib]

3. How about a zorse?

half zebra/ half horse

[freshwest]

10. Wow, not bad. We know whose fault that is.

[zonkers]

4. Ha.

[SCantiGOP]

5. zebras can't be trained

[LynneSin]

9. Have you tried? If you haven't then perhaps you shouldn't pass judgement

SO THERE!

:loveya:

[freshwest]

11. If you can load the video in post #2, it'll be interesting. I was surprised myself.

[LynneSin]

13. I'm at work so perhaps someone could share the play-by-play

:cry:

[freshwest]

17. It's a woman training a very docile zebra to accept all kinds of riders. The zebra is behaving just

Like any other horse. The area looked familiar and on the comments the video maker said she lives northwest of Houston, Texas. She saddles, rides and takes the gelded zebra through its paces.

Some of the commenters thought she was inexperienced but she replied she was intentionally being clumsy on the zebra to get it ready for the variety of riders the zebra would be giving. She even stands up on the saddle and the animal's okay with it.

I always thought that zebras had a stronger instinct to resist being mounted due to their survival instinct kicking is as they are prey animals and that's how it all starts, then they're some lion's dinner.

I suspect being gelded and probably being imprinted with humans at birth had a lot to do with that zebra's willingness to be ridden.

Lynne, he doesn't look like that good a ride, though. More in the line of riding a burro, I'd think.

:shrug:

[Swede]

6. Some people ride zebras every sunday.

[freshwest]

12. Don't you mean some people *are* zebras everyday? I need to wake up...

[Swede]

22. You've never seen someone screaming at a ref?

nt

[freshwest]

26. Uh, that't not my version of a ride... But it takes all kinds...

[baldguy]

7. .

[GoCubsGo]

34. See also...

The movie "Racing Stripes". As far as I can tell, that's a real zebra, and not a horse painted to look like a zebra.

[baldguy]

35. And people say there's nothing to be learned from the Classics.

[krispos42]

14. Because we can't figure out if they're black with white stripes, or white with black stripes

The riders get all dizzy counting the stripes and fall off.

[freshwest]

18. I'll buy that one. Check below for your pay.

:donut:

[krispos42]

21. Mmmmm... donut...

[bikebloke]

15. Amazing zebra facts from my recent South Africa trip.

Zebra stripes are like finger prints. None are alike.

The reason for the stripes is that in a herd, individuals are confusing to predators.

[HappyMe]

16. Being chased by

a lion or 2 may have put the kabosh on it.

[raccoon]

19. I've heard that they are more stubborn and less gentle than horses. IMO most horses need Prozac. nt

[LynneSin]

20. IMO most humans need Prozac

Just saying...

[raccoon]

25. Yeah, can't argue with that. nt

[freshwest]

27. Some RX have been found in reservoirs that supply drinking water:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336286,00.html

I remember a story saying that the level of Prozac was high in the water supply around Dallas, Texas...

:boring:

That's one way to get compliance...

[AngryAmish]

23. I think I read about this in Guns, Germs and Steel

or it could be somewhere else.

Anyway, zebras have existed since before humans. Humans came along and started eating things. Large, delicious things like zebras. The zebras that survived seem to recorgnize how delicious they are any have strong instincts to stay away from us.

Humans left africa about 100-150,000 years ago and started taming things after that. There are no tame large animals from africa (sheep, pigs, horses, cows) but these seem to be an asian thing.

Ever wonder why there are few large animals left in the Americas compared to Africa. There was a great extinction when human got here. Things that survived don't like us much (grizzlies, bison, moose).

[LeftinOH]

24. From what I've read, the usual reasons include: Their backs are not strong

enough to support a human rider for sustained periods of time *and* they're pretty aggressive; they bite hard.

[csziggy]

42. Zebras are not built all that differently than early horses were

Humans have spent a few thousand years selectively breeding horses to be better for human use.

[NYC_SKP]

28. Or Unicorns, for that matter, right?

:hi:

[Graybeard]

29. Sheena: Queen of the Jungle

In the 1984 film, starring Tanya Roberts, Sheena is supposed to ride a zebra through the jungle but it sure looks like a pony with a really bad striped paint job. (btw this movie is on the Golden Raspberry 100 Worst list.)

[noamnety]

30. I don't know where you get your information from

But I'm pretty sure horses do not ride zebras.

[suninvited]

31. because they are too mean

there is a really long video that has a part 1 and a part 2, and the answer is in the shorter part 2 video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D37sWHgxPFc&feature=related

[KamaAina]

32. 'Cause they'd flag us for unsportsmanlike conduct?

:shrug:

[Bake]

33. Geez, first it's a snow leopard, then a penguin, then a zebra!

Go to the zoo, fercryinoutloud.

:hi:

Bake

[struggle4progress]

36. You forgot the kangaroo!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=9716767#9716846

[suninvited]

37. you forgot anteater

red panda, seal, beaver and otter.

[LynneSin]

41. you missed bats

I wanted a baby bat

can I help it that I :loveya: animals

[treestar]

38. Zebras are actually a type of horse

I remember that from a tape on horses my nephew had when he was little.

So it must be we just don't think the stripes are "cool."

[Skittles]

39. you just want a striped pony

ADMIT IT

[ellisonz]

40. Leave the Zebras Alone Why Dontcha!

PUUHHHLEEASSE

[givemebackmycountry]

43. Because, every time you jump on one of those striped mother-fuckers....

A HUGE Hippo is going to leap up and eat your ass.
And Mr. or Mrs. Black and White too.

[Brother Buzz]

44. I saw a movie called Racing Stripes and they had a talking zebra you wouldn't believe

An abandoned zebra (voice of Frankie Muniz) grows up believing he is a racehorse, and, with the help of his barnyard friends and a teenage girl (Hayden Panettiere), sets out to achieve his dream of racing with thoroughbreds.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjE0NDA2MTQwM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzYxNDcyMQ@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg

[Graybeard]

48. See photo at reply #34. n/t

[woo me with science]

45. Some of us do.

We just don't tell everyone about it.

[jobycom]

46. This may not answer that question, but it will answer many other more serious questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOAz3uCsS-E

[Mendocino]

47. On the Island of Misfit Toys

Cowboys ride ostriches.

[raccoon]

49. Why can't you be more like your sister?

Sorry...couldn't resist.

[LynneSin]

50. which is ironic since I don't have a sister

:rofl:

[raccoon]

51. Your first cousin, then. nt