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Anybody want a zebra? :D

9K views 50 replies 32 participants last post by  justridinguk 
#1 ·
#3 ·
OMG, that is SUCH a bad idea on so many levels.....zebras do NOT make good pets. They are not just horses with stripes, they are WILD animals. And a stallion as well? I personally think it is downright unethical to advertise this poor animal as just a big cuddly squishy toy.
 
#4 ·
Chill out Bella. You can train them to ride. You can geld too. They can make good pets with attention and being handled like any other pet. Its cool to disagree but if that was the case we better give up all of our animals. :)
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#5 ·
Yep, we will have to agree to disagree. IMO, there is a huge difference in keeping a domesticated animal vs a wild animal. A zebra is definitely a wild animal. I have a background in animal control, and also volunteered for years for various rescues. Yes there are the occasional success stories about folks keeping exotic and unconventional animals as pets, but generally it does not work out well for the "pet". Most people do not have the time, knowledge, or commitment needed to successfully keep a zebra. Sure, there have been saddle trained zebras. And you can geld them. But it is not like owning a horse & the ad for this particular zebra "gee, it's sooooo cute and you can bring it in the house!" does not sound like they are exactly committed to finding it a GOOD home. Just my 2 cents.
 
#27 ·
There are actually a handful of people who have zebras here. I can think of at least 3 actual zebras I have seen in person that are healthy living pets. And I have heard of others around.(I dont get out of my own barn much.) I do agree with the time and commitment. But as long as you can reach out for that help thats fine. Hopefully the people do find it a good home. I've also heard of people selling zebra (fawn? foals? kits?) right off the back of their circus trucks. One lady who has one around here is a equine vet and she has worked in Africa to help out some of the reserves. She has the experience. The only thing we can do is be optimisitic about it and hope they do find a good home for it. :)
 
#7 ·
I'd love a zebra...but they are wild animals.

On the flip side, we have to remember that ALL of our domesicated animals were once wild and we domesticated them, so why not zebras and the like (as long as people aren't being stupid and trying to have cute little cuddly tigers).
 
#12 · (Edited)
If we start keeping zebras like our ancestors kept horses, and we severely cull and eat all the mean ones like our ancestors did horses, then we could have them domesticated in a few hundred years. As of now, they are not domesticated. They will likely be ok while young, but very unreliable as adults.

Ok, I just now read the ad. If I could consistently get $7,500 for the colts, I would consider raising zebras, tame or not. Sounds like some big money to me.
 
#9 ·
No thanks. Zebras have not been domesticated as a species and are MUCH different than training a horse. They're more akin to donkeys with a very strong will, and very strong survival instanct.
It takes a very understanding person to handle/train a zebra (or donk for that matter.)
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#13 ·
Well I just read the ad and he is actually a Zorse (says so on the right hand side by breed).

So Wheatermay you'd better go buy him! :lol:
 
#16 ·
Well I just read the ad and he is actually a Zorse (says so on the right hand side by breed).
The pictures show a zebra, not a zorse. Plus, they've been treating him like a house pet, which means he's probably rude, obnoxious, and getting difficult to handle because he's uncut.

Zebras aren't domesticated, they're wild animals. They're more akin to Przewalkski Horses who are true wild horses than Mustangs, which are just domestic stock gone feral.
 
#20 ·
Know a few people with wolf hybrids. they were hard to train, had high prey drives and a tendency to roam. One became obsessed with porcupines, after $3500 worth of vet bills, multiple attempts to keep her locked up and a failed attempt to rehome her she was put down from complications.

One became very territorial and dog aggressive, dispite extensive obedience training,

One was never people friendly,

One became extremely unpredictable with people, and hunted cats.

Two were good dogs. I think wild animals should stay in the wild.
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#25 ·
Good lord. His legs are horrible. I really wish they'd be more realistic with how he acts. He acts like a 'person' now but in less than a year, unless you've got the skills, he'll turn into a major PITA. Especially staying ungelded.
 
#29 ·
I've been looking at photos. This whole zebra thing is nothing new. There's a whole bunch of black and white photos of zebras broke to ride and drive. If you have the knowledge, time and patience to"gentle" and brake out a zebra then why not? Especially if they are being bred in captivity by someone intelligent enough to bred easily trained stock.
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#36 ·
The difference in a wild animal and a feral animal is not that simple. Feral animals come from animals that were once domesticated. Domestication is a process that takes many generations of culling to remove wild traits and instincts. The wild animal may be tame as a juvenile, but he will revert to his wild tendencies as he matures.
 
#34 ·
I own two zedonks, and oh my goodness are they a handful! Granted that we got them when they were around 5 and basically untouched, they are extremely untrusting when you're in their pen, but if you are standing outside of it one is very friendly and loves to be scratched all over and the other is slowly becoming friendly.
It's absolutely nothing like owning a horse, though. They are way more unpredictable and hard to train. Their stubbornness is about 50 donkeys put together.
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