Change Stripes
Ever wondered why people ride horses but not zebras? Though they look it, zebras aren't just horses with stripes.
Trying to train and ride a zebra is pretty dangerous. Compared to horses, zebras are pretty unpredictable. They can be very aggressive and even vicious as they get older. Plus, their body shape doesn't take a saddle very well.
People have been trying to domesticate zebras for about a hundred years, but to no avail.
Can't Be Tamed
Over the years some zebras have been successfully trained, but as a group they just don't lend themselves to domestication. Some animal trainers and breeders have created zebra hybrids, such as the zorse, a cross between a zebra and a horse, and the zonkey, which is what you get when you cross a zebra and a donkey.
So far there's no specific purpose to creating zebra hybrids; they're not stronger or more useful than regular horses and donkeys.
So maybe we should just leave the zebras alone. They're doing just fine on their own.
Read More:
"Can Zebras Be Domesticated?" (Everyday Mysteries)
