Why aren't Zebra's domesticated and ridden like a horse/donkey/mule/ostridge?

Question

Don't tell me because they are too wild. Wild horses are too wild as well. But if you take one from birth and break it's will, and train him to be a riding zebra, they should be ride-able.

So why hasn't anyone tried to have a zebra as a riding horse?

Wouldn't they also be really fast? Could you race a Zebra in the Kentucky Derby?

Answer 1

Zebras don't have withers so putting a saddle on them would be very dangerous. As soon as you put your foot in the stirrup or there is a sudden shift in weight it will start to slide and could easily put the saddle under the zebra's belly. There are issues with zebras' dispositions as well but most people that ride, do so with saddles. A lot of people that want zebras will breed a zebra to a horse and then train the offspring as it will have zebra coloring along with the horse withers and attitude.

The Kentucky Derby is a solely Thoroughbred race. There are many breeds of horse that race, but only TBs are in this particular race.

Answer 2

Well first off Mary J is wrong, zebras hooves are just as tough if not tougher than a horses. Horses are naturally more calmer than a zebra, it takes more time and patience to tame and train a zebra, and most people don't want to deal with them, when there are pleanty of good riding horses around. I'm sure if you googled something about riding zebras you'd find a few. In fact there once was a zebra that did cow pony stuff. you never want to break an animals will though because all they will do is fear you and the moment you fall off they will high-tail it instead of waiting for you to get back on. I plan on buying and training a few zebras when I get the money. They are really fast, and have great endurance, but only Thoroughbreds can race the Kentucky Derby, but I think they would have a fair chance! lol

Answer 3

Just so it's clear - you DON'T break a horse's will when starting it. You build a relationship and communicate through body language so the horse understands. And just because you're taking it from birth doesn't mean it's going to grow attached to you or anything. It's actually worse if you don't know what you're doing. You can take an adult mustang and start it as well.

And actually I have heard of people riding zebras. But why is this not as common as horses or mustangs?? Hmm lets think...because they live in Africa?

And no you can't ride a zebra in the Kentucky Derby even if the zebra in Racing Stripes did. It's a movie.

Answer 4

Actually a few people do have zebras as a luxury riding animal- and I have seen a few crosses for dressage horses. Zebra's could not be raced in the derby because 1) they would not be fast enough and 2) the derby is only for TB horses that are registered with the jockey club. Look up in google zebra riding and you will see a few. :-)

Answer 5

Domestication is a complicated process which takes thousands of years and actually changes the 'biology' of the animal. Cats for example are not truly dosmesticated and thus a pet cat can turn feral and produce feral young will instinctlively fear humans. There are no true wild horses left except the Prezwalski in Mongolia so all those 'wild' horses you see that are caught and broken are merely descendents of already domesticated horses. Zebras are tenacious and strong but I realy doubt a zebra could ever keep up with a TB horse.

Answer 6

Can You Ride A Zebra

Answer 7

A zebra's feet are not the same as a horse's feet. They can't take the weight of a person. Occasionally you see a zebra being ridden but they are really not physically able to accomodate riders. Good question, though!

Answer 8

you can ride them people, just dont usually do that, why dont you try