Can Zebras Be Domesticated?

Zebras pretty much look like stripy horses, so why don’t people ride them? British colonial authorities were seriously interested in this question because zebras were already adapted to the African environment and the pathogens there, whereas it was expensive to import horses from Europe and they could not adapt well to the African heat and local diseases. Even though it seems like a natural solution, there are several very good reasons why domesticating zebras is a very bad idea.

Domestication vs. Taming

Don’t be confused if you’ve seen videos of a zebra race, which is popular in Africa. This doesn’t mean that zebras can be domesticated as horses are. An individual animal might be tamed by being raised from infancy with humans. Taming is just a behavioral modification of an individual. Domestication, on the other hand, means that a species has been permanently genetically modified to be in association with people and perform the tasks people have for them.

What Makes a Species Able to be Domesticated?

Some species have characteristics that make them easier to domesticate. Domesticated species need to be able to breed in captivity. They can’t be picky eaters. They need to grow and mature rapidly, as it is expensive to maintain an unproductive animal for many years. And they need a calm and friendly disposition toward people and the strange and startling sensory experiences of the human world. Finally, a species is more easily domesticated if they have a social hierarchy so that a human can step into the dominant role, and the animal’s instincts to follow the herd or pack leader can kick in.

Why Can’t We Domesticate Zebras?

We’re not going to say it’s impossible to domesticate zebras. It’s just much more difficult than domesticating horses or other similar animals. Zebras are adapted to life in the wilds of Africa, where they have to be alert to predators at all times. As a consequence, they are highly defensive and aggressive. This means, for example, they are able to duck and evade lassos skillfully. And when they kick, they kick to kill. One blow from a zebra’s hoof planted squarely in a lion’s head can kill it. Socially, zebras are significantly different from horses in that they do not have a family structure or herd social hierarchy. This makes it hard for them to comply with leadership. Finally, physically, their backs are not strong enough to support the weight of a saddle and a full-grown human for a long period of time.

How About a Zonkey or a Zorse?

A zebra can interbreed with a donkey or horse, creating the adorably-named hybrid Zonkey or Zorse. This happens sometimes in the wild when a domestic animal escapes and sometimes as an intentional breeding practice. The resulting animals are easier to tame than zebras and are also novel attractions for zoos. So if you really must ride something with stripes, one of these might be for you!