Saturday, May 3, 2008

Trainability of Zebras?

In response to Mary Ann Howells question about the ease/difficulty of training a zebra, the words on the back of this picture from 1887 might further explain. We can only assume if they were the words of the photo publisher, or a seasoned zoologist.
"Zebra(asinus zebra): Native of South Africa. Specie of Ass very hard to catch." LOL

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wade, some asses are hard to catch, and some are not. LOL
Mary Ann

Wade G. Burck said...

Mary Ann,
Please clarify, or "some" will assume you are talking about me. LOL
Wade

Anonymous said...

The German Army used to use zebras for riding in Africa.

Wade G. Burck said...

Paul,
I am half German, and have been profiled as "hard headed". If I may profile along the same lines, that may explain the use of Zebras, as opposed to any practicability. LOL
Wade

OrMaggie77 said...

Evelyn Woods Speed Zebra Training Course !!!! For Mary Ann....

We are pleased to announce that we will have another three day training clinic on October 4, 5, 6, 200, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Our post clinic responses to the previous years' clinics have been fantastic. Attendees are now well on their way to understanding and training their 'stripeys', their horses, or long ears, as well as now being able to repair problems they have had for years with their equines. The successes that the attendees are now experiencing with their animals, whether zebras, horses, mules, donkeys, zonkeys or zorses are always pouring in.
We share with you a clearer understanding of the equine mind, behaviors and communication. Nancy will introduce you to equine communication skills like Rhythm training, Whoops training, A/B training, Copycatting, The Take Away Sale, and others.
We welcome everyone that has any equine that you would like to understand better, and train faster. With this training your equine will understand what you are trying to communicate to it in a way it can appreciate immediately; in a way it can totally respect you and in a way that it knows it is receiving your respect, thereby becoming your friend and you becoming its mentor.
The enjoyment and uniqueness of using zebras in the training is a once in a lifetime experience, and everything you learn with the zebras can be used on every other equine - if you have learned to train a zebra - you have learned to train ANY equine
source: Spots And Stripes Ranch

Anonymous said...

I cheated and went to Wikipedia. There are three extant species, as well as several subspecies.

The Plains Zebra is the most common, and has or had about twelve subspecies. It, or particular subspecies of it, have also been known as the Common Zebra, the Dauw, Burchell's Zebra, Chapman's Zebra, Wahlberg's Zebra, Selous' Zebra, Grant's Zebra, Boehm's Zebra and the Quagga (another extinct subspecies).

The Mountain Zebra has two subspecies and is classified as endangered.

Grevy's Zebra is the third species.

However, I don't think I deserve any of Chef Raul's tamales since I cheated.

Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

I believe the Germans were using zebras because they were immune to malaria. That's the same reason they bred zebroids, to try and give the zebra's immunity to a horse. I've seen a photograph of German soldiers riding zebras. It must have been in Namibia or Tanganyika.

Wade G. Burck said...

Margaret,
As I assume Spots and Strips ranch, is a "private" institution, and suggest their claim, to being able to train any equine after you have trained a zebra is wrong. They are totally different in mentality from a horse, and the success with them comes in the acceptance that they are donkey or Ass, not horse. If you've heard one bray there would be no doubt, as to how they think and react and need to be trained and handled.
Wade

OrMaggie77 said...

Yes, and they only charge you $495.00. I think that's a cheap price to pay to learn to be an "animal trainer" If only we'd have known it was sooo easy, way back when....LOL

Anonymous said...

my reason that i ask earlier about the subspices is if i rember right in the Catskill game farm Dr. Heck and mr. Linderman took big pride in having all subspices .i was in charge of that section and wow they were wild asses all right hard to go into the pen with them . later on they manage to get hold of what is call the mountain zebra a male and threw Jurgen schultz father try disperatly to find a female with no luck . those were the days before DNA other wise i am sure they would had gladley done something about keeping the spices or dna in a gene bank like they did on other spices. CleanRaul

Anonymous said...

for Maryann yes you only get half dozen thats for cheating and for Wade all hegets from me is NO Peso no Tamale for you cause you were way out not even close . House boy Raul .or alias Dog House big Time Raul .

Anonymous said...

still waiting for a answer on the chimpquestion or should i asume there is no answer and i just should chalk it . Cleanraul

Anonymous said...

Raul, I looked for articles about Pinkie for you, and this is the most complete one I could find:

http://www.gorilla-haven.org/ghpinkie.htm

Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

Wade, I can't eat a half dozen tamales by myself, so I'd be happy to share some with you. LOL.
Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

thank you for trying to get the info on Pinky for me .by any chance was there any info where the chimp came from or a name of the park or zoo ? Out of the doghouseRaul.

cwdancinfool said...

Margaret - Unfortunately, the real asses are easy to catch, but not worth keeping.

Wade - Have you met Randy Steffen from Richmond? He has had some success training zebras.

Jeannie

Wade G. Burck said...

Jeannie,
Don't agitate. She'll reference me, and then we'll have a problem. LOL
I meet Randy years ago, and success is speculative.
Wade