ZEBRAS and EXOTICS
Zebra/Exotic Performance:
There is little pictorial history regarding the use of exotics even as pack animals. Wild Ass and Przewalski have never been domesticated on any mass level and therefore should refrain from being shown in performance. If anyone has any pictorial evidence suggesting otherwise, this would be welcomed and would belong in the "historical" entry class along with a link to the said reference.
Zebras have also never been domesticated on any consistent mass level although throughout history there have been attempts and even today there are very limited and random situations where zebras are domesticated and ridden (Grevy, Damara and Grants alike). Because traditionally zebras can be quite vicious, many open shows will not permit zebras to show in classes alongside horses. Remember - these are not animals that have been tamed for hundreds of generations and in many cases are only a few generations domesticated at best.
Zebra backs have a different shape than horses (as do donkeys actually) and in fact a horse saddle does not fit a zebra properly. Zebras instinctively run zigzags vs. straight lines and therefore do not make appropriate gymkhana mounts. Can a zebra be ridden in a Western saddle? Could a zebra possibly be entered in a gymkhana event? Anything is possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTMgZAsLNTo&feature=related. But traditional or practical? Not really. Most ridden zebras are domesticated to prove it can be done. It’s highly doubtful anyone in the world would argue a zebra is better suited for any style of ridden performance over a horse, donkey or mule. Therefore this specialty show has limited but specialized classes specifically for zebras to mirror what you might be able to find references for in the real world.
“Zebra/Exotic Exhibition" - all entries in English or Western disciplines. Limit of 3 photos per entrant
"Zebra/Exotic Historical or Scene Performance" - Harness, packing, anything using tack other than English or Western. Limit of three photos per entrant.
“Circus”
“Other Costume”
All zebra (or exotic?) performance entries must be accompanied by a reference link. Here is a great video of a zebra doing various disciplines (many domestic zebras are imprinted from birth unlike this zebra so they are much calmer to mount, etc- but this is a versatile zebra):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M98zPLJ2Ub0&feature=related
For a great reference video in case you are wondering why we never domesticated the zebra? They sum it up pretty well here!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhSZeS5PoN8&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D37sWHgxPFc&feature=related
Zebra hybrids (Zorse, Zonkey, Zebrule, etc) while still a challenge to train (think wolf hybrids are not as easy to train as domestic dogs) - in the right hands have been successfully trained in many English and western events. In some cases, even hybrids are not permitted to show alongside horses, but for the case of this open show, hybrids will be permitted to show in donkey/mule performance classes.
.
Zebra/Exotic Performance:
There is little pictorial history regarding the use of exotics even as pack animals. Wild Ass and Przewalski have never been domesticated on any mass level and therefore should refrain from being shown in performance. If anyone has any pictorial evidence suggesting otherwise, this would be welcomed and would belong in the "historical" entry class along with a link to the said reference.
Zebras have also never been domesticated on any consistent mass level although throughout history there have been attempts and even today there are very limited and random situations where zebras are domesticated and ridden (Grevy, Damara and Grants alike). Because traditionally zebras can be quite vicious, many open shows will not permit zebras to show in classes alongside horses. Remember - these are not animals that have been tamed for hundreds of generations and in many cases are only a few generations domesticated at best.
Zebra backs have a different shape than horses (as do donkeys actually) and in fact a horse saddle does not fit a zebra properly. Zebras instinctively run zigzags vs. straight lines and therefore do not make appropriate gymkhana mounts. Can a zebra be ridden in a Western saddle? Could a zebra possibly be entered in a gymkhana event? Anything is possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTMgZAsLNTo&feature=related. But traditional or practical? Not really. Most ridden zebras are domesticated to prove it can be done. It’s highly doubtful anyone in the world would argue a zebra is better suited for any style of ridden performance over a horse, donkey or mule. Therefore this specialty show has limited but specialized classes specifically for zebras to mirror what you might be able to find references for in the real world.
“Zebra/Exotic Exhibition" - all entries in English or Western disciplines. Limit of 3 photos per entrant
"Zebra/Exotic Historical or Scene Performance" - Harness, packing, anything using tack other than English or Western. Limit of three photos per entrant.
“Circus”
“Other Costume”
All zebra (or exotic?) performance entries must be accompanied by a reference link. Here is a great video of a zebra doing various disciplines (many domestic zebras are imprinted from birth unlike this zebra so they are much calmer to mount, etc- but this is a versatile zebra):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M98zPLJ2Ub0&feature=related
For a great reference video in case you are wondering why we never domesticated the zebra? They sum it up pretty well here!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhSZeS5PoN8&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D37sWHgxPFc&feature=related
Zebra hybrids (Zorse, Zonkey, Zebrule, etc) while still a challenge to train (think wolf hybrids are not as easy to train as domestic dogs) - in the right hands have been successfully trained in many English and western events. In some cases, even hybrids are not permitted to show alongside horses, but for the case of this open show, hybrids will be permitted to show in donkey/mule performance classes.
.