Can You Domesticate a Zebra?

Zebras can be trained, but they cannot be truly domesticated. Domesticated animals tend to share seven characteristics, including flexible dietary needs, a reasonable growth rate, a reasonable size, a friendly disposition and an unlikeliness to panic. The other characteristics that most domestic animals share are comfortableness with being bred in captivity and a social hierarchy. Zebras fail this criteria on at least two counts, because they get more aggressive as they age and have a tendency to panic.

More facts about zebras and domestication:

• Although it not possible to domesticate a zebra, several close relatives of the zebra can be domesticated, including horses, donkeys and the extinct quagga.


• There are several instances of trained zebras throughout history. The second Baron Rothschild used to use a team of six zebras to draw a carriage — though one of those zebras later fatally injured a groom — and Captain Horace Hayes wrote that he trained a zebra to let him ride on it in two days.


• There's a difference between a tame animal and a domesticated one. Any individual animal theoretically can be tamed, even if the species as a whole cannot be domesticated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you domesticate a zebra like you can a horse?

Zebras cannot be domesticated in the same way horses can. They have a different temperament, being more aggressive and unpredictable. Unlike horses, which were selectively bred over thousands of years for traits conducive to domestication, zebras retain strong survival instincts that make them unsuitable for domestication.

Why aren't zebras ridden like horses?

Zebras have a body structure that is not ideal for riding; their backs are not as strong as horses'. Additionally, their wild nature and tendency to panic under stress make them difficult to train for riding. Zebras also do not respond well to the typical methods used to train horses, further complicating any attempt to ride them.

Have there been successful attempts to domesticate zebras?

While there have been isolated instances where individuals have trained zebras for specific tasks, these are exceptions and not indicative of successful domestication. According to historical accounts, some colonialists in Africa attempted to use zebras for transportation, but these efforts were not widespread or enduring.

What are the main differences between domesticated animals and tamed wild animals?

Domesticated animals are bred over generations to possess traits that are beneficial to humans, such as docility, whereas tamed wild animals are individuals that have been trained to tolerate human presence. Taming does not alter the animal's genetic makeup, which means their offspring will not inherit the tamed behavior.

Can zebras be kept as pets?

Keeping zebras as pets is highly discouraged. They require specialized care, a suitable environment, and can be dangerous due to their unpredictable nature. In many places, keeping a zebra as a pet is also subject to strict regulations or outright bans due to the challenges and ethical considerations involved.

Are there any hybrids between zebras and other equines?

Yes, there are hybrids known as zebroids, which are the offspring of a zebra and any other equine. The most common zebroid is the zorse, the result of crossbreeding a zebra with a horse. These hybrids often inherit the striped pattern of the zebra and may have some domestic traits from the non-zebra parent, but they are typically sterile and share the zebra's temperament challenges.