It appears that I haven’t posted a blog entry in about three years.
Huh.
It’s not that I haven’t written them… it’s just that they haven’t made it to this site. :) I guess I’m like a zebra in some ways… (read more for clarification)
Have you ever wondered why you don’t see people riding zebras? I just recently learned that it’s because you cannot domesticate zebras. They simply won’t have it!
According to Prime Stables in the UK, domesticating an animal requires them to be in possession of these six traits:
1. They must be capable of breeding in captivity.
2. They cannot be picky eaters.
3. They have a social hierarchy – meaning that a human can step in as the leader.
4. They grow quickly.
5. They tend not to panic – important when you are directing an animal’s environment.
6. They have a pleasant disposition – they generally won’t attack you.
If even one of these factors is missing, a species is unlikely to ever be domesticated. Zebras are missing MANY of them.
For one thing, zebras are very aggressive. They must fend off apex predators on a regular basis, so they kick really, really hard. They can kick a lion to death. They also bite and don’t let go! And, they have a ducking reflex! So, if you even manage to somehow get a lasso around a zebra, good luck with dealing with them after.
And besides, they’re too small to ride. Their backs aren’t evolved to accommodate the weight of a human or even a saddle. Riding them would cause them incredible pain.
The list goes on.
This makes me laugh, honestly. Good for you, zebras!
But oooh, aren’t they pretty to look at? I painted this guy for the impact of his stunning stripes against the black background. I, for one, am perfectly satisfied to just look at their complex patterns and noble eyes.
If you like looking at them as well, this framed painting is available for purchase at: https://www.rachelhurstfineart.com/originals/most-wanted