As early as the 1700’s, experiments to produce a “new and better mule” in Africa, using the tsetse-fly-resistant zebra, have been recorded. Unfortunately, the results were less than spectacular. Both donkeys and horses were crossed with zebras, but the hybrids seemed to inherit all of the bad and none of the good of the parent breeds. Even the US government tried this endeavor and failed, with one lone, terribly ugly zorse as the result of over 9 years of breeding. Zebra hybrids were written off as oddities, unable to be trained and of poor conformation and temperament. (They are no longer called Zebra Mules)
Well, they just may have been doing it wrong. Today the zebra hybrid is experiencing a “comeback” with far different results. A note of caution - it must be remembered that one parent of these creatures is a true wild animal. Even zebras used in these breeding programs are not completely domesticated. Tamed, yes, but domesticated, no. The hybrids, however, are beginning to prove that properly raise and trained, even a half-zebra can be ridden, broken to harness, and do a reining pattern like his Quarter Horse mom.
What IS a Zorse?
Zebra hybrids come in two basic types, with a number of varieties under that. first there are the Zorses - zebra x horse crosses. mare of every type are being bred to zebra studs, with Quarter horses being the most popular. For the best Zorse, a Plains zebra should be used as the sire, as the Grevy’s sire gets, for the most part, one of the badly-put- together creatures from the early experiments. The Plains zorse has a much nicer conformation overall. Zorse is the proper term, although in the past they were called Zebra mules or Zules. A zebra crossed to a pony is sometimes called a zony. There are other terms used which are incorrect, just remember that if one parent is a horse, its a ZORSE.
A Ze-Donk?
The second type of zebra hybrid is the Zebrass, sometimes called the zedonk. Both Grevy’s and Plains zebras cross well on donkeys, with the Grevy’s zebrass having a larger body, and in most opinion, the more striking of the subtypes. The Plains -cross zebrass looks a little more like a striped donkey, while the Grevy’s cross looks much like a Grevy’s zebra (with a little more refinement) with a colored background. The word Zebrass is the proper registry term, but ze-donk is also used occasionally.
Colorful Hybrids.
Whether Zorse or Zebrass, most hybrids have a peculiar patterning of stripes over the head, neck, body and legs that may not resemble those of the zebra parent. The legs are almost always heavily striped, with some zebrasses having black on white striping on the legs in a striking pattern that catches the eye immediately. The stripes of both types seem to break up indistinctly over the hip,, and many zebra hybrids will have a greater number of body stripes than the zebra parent. (No body is quite sure why yet).
Coat colors are a true rainbow, from golden dun (most common) to bay with rich black striping, to the startling pinto and appaloosa combinations! There is even one Leopard Appaloosa zorse, with large spots, where the striping can be seen only faintly on his legs, and, if examined closely, running through some of the spots!!!
ZEHBRA
Want to know more about zebra hybrids? Have a zebra breeding stallion or a hybrid you ‘d like to register? The American Donkey and Mule Society runs a stud book for purebred zebras and Zebra Hybrids! Contact ADMS and ask for more information about the Zebra Hybrid and Bloodstock Registry!