A
zorse is the offspring of a zebra stallion and a horse mare. It is a
zebroid: this term refers to any hybrid equine with zebra ancestry.
The zorse
is shaped more like a horse than a zebra, but has boldly striped legs and,
often, stripes on the body or neck. Like most other interspecies hybrids, it is
infertile.
Cossar Ewart, Professor of Natural History at Edinburgh (1882-1927) and a
keen geneticist, crossed a zebra stallion with horse and pony mares in order to
investigate the theory of telegony, or paternal impression. Cossar Ewart used
Arabian mares. Similar experiments were carried out by the US Government and
reported in "Genetics in Relation to Agriculture" by E B Babcock and RE Clausen
and in "The Science of Life" by H G Wells, J Huxley and GP Wells (c.1929).
Zebras, donkeys, and horses are all members of the family equus - Equines.
Equines can be crossbred to produce hybrids. They are all slightly different in
genetic makeup, but still all equines. That is, horses have 64 chromosomes,
zebra have between 44 and 62 (depending on species). Zorses can be male or
female, but are sterile since their chromosome count is 63.
Zorses and humans
"It soon became apparent that zorses are not the most easiest of the
equine family to get along with." -- Trainer Pat Parelli, on working with
zorses.
Zorses are preferred over purebred zebras for riding and draught for several
reasons. They are usually less temperamental than zebras, although they are
still not as easily handled as purebred horses and should not be ridden or
handled by novices. Their more horse-like shape, particularly of the shoulder
region, makes it easier to obtain harness.
Zebras, being wild animals, and not domesticated like horses and donkeys,
pass on their wild animal traits to their offspring. Zebras, while not usually
very large, are extemely strong and aggressive. It often takes two handlers
using chains as lead ropes and standing on either side of the zebra to have any
hope of controlling the animal. Similarly, zorses have a strong temperament and
can be aggressive.
Famous and Semi-Famous Zorses
- A zorse appears in the alternate ending of the movie Racing Stripes.
It is the son of Stripes (obviously a zebra) and Sandy, a white filly.
- A zorse was born in Eden Ostrich World, Cumbria, England in 2001 after a
Zebra was left in a field with a Shetland Pony. This was the inspiration for the
2003 'Song For the Zorse' by London band The Coronets.
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