He very quickly ,learned to follow my suggestion and focus for moving at walk and trot, stopping, turning and standing for a rub. ![]() Once he got bored with the grooming, he tried to push me aside so then it was time to move him around which I did by positioning myself behind his drive line to keep him moving forward against the round yard fence. Only in South Africa!īy taking the time to introduce myself and to then find the spots he liked to be itched (which were mainly where ticks gathered along his back, under his tail and belly and in the mane) we got off to a good start. ![]() Upon meeting Gilbert (who was smaller than the average zebra), I was impressed by his sureness of personality and his curiosity which was mainly from his love of treats often found in people’s pockets.Īs I had a large round yard to play in, I decided to see what we could do at liberty with the aim of having him see me as an alpha herd member (he had lived with donkeys so at least knew about her behavior and disciple. I decided to keep an open mind and to use my horse psychology principles to see what we could achieve in the short space of time available. His favorite trick was to race cars down the 500m driveway and try to push his way through the gate and he was seen by his people as an un-cooperative character who would only do something for food or if it suited him. I was wondering what I’d let myself in for when I was told Gilbert was difficult to halter, wouldn’t lead and could bite and kick at the same time! He had recently been moved to a larger property where he ran with 3 horses, a giraffe, an ostrich, a pot bellied pig and several dogs for company. ![]() He was friendly but wouldn’t tolerate any pressure from humans, especially after being loaned for use in a film called ‘Racing Stripes’. He had been raised from 7 weeks of age by a vet who had been part of a relocation operation where Gilbert was accidentally separated from his dam. I had never expected to be able to play with a zebra so it was an opportunity of a lifetime when I was offered the chance to educate Gilbert – a 3 year old wayward but tame zebra.
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