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I Photographed A Zorse – The Hybrid Most People Don’t Think Exists (10 Photos)
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I Photographed A Zorse – The Hybrid Most People Don’t Think Exists (10 Photos)

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Last year, I met an animal which I thought would only exist in my fantasy: a zorse, the hybrid between a zebra stallion and a horse mare. Zuri, the mare you see in the photo, was only 1.5 years old and although I’ve been working as a photographer with horses for over 6 years, this was different from anything I’ve known so far.

The wild instinct is very strong in zorses and I had to rethink a lot of techniques to get the animal’s attention during the session. While a horse is a typical flight animal, a zorse is ready to fight. A horse is curious, a zorse doesn’t want to be bothered, which makes the interaction during photo sessions a challenge. In Africa, zorses are often bred to be trekking animals to transport people and goods through tough landscapes. They are strong, light-feed and very resistant to illness – they combine the best features of both a zebra and a horse.

Outside Africa, where I met this particular zorse, these hybrids are very rare and usually bred for simple lifestyle and visual reasons. Zuri is a sweet mare, with a flicker of wilderness in her eyes and I wanted to create photos that express the proud exotic miracle she is.

More info: Instagram

Proud crossbreed between a zebra and a horse

In the European jungle…

Do you see her marks? Just beautiful!

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A sweet mare, as you can see from the soft look on her face

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Making of

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dizasterdeb avatar
rebeccamerkle avatar
LinnyTheGuinea
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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schizodragon avatar
3ke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And similar to the mule, zorses are born sterile

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's kind of surprising how few chromosomes zebras have, compared with horses. It almost seem to point to a genetic bottleneck far back in time, perhaps even a near-extinction.

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paolamartz avatar
alissamerstrand avatar
max_lombardi_mi avatar
Max L.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to part time in the biggest italian private stable, were we had two. They were born from the free love of two zebra sisters who were left by a circus, not being in condition to barn them properly, and kept in an open fields with several horses, ponies and even a cow, all happy togheter. The first born her father was an argentinian, the second the dad was spanish so we named him "zelu" (a lusitano breed :D). The first was mad when very young, then somewhat assessed and became eventually good. The second one was still too young and her aunt was guarding her sister and the small half breed by kicking "in the air" to warn : if you get any closer, Ill hit you. zebralla-5...eed9e2.jpg zebralla-5d109aceed9e2.jpg

jeffrequier_1 avatar
Jeff Requier
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So a Mule is what happens when you breed a Horse and donkey but the best you could do for something bred from a Horse and Zebra is Zorse?

amandagraczyk avatar
Minnie-me
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost like a leaner version of the Przewalski's horse. Gorgeous animal!

aahzmanduspervect avatar
Aahzmandus Pervect
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a beautiful animal. But seriously, "most" people think they don't exist? I would argue that most people have never heard of them, but not believing they exist is a bit of a stretch.

swordwhale avatar
Teanna Byerts
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stunning photos! Fabulous equine! (wondering if her horse side is Arabian). It takes a very knowledgeable horseman to handle a zebra/horse cross, this one looks extremely well trained and cared for.

4msaya avatar
miaow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this zorse has a very soft and gentle face, it's tail also reminds me of an exotic fish. So pretty

emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG IT LOOKS LIKE A PILOHIPPUS, WHICH IS THE MOST RECENT HORSE ANCESTOR LOOK IT UP JDJSNSNJAKAKANAN

buggy-boo825 avatar
Doober
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omigod. My life is complete knowing these beautiful beings exist! Just gorgeous!

llsewer avatar
Jaguarundi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could just give that butt a hug! My horse loves to have her butt rubbed, scratched and hugged.

starstrider avatar
Amme Hodgson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first glance I thought it was a Fjord pony. It is striking, certainly. Such odd conformation , though. She seems... disproportionate.

shibas1 avatar
Laura Perkinson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn! she is beautiful! I am surprised more ranchers do not use these for packing ( if they still do that) I would just like to look at her every day!

brendaowens avatar
Brenda Owens
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's absolutely gorgeous, thank you for giving us this precious gift.

nanz1956 avatar
NanZ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for sharing such a magnificent creature with all of us. Stunning zorse!

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do we consider breeding humans with other species monstrous when we do it with animals all the time? If these animals were meant to breed with one another, they would have on their own by now. Same thing with ligers. We are doing this to them simply for human amusement and profit and I find that disgusting. I really hate our species sometimes.

charlotte_brine avatar
Charlotte Brine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all of them are bred by force,take a look at max.C's comment a bit further up. So if left to roam free together, which isn't usually the case for these two breeds in the wild. But when that has been the case, zebra and horses bred naturally.

Load More Replies...
juan-carlossaez avatar
Juan-Carlos Saez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful, for some reason reminds me a primitive horse, like back 100.000 years in horse´s linage

naomiarmitage avatar
Naomi Armitage
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But...it's not black and white? (See the "Game of Thrones" books.)

victorrsytnik avatar
Russian Otaku
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure why but this images look like a portfolio to a suitor for an arranged marriage or something to me

bluebellforawhile avatar
Bluebell Rizzi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is it me, or does this zorse have more style than every other being on this earth?

animadark avatar
Alessandra Ricotta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I NEED ONEEE! Btw, it looks like a fairy animal, almost like a "spirit of the lands" or something. Reminds me of some ancient horse, like a dinosaur one!

max_lombardi_mi avatar
gaya_knust avatar
Gaya Knust
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their common ancestor looked a but like this, albeit shorter, if my memory on my biology books serves me correctly.

firstlastother124 avatar
knittin' kitten
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why not have zebras cross breed with horses we grizzly and polar bears cross breeding into some scary hybrid. This one might be "harmless" but it's not natural. You can't replace things with other things it doesn't work. Why is a horse and zebra in the same location anyway? Deer and antelope maybe theres a song so it must be true lol but no song has ever been written for the horse and the zebra.

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grizzly and polar bears are actually pretty closely related and descend from a common ancestor quite recently. So, they have the same chromosome count. Horses and zebras do not, so there's not any danger of them becoming a "scary" hybrid.

Load More Replies...
susann_campbell_7 avatar
Susann Campbell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is absolutely a beautiful horse. New breeds are coming faster and I love it.

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These hybrids are sterile, so it will never be a breed. Horses have 64 chromosomes, most varieties of zebra have fewer than 54.

Load More Replies...
redsongamble avatar
TheExtremeSmell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One wonders when we will stop playing god just to have tastier horse meat

dizasterdeb avatar
rebeccamerkle avatar
LinnyTheGuinea
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Load More Replies...
schizodragon avatar
3ke
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And similar to the mule, zorses are born sterile

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's kind of surprising how few chromosomes zebras have, compared with horses. It almost seem to point to a genetic bottleneck far back in time, perhaps even a near-extinction.

Load More Replies...
paolamartz avatar
alissamerstrand avatar
max_lombardi_mi avatar
Max L.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to part time in the biggest italian private stable, were we had two. They were born from the free love of two zebra sisters who were left by a circus, not being in condition to barn them properly, and kept in an open fields with several horses, ponies and even a cow, all happy togheter. The first born her father was an argentinian, the second the dad was spanish so we named him "zelu" (a lusitano breed :D). The first was mad when very young, then somewhat assessed and became eventually good. The second one was still too young and her aunt was guarding her sister and the small half breed by kicking "in the air" to warn : if you get any closer, Ill hit you. zebralla-5...eed9e2.jpg zebralla-5d109aceed9e2.jpg

jeffrequier_1 avatar
Jeff Requier
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So a Mule is what happens when you breed a Horse and donkey but the best you could do for something bred from a Horse and Zebra is Zorse?

amandagraczyk avatar
Minnie-me
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Almost like a leaner version of the Przewalski's horse. Gorgeous animal!

aahzmanduspervect avatar
Aahzmandus Pervect
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a beautiful animal. But seriously, "most" people think they don't exist? I would argue that most people have never heard of them, but not believing they exist is a bit of a stretch.

swordwhale avatar
Teanna Byerts
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stunning photos! Fabulous equine! (wondering if her horse side is Arabian). It takes a very knowledgeable horseman to handle a zebra/horse cross, this one looks extremely well trained and cared for.

4msaya avatar
miaow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this zorse has a very soft and gentle face, it's tail also reminds me of an exotic fish. So pretty

emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG IT LOOKS LIKE A PILOHIPPUS, WHICH IS THE MOST RECENT HORSE ANCESTOR LOOK IT UP JDJSNSNJAKAKANAN

buggy-boo825 avatar
Doober
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omigod. My life is complete knowing these beautiful beings exist! Just gorgeous!

llsewer avatar
Jaguarundi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could just give that butt a hug! My horse loves to have her butt rubbed, scratched and hugged.

starstrider avatar
Amme Hodgson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first glance I thought it was a Fjord pony. It is striking, certainly. Such odd conformation , though. She seems... disproportionate.

shibas1 avatar
Laura Perkinson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn! she is beautiful! I am surprised more ranchers do not use these for packing ( if they still do that) I would just like to look at her every day!

brendaowens avatar
Brenda Owens
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's absolutely gorgeous, thank you for giving us this precious gift.

nanz1956 avatar
NanZ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for sharing such a magnificent creature with all of us. Stunning zorse!

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do we consider breeding humans with other species monstrous when we do it with animals all the time? If these animals were meant to breed with one another, they would have on their own by now. Same thing with ligers. We are doing this to them simply for human amusement and profit and I find that disgusting. I really hate our species sometimes.

charlotte_brine avatar
Charlotte Brine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all of them are bred by force,take a look at max.C's comment a bit further up. So if left to roam free together, which isn't usually the case for these two breeds in the wild. But when that has been the case, zebra and horses bred naturally.

Load More Replies...
juan-carlossaez avatar
Juan-Carlos Saez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful, for some reason reminds me a primitive horse, like back 100.000 years in horse´s linage

naomiarmitage avatar
Naomi Armitage
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But...it's not black and white? (See the "Game of Thrones" books.)

victorrsytnik avatar
Russian Otaku
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure why but this images look like a portfolio to a suitor for an arranged marriage or something to me

bluebellforawhile avatar
Bluebell Rizzi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is it me, or does this zorse have more style than every other being on this earth?

animadark avatar
Alessandra Ricotta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I NEED ONEEE! Btw, it looks like a fairy animal, almost like a "spirit of the lands" or something. Reminds me of some ancient horse, like a dinosaur one!

max_lombardi_mi avatar
gaya_knust avatar
Gaya Knust
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their common ancestor looked a but like this, albeit shorter, if my memory on my biology books serves me correctly.

firstlastother124 avatar
knittin' kitten
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why not have zebras cross breed with horses we grizzly and polar bears cross breeding into some scary hybrid. This one might be "harmless" but it's not natural. You can't replace things with other things it doesn't work. Why is a horse and zebra in the same location anyway? Deer and antelope maybe theres a song so it must be true lol but no song has ever been written for the horse and the zebra.

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grizzly and polar bears are actually pretty closely related and descend from a common ancestor quite recently. So, they have the same chromosome count. Horses and zebras do not, so there's not any danger of them becoming a "scary" hybrid.

Load More Replies...
susann_campbell_7 avatar
Susann Campbell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is absolutely a beautiful horse. New breeds are coming faster and I love it.

amuletswimfabrics avatar
R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These hybrids are sterile, so it will never be a breed. Horses have 64 chromosomes, most varieties of zebra have fewer than 54.

Load More Replies...
redsongamble avatar
TheExtremeSmell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One wonders when we will stop playing god just to have tastier horse meat

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