"I think housework is far more tiring and frightening than hunting is, no comparison, and yet after hunting we had eggs for tea and were made to rest for hours, but after housework people expect one to go on just as if nothing special happened."
If you want to own a zebra in the UK you'll need a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence which is issued by your local council.
Before granting a licence the Licensing Inspector must be satisfied that:
It is not contrary to the public interest to do so on the grounds of safety, nuisance or other grounds.
The applicant is a suitable person to hold a licence to keep the animals listed on the application.
The animal(s) will be kept in accommodation that prevents its escape and is suitable in respect of construction, size, temperature, drainage and cleanliness.
That the animal(s) will be supplied with adequate and suitable food, drink and bedding material and be visited at suitable intervals.
Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure the protection of the animal(s) in case of fire or other emergency.
All reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
The animal(s) accommodation is such that it can take adequate exercise.
The licence would cost in the region of £100 or more, each individual council sets it's own price.
I'm sure it wasn't so difficult in Walter Rothschild's day!
Seriously although they are delightful to look at zebra's have never been domesticated and have a huge fight or flight instinct when spooked.
So I don't suppose we'll be seeing zebra's show jumping at HOYS just yet!
I was quite shocked to see an advertisement in a free equestrian magazine offering a reward for information leading to the return of 5 stolen yearlings.
It wasn't the reward that shocked me or indeed that the yearlings had been stolen.
It was the statement -"last checked on the 7th August missing 18th August" that astounded me, so these yearlings had been left, presumably out at grass, for 11 days before anyone went and checked on them?
What about water?
Possible injury?
Damaged fencing?
etc, etc
A horse or pony out at grass needs to be checked on twice a day, a lot can go wrong in 12 hours...
