When it comes to the similarity in the structures of two different animals one cannot help noticing that the zebra and the horse are two similar looking quadrupeds that belong to the Genus Equus. It is generally characterized by beauty, herding skills and capability to run at very high speed especially in the plane areas of the country. Despite the facts that nowadays zebras and some breeds of horses dwell across the different parts of Africa, They are quite relative but differ from each other in many ways. Now, let me clearly point out how it is to be answered, that is, what are the differences between a zebra and a horse?

Have a look at differentiation between these two equal equine animals. Let me show you most of the evident and a few less apparent distinctions between them in terms of visuals.

Differences B/W Zebra vs Horse

The most pronounced dissimilarities which exist between a zebra and a horse include Speed size, and color. In size zebras are comparatively small and lighter animals but they can outgrow horses in length. Nevertheless, zebras are even slower than horses in most instances, while being still fast animals in their line.

The zebra is a product of a crossed coat that is of white and black fur which is vertically stripy down the body length. The coat colour of a horse can be one colour only, but there are some variations such as Paint Horse and Appaloosa. Still, all horses don’t possess a strip of coat or any camouflage coat on their body.

 Speed Zebra vs Horse

The top speed of zebras is 40mph, while on the other hand horses are known to cover a certain distance at a much higher speed of 55 mph. Through all these adaptation, zebras have been able to develop very great speeds which enable them to escape some of the most formidable predators such as lions and cheetahs. The zebra is swift and mobile the animal is also quite flexible.

Horses are also very fast managing speeds of between 30mph-45mph. Nevertheless, the acceleration which has been recorded to be belonging to the fastest horse is 55 mph; therefore, ,it can be deduced that horses are faster than zebras. Admittedly, zebras cannot be selected for speed over the generations as horses can be.

Size Zebra vs Horse

In size, zebras are a little smaller than the horses and they are also lighter than horses. Most zebras measure in height between 3.8ft and 5.25ft tall at the shoulder and weight between 500 and 600 pounds. 8ft and 5. It stands approximately 25ft tall , and can reach lengths up to 9ft as well. They range from 5ft to 7ft tall at most and 8ft long. In this case, therefore, horses are larger than zebras even though they can be shorter in length than zebras.

A standard horse can be anywhere between having a weight of 600lbs and a weight of 1200lbs while, on the other hand, having a slightly lighter weight, zebras have a maximum weight of about 900lbs only. In general, horses are bigger and heavier than zebras but the Maasai wildfire horses are similar in size as the plains zebra of Amboseli.

 Personality Zebra vs Horse

Zebras are more aggressive and stubborn than horses. Aside from their size and back shapes, humans don’t ride zebras very often because they are incredibly hard to tame. Again, humans have been domesticating horses for thousands of years, so we don’t know if they were originally as hard to tame or as mean as zebras.

Nevertheless, most horse breeds are much calmer than zebras if they have been bred in captivity, but wild horses still exist and they’re very skittish and frightened more than they are violent.

The reason for this violence could be that zebras come from a place where they can escape some but not all threats. If something gets too close to them, that means they must take a stand in hopes of surviving, driving them into a fight-or-flight mode.

Can Zebras and Horses Interbreed?

Yes, zebra and horse hybrids can occur when a zebra stallion impregnates a mare, and the resulting animal is called a zorse. Likewise, they are called an “hebra” when the reverse pairing occurs.  

These animals can breed together in the wild, but it’s exceptionally rare. Many of the zorses that are known today are kept in captivity. They tend to have a mix of traits from their parents, including unique colorations in the striped pattern!

Zebras and horses are similar in many respects and related to one another on the grand scale of their Genus. However, they are different in many ways, too. They differ in size, speed, coloration, and more.

These animals vary in many obvious physical traits, but they also have some unique elements that can only be observed through careful study. The zebra’s personality is one example of a trait that requires a more in-depth look than the animals’ manes.