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Posted by Loren NC on 4/29/2009, 12:37 pm, in reply to "Re: What is neglect?"
98.16.63.177
Sounds like it is time for me to chime in again with a couple of clarifications. First, even the use of "not hands on" can be interpreted in many ways by different people. Mine can be haltered, they lead, are groomed, love having their legs and bellies brushed, like treats from our hands, etc. But pick up their feet -- nope! Stand for a vet shot -- nope!
As for whether their "attitude" is caused by inbreeding, I seriously doubt it. However, even in the wild, the young fillies have to be stolen out of the harem or the father will breed them, so could it happen in capitivity? Of course. Could the owner prevent it? Of course, if he cared. I knew of one owner who was proud of the fact that he had been using the same stud for many years. His statement was that he could inbreed 17 generations and not see any impact. As you might guess, I didn't buy from him!
By contrast, James Cox in Louisiana had three herds of zebras, two of which were in the same pasture. The stallions kept them separate. But would the fillies be stolen out of a herd under those circumstances? Probably not, so inbreeding could have happened there. I guess my bottom line is that I don't think that most breeders intentionally inbreed, but of the ones I met, most didn't seem concerned if it happened.
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