SPOTS 'N STRIPES RANCH
HERE WE GO! Our 2005 babies have begun to
arrive!
Update! October '05 - Zurprize is the first registered IZZZA zebra in the world to obtain
year end high point award titles at an open horse show circuit! He has obtained Reserve High
Point Championship in Open Halter Color, Reserve High Point Championship in Open Halter 12 Hands
and Under, and Reserve High Point Championship in Weanling/Yearling Open Halter at the ABCSD
Circuit Horse Shows of 2005. Zurprize worked hard for his titles, standing perfectly
square for 15 minutes or more at a time amidst an array of awesome horses of many different
breeds vying for the top spots every month in this prestigious horse show circuit. The horse that became the High Point Champion in each of these classes was one that we
really didn't mind taking second place to - a beautiful bay pinto
granddaughter of our own Holly's Gold, our miniature horse palomino pinto. She and Zurprize
defeated many top winning paints, quarter horses, miniature horses, buckskins, saddlebreds, morgans, and many
other breeds at this season's shows. Zurprize not only attended the show circuit, but was the hit of the 2005 Los Angeles County Fair,
with over 100,000 people a day visiting him and his younger sister, Zsa Zsa, and where he ended
the parade of the breeds every night soaring over jumps and laying down on cue in the main
arena in front of the grandstands. He also
wowed approximately 2000 spectators at the Del Mar Polo Grounds, CA and was the 'zurprize' item
at the 'Farm Awareness Day' at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, CA. Yes, Zurprize had a very
busy schedule in 2005 - (and I deserve a rest, I mean, and he deserves a little break in
November, lol) Zurprize is a big boy at just six months old, and will definitely be trained to ride and drive.
He will be gelded very soon, even though he could be an awesome stud prospect. We will be
training him over the winter months to begin competing, in addition to halter and color classes,
in in-hand trail classes in 2006. Now for his earlier story below!
This beautiful boy 'zurprized' us when we
went to feed one morning. His mama was a maiden mare that didn't look the least
bit pregnant when we surveyed the herd just 3 days before. But he was the best
'zurprize' we could have asked for! This baby's training began at 12 hours old. We normally take the babies from
the wild moms at 24 hours, but our little boy was born in the rain and cold and
mud, so we hovered like grandparents for the 11 hours while he got the life saving
colostrum, then pulled him, put him in our shower for a half hour while he warmed
up, blew him dry, and covered him up while he slept for 2 hours straight in Cash's
zebra striped dog bed in the TV room. At 9 days old we took him to his first 'event', to the monthly meeting of the
California Thoroughbred Breeders and Farm Management Association, where he was
the highlight of the evening of course. Nancy spoke for about an hour and a half
about the ranch to the members as the keynote speaker of the evening, sharing with
them lots of 'little known facts' about zebras.
Zurprize is spending a lot of time in the house, and following us around the
property. His buddy is Jethro, a tiny yearling mini boy. Please
enjoy the rest of the pictures. After his shower to warm him up, he went fast asleep under a barrage of
blankets, with Aunty Barb and David keeping vigil. A few nights later, our boy could't stay awake for dinner, but stayed
close in Cash's dog bed. Got Milk? I like watching TV with Dad! OK, Dad, can we turn the channel? This is boring. This one is boring too...zz. ZZZZ...ZZZZZ....ZZZZ.... And so it's off to bed with one tired little boy. I had a great sleep last night. Can I help feed breakfast to everybody? All of our babies are trained to respect, halter, lead, lunge, hot walker,
load, trailer and have their feet trimmed before you get them! They will understand
the verbal cues, "Whoa, Come To, Away, and Back". They will have been saddled (light mini
saddle) and harnessed, and will have seen and been led along with a cart.They will each have
been to at least 3 major events to desensitize them to traffic, crowds, noises,
lights, and many other facets of human gaity! They will be well socialized
with donkeys, horses, miniature horses, and miniature donkeys. Each baby will have
a special behavior taught such as rolling a ball, laying down on cue, walking
a bridge, etc. Your baby will IZZZA Registered, guaranteeing no inbreeding. It will
have a pedigree and photo identification, and will be eligible for all IZZZA shows,
special events, and year end awards.
Please Read Article on Why Purchase An IZZZA Registered Zebra Each baby will have at least
300 hours of training to get it to the above abilities.
We are
pleased to present: 
Spots 'N Stripes Zurprize
IZZZA # Pending
Foaled March 7/05 - 33.5" tall - 29" long
Sire: Spots 'N Stripes Zack
- Dam: Spots 'N Stripes Zuta
