A Rothschild Equipage
From the Penny Illustrated Paper, 14 September 1895
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A Rothschild Equipage. - A very interesting
zoological experiment has recently been carried out in Buckinghamshire
by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, son of Lord Rothschild. It is the
training and driving of a four-in-hand team of zebras, generally
regarded as among the most intractable of all animals. Mr. Rothschild
takes special interest in this strangely striped steed, and has made a
study of its nature and needs. In his museum he has several stuffed
specimens, including one brought from Mashonaland by that mighty
hunter, Mr. F. C. Selous. There are several breeds of zebra, and that
known as Burchell's has been selected by Mr. Rothschild for his team,
because it is more horse-like and has better draught power than the
mountain variety. A number of them were imported by him, and, after a
long course of training and taming, he is able to drive them
four-in-hand. He has astonished the quiet country folk round the seat
of the family with his circus-like turn-out, and at the Tring
Agricultural Show the other week his team was the sensation of the
day. His zebras are groomed, shod, and fed in the same manner as
horses, and they are capital goers in harness. The Rothschild family
are a very powerful social force in Buckinghamshire.
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