When it comes to training zebras, Nancy Nunke has definitely earned her stripes.

“The zebras are so close to nature, their flight-or-fight instinct is right on the surface,” she said. “The instant a zebra baby is born, it wants to run from the humans.”

Nancy, who has spent most of her life around horses, was introduced to zebras 30 years ago, when a wildlife park sought her help.

“They asked me to look at a zebra, a young colt they had that had some aggressive problems,” she explained.

From that moment, Nancy was hooked on zebras, and zebras were hooked on Nancy.

“Once you do get them trained and have them understand that you are not a predator, they will bond with you, and be so loyal to you,” she said.

These days, Nancy, alongside her husband David and partner Jim Whipple runs Spots N Stripes Ranch in Ramona.

“It takes an awful lot of dedication,” she said. “A lot of time, certainly a ton of expertise in order to do this.”

Nancy also raises miniature horses that can calm and domesticate the edgy zebras. But that’s not all.

“This one is a zorse,” Nancy said, referring to her unusual breeds. “She’s a cross between a paint horse, which is why she has the white on her, and the Grant zebra.

“This is a grevy zonkey, and a grevy zonkey is a cross between a grevy Zebra and a donkey.”

Spots N Stripes isn’t open to the public, and perspective zebra owners are put on a three-day program on the ranch before they’re allowed to purchase one. If you don’t have the time, energy or expertise to tame a wild animal, Nancy suggests one of her miniature lap horses.