Hypothetical question about giraffes

[Curlygirl06]

Dh and I were having a debate about giraffes (wild evening here!).
If you had a pet giraffe and you took it out for a walk, would you put a collar and lead up the top by its head, or down the bottom of its neck by its body?
One of us thinks it should go up by its head, so that you could gently pull its head down if you were going under a low bridge, for example, or pull it to the side if you were going round a corner so it could see where its going.
One of us thinks it should be by the body as otherwise you'd have a bloody long lead (duh, it's a giraffe so obvs!) and you could guide it just as well from the bottom as up the top.
YANBU of course it should be at the top by the head.
YABU of course it should be at the bottom of its neck near the body.

The ducking would need quite far from the bridge

Imagine the aeroplane logistics. You'd need to book virtually the whole plane.

Even then, there'd be no way for the stewards to bring the trolley round.

I think it would have to be a walking holiday in the UK. Avoiding bridges. Norfolk?

A walking holiday, probably. However, I'd like to have another holiday in the Norfolk Broads, so the giraffe would need to get his bridge-ducking down to a fine art, not only for the Broads but the motorway bridges on the way there.
Funnily enough, previous to this collar conversation, we'd discussed getting a giraffe on an aeroplane. Once they've got in, they'd have to have an aisle seat and lay their neck down the aisle, lifting their head every time the steward wanted to come down the aisle. Alternatively, they could rest their neck over the seats in front, but we'd have to check that the people in the seats were happy with that.
I told you, we discuss giraffes a lot!

Accommodation would probably be camping and you could just have the tent unzipped so the neck can stick out. Extra long scarves in case it gets cold. Maybe a hat - a large tea cosy would work with the holes for the knobbly bits to go through where the spout and handle usually do.

I hope you don't live in London because can you imagine how many tourists will follow you as you will be walking around with your arm raised whilst holding your giraffe's lead?

Already thought of this ages ago! The conversations regarding giraffes in this house go from the sublime to the ridiculous. We say to the grandchildren we're sensible and mature and sensible, even the 5 year old snorted at that, can't think why?

I can knit the hat and scarf, no probs. I'm definitely not camping! Caravan would be OK, head out through the skylight, job done.

Agreed.

I'd charge them £5 a go!

I asked my then husband for a giraffe and elephant. He said no, inexplicably so I said what about Guinea pigs? Worked a treat...

Plan!

I’ve seen some converted light houses or water cooling towers on Grand Designs?

<invested>

I just Googled giraffe handling (I really need to find more productive hobbies for Sundays) - it appears the vet teams use a combination of both a halter on the head, usually with a blindfold, and a body harness. I guess the head and body are a long way apart so it would be difficult to move with just one or the other.

Well I've Googled small giraffes, and the Angolan giraffes are quite small, about 8 and 1/2 feet so that could be interesting. Hmm.

Now that's the sort of thinking we need!

Regarding putting a saddle on them, quite recently I Googled whether you could ride a zebra. Apparently, as they're not domesticated, as are giraffes, it would be difficult. As they aren't used to people and bridles, saddles etc it would be unlikely to work in either case, as it would set off their fight out flight reflex, and no one wants to fight with a giraffe or a zebra!
However, I vaguely recall they said that some chap, in the 1800's or early 1900's I think, managed to train zebras to pull a trap, now that would be awesome! Also, due to the short backs and different physical attributes of zebras, they aren't the right shape or strength to be able to be ridden. Damn.

Can't manage to share it, but I've just found a photo of Lord Rothschild with his trap and zebras, knew I'd seen it somewhere!

This has conjured up the most amazing image !
I think he needs mirrored shades and a leather bomber jacket but I'm not sure if it should be black or match his fur pattern

YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN?!?! I imagined you were 30 and pre kids (due to being bonkers).

Aaaww fanks! I'm told I look younger than I am, we certainly act it. My grandson told me once that I'm the fun grandma, I'll take that!

I think a harness would be the most practical.

Alan’s giraffe in the Hangover movie did not fair too well when they encountered a bridge. Although they were travelling in a convertible at the time. Possibly it could be easier to negotiate the bridge if you were on foot/hoof.

The photo

…just thinking about giraffe saddles as they have quite sloped backs. You’d have to have a strap going round its neck. Or more of a padded collar like dray horses have.

Imagine how soothing sitting on a cantering giraffe would be! Or do they move their legs like camels which is supposed to be really uncomfortable.

A visit to YouTube is needed!

They do walk like camels, so people would get giraffe-sick with all the swaying about I should think.

Definitely a horse style headcollar rather than a dog style collar.
And I'm so glad that other couples have these bizarre discussions..... 😂
I once woke DH at 2am to ask the question about how cats would wear pants.... 🤣