I HAVE A ZEBRA THAT WAS SPLIT DOWN THE NECK FROM THE ADAMS APPLE AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN BETWEEN THE FRONT LEGS, MY ? WAS HAS ANYONE TRIED TO MOUNT ONE SEWING UP THE FRONT OR SHOULD I SEW THE FRONT UP AND THEN SPIT DOWN ONE SIDE OF THE MANE AS YOU USUALLY DO, I AM WORRIED ABOUT COVERING THE SEAM IN THE FRONT, ANY HELP
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You'll have to sew either way, and with something as shorthaired as a zebra, that seam's going to be visible no matter how or when you sew it. Don't make more work for yourself than you have to. When sewing him up from the front make sure color patterns match up and take as small a stitch as you can safely get away with. I have stitched fur and leather so that the needle doesn't actually exit through the hair side, but rather just at the edge of the leather. It's hard to explain without seeing it done, but basically you start your stitch about 1/4" in from the edge and push the needle at an angle so that it comes out at the top corner of the leather/epidermis. Also, though I've never used cape tape, it is used for repairing holes and such with the use of heat, and tape type stuff. It might work for your problem. It's available in most taxidermy supply catalogs.
Good Luck, Juli
Match the pattern, timming very close and using as small a needle and FIRELINE (fishing line) as you can.
Use a epoxy hide adhesive such as EPO-GRIP, the reason being is you can work the seam and be done with it in just a few hours, do the neck section at one time.
Zebra also dont have ear butts like a deer. Go look at several horses they are 97% the same as Zebra. The muscles are in front with a large scutiform cartlidge and behind to pull the ears back, this is called pinning the ears. It has two functions, one is to warn other Equine of danger and the second is a act of agression.