shoulders

Thanks Mike, but I think I should probably pass on the offer. If you have a public domain depiction or picture of a leaping or rearing zebra I could use as my avatar, I would be interested in that, though.

I don't have a grudge against coats of arms.

From the American Heraldry Society "Guidelines for Heraldic Practice in the United States" (Introduction, sect. 1.1):
"Note: Many systems of personal, family, and group symbolism which are more or less comparable to heraldry also developed in non-European cultures. These
systems are usually subject to their own customary rules and are not covered in these guidelines."

It is a graphic, symbolic representation of oneself like a name, and there are other systems for that in the U.S. I also sensed something from some of the armigers of the forum... Something a little like opening the oven door to check if the biscuits are done. I should pay attention to that...

As far as supporters etc., it understandably discourages the use of those symbols in the U.S. (2.2.1.1).