Was Horse Named for Ann Coulter? S.F. Zoo Won't Say Aye or Neigh

By: E&P Staff "A horse is a horse, of course, of course. And horses don't talk trash to liberals, of course. Unless, of course, the name of the horse is the famous Ms. Op-Ed."

Those aren't exactly the lyrics from the theme song for the 1960s sitcom "Mister Ed." But the San Francisco Zoo has named a horse "Coulter," and people are wondering if Universal Press Syndicate Op-Ed columnist Ann Coulter is being "honored."

The zoo has another newly famous occupant, an eagle named Stephen Jr., oft-mentioned by Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report."

A SFGate.com blog item notes: "While looking for celebrity eagle Stephen Jr. in the children's area at the San Francisco Zoo, a colleague at the [San Francisco] Chronicle ran into a different conservative icon: 'Coulter,' an American cream draft horse who bears a not-so-subtle resemblance to a certain controversial conservative pundit by the same name.

"A follow-up visit shows that the similarities are plentiful: Both have a long mane of blonde hair and legs that are thin enough to comfortably slip a LiveStrong silicone bracelet on the lower thigh. And whether it's fair or not, many a liberal blogger has pointed out that Ann Coulter's head does have some equine qualities.

"Then again, the horse appears to have a much better appetite than the pundit, and there's also the little issue of the zoo's Coulter being male -- although I suppose Ann Coulter's detractors will have a quick comeback for that as well. ...

"The zoo keepers I talked to were mum on the issue, refusing to confirm or deny that the horse was named with Ann Coulter in mind. But it's worth noting that there's another part of the zoo called the 'Coulter Family Acacia Plaza,' suggesting the horse's name could also be linked to a generous zoo patron."

The SFGate.com item is titled: "Children's Zoo Horsey Wants Liberal Media Traitors Executed by Firing Squad?"

"Mister Ed" began its run in 1961 -- the same year Coulter (the columnist, of course, of course) was born.
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UPDATE.

So much for rumor. E&P has received a letter from Alexander Winslow, Public Relations Manager, San Francisco Zoo, declaring that the horse arrived at the zoo in 2001 with its name already in place. Likely the columnist did not inspire the name. The horse, he wrote, was nonpartisan in its appreciation of visitors.