Zebra’s are not a domesticated animal.
They get more anti-social with age and tend to bite.
When they do bite, they don’t let go.

Zoo keepers are VERY wary of them as they cause more injuries each year than any other animal.

http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/zebra.html

I’d assume it might have been for fear of backlash against the idea of irritating a horse into moving his lips by stuffing nylon in his mouth. Sort of a cruelty to animals issue. Even if it wasn’t cruel or painful to the horse, there might have been a fear that it could be perceived that way.

This is of course also why Ed ALWAYS wore his head harness. It was to try to mask the string!

http://www.snopes.com/lost/false.asp

At least I’m upping the reply count.

That Snopes article is so extensive, like with the forced perspective stuff, and the bit about the trained zebra, that it seemed like it had to be true.

But when you add in the black/white contrast problem (like the Johnny Cash example, or the Mr. Ed photo used for proof) it gets really weird.

Please, help clear up this Mr. Ed stuff.