What the heck is "ox-headed"?

[twofatponies]

I saw a couple references to horses that were "ox-headed". A google search reveals that some people think it means very Roman-nosed, and Bucephalus means "ox-headed"...

But what does it really look like? I'm not convinced by the Roman-nosed idea. I looked at a bunch of oxen photos (google again) and it seems they have:

a massive, broad gently bulging forehead
a tiny muzzle compared to size of head
really wide set/low set eyes
bigger ears than most horses, also set very wide

I've never seen a horse whose head reminded me of an ox head!

[kookicat]

I've always heard it used to refer to a very coarse head.

[Equibrit]

Looking like this; http://www.wildnature.us/images/page/musk-ox-600.jpg

[twofatponies]

Looking like this; http://www.wildnature.us/images/page/musk-ox-600.jpg

Wiping tea off keyboard... !!! :D

But honestly, have you ever seen a horse that looked remotely like that? Somebody find a picture of an ox-headed horse and I'll believe it!

[twofatponies]

This page shows horses with "ox eyes" - a protruding eye ridge and large eye. But not sure that is related to "ox head".

http://www.equiandalusian.com/c_morfotipo.cfm?pagina=1

[greysandbays]

This page shows horses with "ox eyes" - a protruding eye ridge and large eye. But not sure that is related to "ox head".

http://www.equiandalusian.com/c_morfotipo.cfm?pagina=1

If you could see that "ox eyes" picture from anything but a straight side profile, you'd probably see that the plane of the central forehead area is rather recessed compared to the eye sockets, the top of the forehead, and the top of the nose.

That's "ox head". Probably just a regional difference in descriptions.

[Frank B]

And here I though we were going to be talking about politicians...

[asanders]

And here I though we were going to be talking about politicians...
:lol:
What came to my mind was, "It's standing in my kitchen pouring coffee. I'm married to Ox-Headed."
:D

[equusus]

I always thought that ox headed meant a big (big as an ox) head. Not shape, just size...???

[Sakura]

a massive, broad gently bulging forehead
a tiny muzzle compared to size of head
really wide set/low set eyes
bigger ears than most horses, also set very wide


This is what I have heard it to be... Can't for the life of me find the page I used to have that showed illustrated examples of "ox-head", "camel head", and a few others within the Arabian breed. Personally I don't think it is a negative description... just a wedge shaped head, wide between the eyes and tapered rather dramatically to the muzzle... kind of like a really cute Welsh Pony head... or of some Arabians of the Dahman strain.

[LuvMyNSH]

A lot of QH (esp. halter types) are ox-headed...smaller muzzle, big eyes, broad forehead. It makes for a pretty horse.

[JeanM]

A lot of QH (esp. halter types) are ox-headed...smaller muzzle, big eyes, broad forehead. It makes for a pretty horse.

BINGO! That's what the term means. It's a compliment, believe it or not. :yes:

[Lambie Boat]

I have a mare with a moose head

[twofatponies]

I guess I assumed "ox-headed" was NOT meant as a compliment. Though I suppose it depends on the breed whether it would be considered lovely or not.

Makes sense about the shape of the forehead.

Thanks!

[Eventer13]

Ox-head, in the times of Bucephalus, was a compliment from what I've heard. They actually wanted their horses to have an ox head, they bred it into them. I don't think it meant coarse, I believe it was more like the description that luvmyNSH gave.

[greysandbays]

I tried to google oxheaded horses, and other than a bunch of references to "Ox-Head" and "Horse Face" (which I have no idea what/who are), not a heck of a lot turned up.

However, several pages down, I found this interesting bit: http://books.google.com/books?id=G1Gs_4CaJdAC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=oxhead+horse+conformation&source=bl&ots=f-qnyQCIcT&sig=O0u5srP4EPnfBjnfi1cBVJPVQto&hl=en&ei=aPShSc3ULIzVnQf9wZ39DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA29,M1 Not a damn thing to do with clearing up the oxhead question, but mighty interesting nonetheless..

[twofatponies]

I know! Ox-head and Horse-face are something from Chinese mythology, apparently, and take over all the search results! :lol::lol: