Let's rate some bulls

[Koen G]

Thanks, Marco. I think that at least the thing with the hind legs was caused by the VM artist's lack of skills. But even this is hard to assess. For a long time it was thought that the lobster's tail-legs were a similar unique screwup. But I've found quite a number of those so far, all related. No signs of weird bull legs in those though, nor anywhere else, so I still lean towards the VM artist's having done this themselves.


As for the raised leg, neck and head appearance, I think a reasonable explanation would be that medieval depictions of other animals became contaminated with horse, like 2010's era Ikea meatballs.

See the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, the 1410 Monument to Paolo Savelli in Venice, various randomly picked manuscript images below. When a horse is going slowly (trot?), its front leg motion is more dramatic and emphasized, leading to the "raised front leg" pose. We see this reflected in art across cultures.

   

I'd hypothesize that some of the standard depictions of horses may have influenced the appearance of other beasts in certain traditions. This would have led to bulls that are "trotting", have a horse-like neck and face, have their pizzle moved to the back...