Let's rate some bulls

[Koen G]

The thing about the "code" of horse legs is an urban legend perpetuated by tour guides. Marcus Aurelius died of illness or poisoning, Paolo Savelli died of the plague.


My point is that when horses walk, as they would e.g. during a parade, it's the raised front leg that draws the eye. This led to centuries of depictions of horses with one front leg raised, which in turn may have influenced the depiction of other "beasts".