>>> So piggy eyes are a joke? Tonight I kept looking at Orri's eyes from every angle (he was just gelded last summer) and they didn't look piggy no matter how I looked at them....
In this area, they are called "pig eyes" and no, they aren't a joke - but it could be a regional nickname though for all I know. I think what it actually is, is some sort of fatty deposit above or around the eyes - or maybe they are some other sort of tissue. It's not that the eyes themselves are smaller, but the "fat" (whatever) makes them look a little smaller. I'm sure the shape and the size of horse's original eyes has a big influence on how small the deposit makes the eyes look. My App was gelded at 6, and it's fairly easy to see on him. But, of course, he has the funky Appaloosa eyes, where the schelera (sp) is white, so people are naturally more drawn to look at his eyes. I don't think I would even notice it about Melnir's eyes, except that I've seen it on Joe and I know to look for it. I've never seen it be terribly noticeable on any Icelandic, but you can often see it if you really look. It's just another gender-related physical trait that many stallions may have. A more developed neck is another. Karen Thomas, NC
