I'm wondering if there is anyone who can help me figure something out. My father gave my wife a set of longhorns that he had (her Alma Mater). It's not a professional mount, but it does have a 2x4 and a couple of screws holding the massive horns together. I'm going to remount the horns a little more "professionally" so that they could look nice enough to hang over the mantle of the fireplace. I am, nevertheless, not sure how far apart the base of the horns should be. Right now with the 2x4 holding them together, they are 11 inches apart at the base of the horns. I measured a regular bull's skull with 5 inch horns and found that the base of the horns is 9 inches apart. I'm certain that a longhorn's skull is much bigger than the average bull's skull. Would 11 inches be an accurate spread at the base of the skull? The way it is now leaves an impressive 76 inch spread from tip to tip and I would love to keep it around the 6-6 1/2 foot spread but I would rather keep the integrity of their true spread. If anyone knows an accurate measurement, as far as base spread is concerned, I would appreciate it.
Jeremy
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As a former rancher turned taxidermists I can tell you longhorns have narrower heads than english breeds. That's why a lot of ranchers use longhorns for breeding 1st calf heifers, the smaller narrower body frame makes for easier calving. Now as a taxidermist if all your doing is a horn on panel mount, the space between the horn bases is entirely up to the customer, bur for a steer/bull that size 10 to 11" shold be in line. I have a large hereford bull mount that is close to 15" between the horn bases and that was his measurements when alive.
Have a good one
Don
The skull I have in the shop measures just short of 10 inches. I took the measurement from base to base of the sleeve, across the skull.
I will tell you of what I know about longhorns, I have 5 mounted in my studio now. The steers have been mounted with the ORIGINAL SKULL, The 10 year old steer with a 68'spread is 15 inch betwen the the base . The other 4 mounts are 12" 11 1/2" 11" and 10 1/2. I have won Best of Category with these mount. So they have been judged. also if you need longhorn hide for your horn mount, let me know, I hope this will help you. Dennis