Thanks for your thought. Interesting thesis. I donīt know about the exact form of the flash pan. But for mushing I would assume some traces on the head of the animal. But there are only traces of use on the flat nose.
I want to mention, that the iron shaft is also inside the brass animal. I tried to virtualize it. Sorry for my bad drawings skills
That make me assume, that the device was made to hammer at the nose of the animal.