Can you solve this riddle?

[Mandle]

Some kind of trailer truck?

[heltenjon]

Some kind of trailer truck?

Good suggestion, but no. 

[Mandle]

A squid?

[RootBound]

This isn't the answer I'm sure since it all feels like a stretch, but: a horse pulling a cart?

Two pointing up = the heads of the horse and the driver. Eight pointing down = the horse's four legs plus the cart's four wheels. Two showing the way to town = two blinders on the horse. One dragging behind = the cart itself?

[heltenjon]

This isn't the answer I'm sure since it all feels like a stretch, but: a horse pulling a cart?

Two pointing up = the heads of the horse and the driver. Eight pointing down = the horse's four legs plus the cart's four wheels. Two showing the way to town = two blinders on the horse. One dragging behind = the cart itself?

Close. This could have been the correct answer if the riddlemakers had thought of it that way.

A squid?

Not so close. 

[heltenjon]

Two pointing up, four eight pointing down,
two showing the way to town,
and one dragging behind.

Bump! Hint: It's indeed an animal.

[Creamy]

I was thinking about:

Spoiler

an hermit crab. According to Nausicaa they have eight legs (pointing down), two claws (pointing to town because...reasons), two antennas (pointing up) and a stolen shell dragging behind.

[close]

[heltenjon]

I was thinking about:

Spoiler

an hermit crab. According to Nausicaa they have eight legs (pointing down), two claws (pointing to town because...reasons), two antennas (pointing up) and a stolen shell dragging behind.

[close]

That's an even better solution than the correct one! 

This is an old riddle from Norwegian agrarian culture.

[RootBound]

Is it an ox pulling a cart? As with my previous guess, the eight pointing down are the four legs and four wheels, the cart is the one dragging behind, the two pointing up are the ears. The two pointing the way to town would be the ox horns.

[heltenjon]

Is it an ox pulling a cart? As with my previous guess, the eight pointing down are the four legs and four wheels, the cart is the one dragging behind, the two pointing up are the ears. The two pointing the way to town would be the ox horns.

This is about as close as you get without solving it.

Spoiler

The answer is the animal only, no cart or wagon.

[close]

[RootBound]

Spoiler

The answer is the animal only, no cart or wagon.

[close]

Then why 8 pointing down?

[heltenjon]

Spoiler

The answer is the animal only, no cart or wagon.

[close]

Then why 8 pointing down?

     

Spoiler

Forget about the ears.

[close]

Spoiler

I don't know if I should milk this riddle very much longer.

[close]

Spoiler

If it's not one thing, then it's ...

[close]

[heltenjon]

Ah! I see what I wrote can be a bit unclear. It's not an ox, either.

[Stupot]

Thanks to your clues. It's...

Spoiler

A cow!

Two horns pointing up, a tail behind, and 4 legs and 4 teats of the udder pointing down. As for the two pointing forward... could be eyes?

[close]

[heltenjon]

Thanks to your clues. It's...

Spoiler

A cow!

Two horns pointing up, a tail behind, and 4 legs and 4 teats of the udder pointing down. As for the two pointing forward... could be eyes?

[close]

Absolutely correct!   

[cat]

This reminds me of: How many legs does a cow have?

Spoiler

12 - 2 on the front, 2 on the back, 2 on the left, 2 on the right, an one on each corner.

[close]

[Stupot]

Haha @cat That is so silly, I love it.