Horse Withers Anatomy

A horses height in hands is measured at the top of the withers. They are an important attachment point for the muscles of the torso.

Fit Right Saddle Solutions Equine Anatomy Relative To

For the purpose of conformation a horse should generally have medium sized well defined withers.

Horse withers anatomy. They are the long thoracic vertebrae roughly the 3rd through 11th that support his head and neck. The withers are the highest point of the horses thoracic vertebrate just above a horses shoulder blades. Horses are commonly measured in hands one hand is 4 inches 10 cm.

This means that there is no bone linking the shoulder joint with the ribcage only muscles. If the vertebrae of the withers are long. Withers that are too tall are usually also too narrow causing an improper saddle fit.

Other animals like dogs cows and sheep have withers too. Horse heights are extremely variable from small pony breeds to large draft breeds. They should be almost level with the rump or croup of the horse.

The shoulder rotates freely backward using the muscles attached to the withers. Theres 2 bones that were going to be looking at the scapula also called shoulder blade for humans and the humerus. A horses withers the term is always pluralthere is no singular wither are formed by a section of his spinal column.

Horse anatomy the withers. The height at the withers of an average thoroughbred is 16 hands 64 inches 163 cm and ponies are up to 142 hands 58 inches 147 cm. Withers can be tall and narrow medium and well defined or low and wide.

One major difference that horses have compared to us is that they do not have a collarbone. The roughly nine linked bones that make up this sectionthoracic vertebrae numbers 3 through 11 on anatomy chartshave a unique shape.

Anatomy Of The Horse The Shoulder Animal Osteo

All You Need To Know About Your Horse S Back Horse Hound