Withers

The withers is the increased transition from neck to back with four-legged friends. It is made of the long spinous processes of the first thoracic vertebra, where springs and the neck band. Below and above the neck tape bursae are formed in some species.

Accordingly, given the withers, the actual size of a horse or dog, because the withers with bowed head is the highest point of the body and thus is suitable as a point. It is usually determined with the measuring tape or a stick. However, this does not apply to the ox, with him, the hip height is usually given as a relevant measure of body size. In some breeds, such as Thoroughbreds, the transition of the neck to the withers by a significant depression is recognizable; This is designated as ax.

The body size is taken as a criterion for breeding race to the only angekörte male and female animals may be used. These animals may licensed a certain height at the withers, also called as body or shoulder height, not above or below. The force required to licensing withers is determined by the respective breed associations and published as a breed standard. At the approval ( breed test ) checks the Examination whether the withers of the animal meets the breed standards. The withers is used as the criterion for permission ( Ankoerung ) or rejection ( Abkörung ) farming use. The individual withers for breeding certified animal is entered and managed in studbooks and animal breeding own securities of each breed associations.

The largest ever recorded in horses are Height 2.19 m with a Shire Horse.