Horse Withers: More Than a Saddle Stay

Withers of moderate height and definition help a well-fitted saddle stay in position when mounting and dismounting, and also prevent a saddle from inching forward and interfering with shoulder movement. Withers, however, offer much more than security for a rider and her tack.

From a biomechanical standpoint, the withers have two primary functions, to provide a place of attachment for the soft tissues of the neck and to supply a fulcrum so that when a horse lowers and extends its neck, the back elevates, which is necessary for true collection.

Beneath the layers of tissue that lie over them, the withers are no more than the long spinal processes of certain thoracic vertebrae. The spines vary in length, and this variation allows for their ridge-like appearance. Individual vertebrae can be seen on thin horses or those with very little flesh covering their withers.

Ideal withers do not jut up conspicuously from the topline; they should be neither Himalayan in appearance, with a deep dip in front of them and a steep drop behind them, nor overly rounded or bulky with no definition between the neck and back. Withers should blend harmoniously with the crest of the neck and the expanse of the back.

Withers that thrust noticeably from the topline with an accompanying dip are sometimes referred to as camel or shark-fin withers. Though this construction is not ideal, proper riding with an emphasis on engagement of the hindquarters can certainly help fill in the dip through development of the crest. Until development occurs, both fore and aft of the withers, saddle fit might prove difficult, though every effort should be made to ensure the saddle rests comfortably on the back. Ill-fitting saddles can cause sores, pain, and irritability.

On the opposite end of the withers-height spectrum are mutton withers, which describe a low, rounded, meaty, or indistinct appearance. Not only do such withers offer little in the way of securing a saddle, but they are also the least likely to help raise the horse’s back when he lowers and extends his head, making collection more difficult.