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The horse has flat and wide withers, from short spines projecting off the 8th–12th vertebrae. Can be seen in any breed. The withers are an important attachment for ligaments and muscles that extend head, neck, shoulder, and back vertebrae, and are also insertion point for muscles that open ribs for breathing.
More importantly, the dorsal spinal processes provide an attachment for the muscles that support the shoulder and neck. Horses do not have a clavicle , so the shoulder can freely rotate backwards. If the vertebrae of the withers are long front-to-back, the shoulder is freer to move backwards.
Ideally, the length of a horse's back from the peak of the withers to the point of the hip should be 1/3 of the horse's overall body length (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, excluding head and neck). A horse's back is called "long" if the length exceeds 1/3 and "short" if less than 1/3.
Shoulder: made up of the scapula and associated muscles, runs from the withers to the point of shoulder (the joint at the front of the chest, i.e. the glenoid); the angle of the shoulder has a great effect on the horse's movement and jumping ability, and is an important aspect of equine conformation
The shoulder stripe is a transverse or "vertical" marking that usually crosses the withers and extends down the shoulders. [ 1 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] Donkeys are known for their distinct shoulder stripe, which, when combined with the dorsal stripe, is sometimes called a "cross".
Collective term in horse anatomy for the external parts of a horse, such as crest, withers, shoulder, cannon, etc. pointing Resting a foreleg; indicating soreness in that leg or foot. [5]: 208 pole A single rigid bar extending from the front of a horse-drawn vehicle, positioned between a pair of horses, and harness ed to them. Allows the horses ...
The path this horse takes through the air is an arc. Bascule / ˈ b æ s k juː l / is the natural round arc a horse's body takes as it goes over a jump. The horse should rise up through its back, stretching its neck forward and down, when it reaches the peak of his jump. Ideally, the withers are the highest point over the fence.
Lameness is an abnormal gait or stance of an animal that is the result of dysfunction of the locomotor system.In the horse, it is most commonly caused by pain, but can be due to neurologic or mechanical dysfunction.