withers

Everyday

1. The withers are the highest point of a horse's back, the ridge between its shoulder blades; horses are measured to the withers. tree →
2. «Withers» is also the form of the verb «wither»: a plant withers when it dries up and dies. tree →

In the lessons

In riding and farm life, horses and ponies are measured in «hands» from the ground to the withers (one hand = 4 inches, about 10 cm). In science, a plant that withers is drying out. In stories, «withers» (verb) describes plants, hope or old age fading. Phrases: «height at the withers», «withers away».

Examples

• The pony is 13 hands high at the withers. tree →
• The saddle should not press on the horse's withers. tree →
• The vet felt the withers of the horse to check for pain. tree →
• Without rain, the grass withers and turns brown. tree →
• A flower withers if you leave it out of water. tree →
• My pony is 12 hands at the withers, so 12 × 4 = 48 inches tall. tree →

Note

Horse sense: plural only, «the withers». Maths: horse height in hands — 1 hand = 4 inches; a pony of 14.2 hands is 14 × 4 + 2 = 58 inches (the number after the dot is inches, not tenths). Verb: wither, withers, withered, withering.