withers

thumbnail|300px|right|The location of the withers on a horse thumb|Diagram of a cow; the withers are the region numbered 4. thumb|Chart illustrating the height of racehorses in hands, measured at the withers.

Withers are the ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal, typically a quadruped. In many species, this ridge is the tallest point of the body. In horses and dogs, it is the standard place to measure the animal's height. In contrast, cattle are often measured to the top of the hips.