WITHERS.—The part of a horse so called, is the superior point of the shoulders, situate above the blades, precisely at the termination of the mane, from whence the back begins. Upon the good or ill formation of the withers, the symmetry, strength and value of the horse materially depend. If the subject is well made in the withers, with a gradually advancing forehand, long and proportionally erect, it produces a commanding majestic dignity in the fore quarters, generally accompanied with a corresponding uniformity behind. A horse of this description is almost invariably sure-footed, and an admirable goer in all his paces: on the contrary, if he is defective in this particular point, he is lower _before_ than _behind_, and is proportionally reduced in estimation and intrinsic worth. A horse low in the withers, is mostly short in the forehand also; forcible indications of a deficiency in speedy action, an habitual tendency to the _perfection_ of _stumbling_, and the equally mortifying memento of not being able to carry a saddle in its proper place, without the pleasing appendage called _a crupper_. The withers are constantly liable to injury, from saddles being wide in the tree, or coming too far forward, which letting the internal part of the pummel come into contact with the projecting point of the withers, mischief (from the pinching, pressure, or friction) frequently ensues, terminating in inflammation, laceration, tumefaction, maturation, and sometimes fistula, which see. Injuries sustained in this part by either of the means before mentioned, should never remain unattended to: a repetition of the cause, from neglect or inattention, is likely to render that serious and severe, which might, by a contrary conduct, have proved only a slight and temporary inconvenience. When such a circumstance has unluckily taken place, and is attended to without delay, cool repellents, and mild astringents, will generally effect an early obliteration; but it should be retained in memory, that the part once bruised acquires an additional degree of tenderness and irritability, which will render the cure more tedious and difficult, should the bruise be inconsiderately or inattentively repeated. WITHER-WRUNG.—A horse is said to be wither-wrung, when he sustained the origin of the injuries described under the last head.