If you ride a gelding (or stallion) you may at times notice a loud noise coming from his sheath area, usually when you’re trotting him. If you join horse riding online discussions you’ll discover other riders ask about this.
So what exactly is a sheath?
The tube of outside skin that protects a stallion or gelding’s penis is called a sheath, and it depends how far the penis has been retracted as to how much air has become trapped inside of it.
So What Causes That Noise To Come Out Of The Sheath?
The simplest answer would be “tension,” and that comes in a variety of forms.
One cause of sheath noises is when the hind end is stiff. Back in the days of keeping horses tied in stalls this was one of the more common reasons for stiff hindquarters as these horses were basically immobile for hours at a time.
But now it comes from the horse feeling restricted – either physically or psychologically. The more anxious the gelding (or stallion) is, the more air gets trapped inside his sheath and this makes loud noises when he moves.
How Does One Prevent Or Stop This Noise?
The gelding has first to relax before the noise will go away.
He may be feeling nervous because you are at a show: he senses your tension in addition to any extra anxiety he may be feeling because of the new environment and strange horses.
Even your style of riding may lead to tension and anxiety. This is the most likely cause for those who are just beginning as horseback riders. Step back and look at your performance – are you using your aids too strongly or are you asking your mount to perform tasks he isn’t comfortable with yet?
One of the best ways to get him to relax is send him forward freely, on light contact, and asking for energy from the hind end. Then ride some serpentines, circles, and large loops, including frequent transitioning between the walk, trot, or canter. Another exercise would be to post to the trot and then sit out of the saddle during the canter to allow him to relax his back and be able to carry you without his spine being stiff.
If you’re know you have advanced enough in your riding to be able to ask for shortening and then lengthening within the gaits, do so while you create engagement of his hind quarters with your leg aids pushing (but not hurrying) him into that steady rein contact.
Once your horse has relaxed and is feeling more comfortable, the noises should disappear. You’ll be able to tell the other members of your favorite website or horse riding online discussion group how you were able to solve your horse’s problems!
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