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.

What Exactly Is The 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of outside skin that protects a stallion or gelding's penis is called a sheath, and it depends how far the penis has been retracted as to how much air has become trapped inside of it.

What Causes the Noise That You Hear?

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.

Today's horses are usually not kept tied in stalls for such long periods, but they may still experience a sense of either physical or mental restriction. You're more likely to hear the sounds when the horse is feeling anxious, since this usually results in more air being trapped within the sheath.

What's the Best Way to Reduce or End the Sounds?

Since this noise is brought on by anxiety, the first step is to find a way to relax your gelding.

He might be nervous because he's sensing your tension at horse show, plus there's extra anxiety for him due to being around horses he doesn't know, as well as being in a strange and new environment.

He could even be tensing up due to the way you're riding him. This situation is likely to occur when it's a horseback riding for beginners situation. Have you paid attention to how you're applying your aids, or perhaps you're asking him for more difficult moves than he's ready to do?

The simplest way to relax a horse is to let him move forward freely with only light contact, making sure that the energy comes from his rear end. Also try moving him through circular patterns, like large loops or serpentines, with regular alterations in pace; make him switch between walk, trot and canter at a constant rate. Another great way to help relieve any stiffness along his back is to post to the trot, then sit out of the saddle during the canter until he has relaxed.

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.

You'll know that your horse has become both relaxed and supple when the noises cease. With this experience you'll be able to enter a horse riding online discussion and share with other riders how you and your horse were able to work through this situation!

Using of Jim Milton's horse riding online site, you will be comfortable around horses and you will learn horse riding online easily and very fast. Complete with horse riding video instructions.

Posted under Horses

Prior to the first horseback riding lesson, new riders frequently worry about their horse making a break for it and running off. However, the more typical issue during horseback riding for beginners is just the reverse: it is difficult to get the horse moving.

This is particularly demoralizing for the raw beginner, who hasn't developed enough leg power to deal effectively with a sluggish animal. He doesn't know what else to but kick and hope for the best.

Learning to nag your horse with your legs is not the aim of horseback riding lessons, but what else can you do about the problem of laziness in your horse?

Potential Causes of Laziness

Determine just what is causing the horse to be lazy. When a horse is working daily for several hours in the process of horseback riding lessons for beginners, he will be conditioned to "switch off." This is his only available method of dealing with the continuous flow of unstable riders using the reins for support, neglecting to consider that his mouth is at the other end.

Being overweight, a frequent and obvious cause of lethargy, or having feed or health issues are additional reasons that a horse may evidence laziness. Should you be the owner of the horse, investigate the potential source of the issue and determine how you can increase his energy level.

Energizing the Lazy Horse

One way to get your horse moving is to always carry a riding crop to your lessons, but make sure not to swat your horse inadvertently.

Using a quiet leg command ask your horse to begin walking, if there is no respond try using a quick jab of your heels to get him moving. If the horse complies and begins walking, make sure to stroke his neck and praise him.

If he doesn't move, tap him on the shoulder with the crop while tightening your legs. Your horse should begin moving without you having to swat him on the rear with the crop. But if he resists use one swift reinforcement along with your legs.

Walk for half the length of the arena, then halt. Ask for walk again, repeating the above procedure until he walks off smartly. Continue this exercise until you can merely brush his sides with your legs for him to move energetically into walk. Praise him when he responds immediately.

Use the same methods to work your horse from a walk into a trot. At this time your horse should be listening to you and responding to your commands and body language cues. If your horse forgets and decides to be obstinate again, use your body to make commands and swift tap of the crop to remind him.

If you're consistent with this approach your horse will soon learn that it's in his interests to do as you ask first time. Then you'll start to build a riding partnership based on mutual respect that both of you can enjoy.

Beginners, check Jim Milton's horseback riding training website to learn how to ride a horse and benefit from Milton's horseback riding lessons.

Posted under Horses

Horseback training is an ongoing process that many times can see to put us in a rut. There is no rhyme or reason why "riders block" occurs, but it does happen. Sometimes it is just impossible to learn a new movement, such as transitioning from inside to shoulder in flexion.

At times like this a horse riding video can help you get out of that rut and move forward.

A horse riding video can be used in 3 different ways to improve your riding skills.

1. Your Own Horse Riding Video

Ask your instructor, or a friend, to videotape you as you're riding, especially getting footage of when you're attempting to perform whatever that elusive movement is. Make sure they know to record the entire session, not just the part that's not working for you.

This will enable you to see whether any bad habits have crept into your general style. Are you balanced in the saddle? Do either of your heels come up, making your legs go back and causing you to lean forwards? Or do you lean too far back with your legs pushed forwards?

If any riding issues are not immediately obvious to you, take the next step and replay your home horse riding video afterwards.

2. Take Time To Watch Professionals Ride

Many riding professionals have sets of training videos that you can invest in.

For beginners there is a wonderful eBook, Horse Riding Lessons: Teaching Yourself to Ride, that will give you everything you need to get started. This eBook includes a horse riding video which features professional riders demonstrating the basics of horseback riding.

For those of you who are ready to advance to higher levels of dressage, you'll find training videos online. A good horse riding video to watch is On the Levels produced by the United States Dressage Federation (https://usdf.org) with a judge's commentary giving you excellent insight into what's expected when you advance through the levels.

Watch the rider's overall style in your chosen video. See how supple the horse is and how easy he finds the movements as a result. Observe the quietness of the rider's aids and how effective they are. These are things to aim for when you ride.

Now look specifically at how the rider asks the horse for your 'tricky' movement. Play that part over and over, to better understand how the rider applies the aids for it.

3. Be Sure To Compare The Two

Watch the professional horse riding video until you understand the area you are having trouble with, then play your video. Note how your style and skill differs from the professional rider.

This gives you the opportunity to see what you need to do to improve your own riding. Note what you're doing differently on a piece of paper as you're watching your own video, so you don't forget, and then return to the professional video to reinforce the right way of doing it.

When you ride again apply the changes and see how the move works when you approach it differently. Many issues you will face as a horseback rider can be worked through using horse riding videos. Your riding will improve and you will move right past your "riders block".

Visit Jim's horseback riding for beginners website for a comprehensive horseback riding instructions along with horse riding videos.

Posted under Horses