Noise when Cantering

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lcharles

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Not sure how to explain it, but when my boy canters he makes a grinding/heavy noise, sort of windy sound. I've heard horses in warm up areas before competing making the same noise and its ryhmical to the canter stride? What is this?

Doesnt seem to effect him and he doesnt do it in open spaces going straight, seems to be more when he's cantering around in a circle.

Thanks in advance :D
 
It sounds like he's just got air in his sheath, nothing to worry about. Some boys get it more than others, suppose it depends on their... umm... 'anatomy', lol. If its just started happening, as said above, maybe he needs a quick spruce up if he'll let you?
 
If it's a wind sound he could well be 'Roaring', it's a sound caused when the flaps around the larynx don't fully open during fast work and thus the air catches as the horse breathes and makes the noise (or tht's how it was explained to me anyway). Can be solved with a Hobday/Tie back operation, which, in my exprience, other than causing the horse's whinny to sound more like a filthy old man laughing leeringly, causes no issues whatsoever to the horse :-) My big lad had this done at 6yrs old (same age as he was gelded, had to be a bad year for him bless his cottons) and was still out regularly competing BSJA at HOYS, Hickstead, Arena UK etc regularly beforhand and for many years afterwards.
 
Just re-read your post (apologies) if he only really does it on a circle it's less likely to be roaring as he'd do that in straight lines too.....so it does sound like air in his sheath and thus nothing to worry about at all :-)
 
Whish end of the horse is it coming from ;) Front end - My boy makes a 'noise' too ... nothing serious as he will NEVER be going flat out or racing - Back end, like the others have said, sheath and nothing to worry over.
 
Ah i see!! boy noises it must be then!! x it sounds like it coming from his hip/back legs area! x does this hurt him then? poor windy willy horse!! :eek:

He is my first gelding thinking about it! how do i get his willy out to clean it - yuk! don't think he'd appreciate me blasting it with the hosepipe!! i sort of forgot he had a willy, think he's only flung it out once!! lol x
 
There is a really good set of instructions on here on how to clean him (with 'Mr Hand'!!) I'm sure you will find it, or someone can give you the link.

However, I have been advised that you shouldn't need to clean it at all (unless there is a problem, or a nasty smell). I haven't touched H's 'area' at all (I've had him nearly a year) and everyone at the yard who has geldings says not to bother unless there is a problem. Every now and again it pops out, and I have a good (but discreet!!) look - looks and smells fine.
 
MrsHutt said:
There is a really good set of instructions on here on how to clean him (with 'Mr Hand'!!) I'm sure you will find it, or someone can give you the link.

However, I have been advised that you shouldn't need to clean it at all (unless there is a problem, or a nasty smell). I haven't touched H's 'area' at all (I've had him nearly a year) and everyone at the yard who has geldings says not to bother unless there is a problem. Every now and again it pops out, and I have a good (but discreet!!) look - looks and smells fine.
Click to expand...

Yes I was told to leave alone too unless any obvious probs,nasty secretions etc. Also had a gelding did this when working well, can be a sign of working back end properly so all good?
 
WHAT??? WHAAAAT??

I reached my thirtieth year this year and up until 5 minutes ago still believed it was air under the saddle.

I feel as if I've just discovered that Santa isn't real.
 
Interesting to read that some say that the sheath noise is a sign of good work.

I thought this to be the opposite. My lad makes the honking sound if he is tense. I've also noticed that if something spooks them in the field and they trot around nostrils flared the honking seems to happen then too (with some geldings)

I've heard others say it is a sign of tension too.
 
I actually love this noise, there is something very 'horsey' about it, for the first time in my life I have a horse that does this (My youngster ben) I am very strangely chuffed.

Simple things please simple minds ;)
 
Ditto the above, does sound like the sheath. Personally, I don't touch it unless there are any obvious problems (he probably wouldn't let me anyway :rolleyes:), just wipe around that area and on the inside of his legs daily to get rid of any sweat or dirt which could attract flies, and so far no nasty smegma or anything else! And interesting to hear that with some horses it shows they're working well. My boy's only made that noise once - and that was coming back from canter to trot very quickly which caused him to fall onto the forehand and become unbalanced, and then that noise appeared. Once I stopped him rushing it quietened down. xx
 
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