Hi Imago, You're lucky to have such a lively baby ^^
I don't think there is any reason why you couldn't try to start getting her over poles on the ground and see how she reacts to it, as long as you keep your adrenaline low and don't push her.
Have fun :)

Hi Imago, I agreed with Australizee, as long as you keep it a "game" and not actual work it could even be a good opportunity to strenghthen your bond and start building the foundation for your work together later when she's older.
Have fun !

ok, part of the bigger question I would suggest is why is she jumping out of the corral? :-) This is a bad habit in the making and has potential for injury. What's on the other side of the fence that she jumps that she wants do you think?

Hi Imago, the babies love to jump so ground poles and small jumps that you can jump with her would be great fun. We have little jumps out in the fields and obstacles and our filly loves playing with them. Making the play inside the field and leaving bits for her to jump if safe to do so might be a distraction to jumping the main fences. In the wild they'd be jumping fallen trees and logs in their youth, all good practice and strengthens the muscles.
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Vicci's point is a good question, what is on the other side for her to want to be that side?
Mel
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Hi Imago,
I agree with all above, it's just that I think your youngster is way too young to get into any training that involves jumping. The cartilage of their joints has not yet bonified, for as far as this process is going to happen. Imagine a foal at birth, at that time it needs to be as flexible as possible to pass the birthcanal. Now in the growingprocess their bones become more stable and less flexible. If we put too much strain on the joints at too young an age, we might damage them for life. If your girl does some playful jumping without anyone asking her, that's part of the normal stabilizing.
Only when in use, bones grow strong.
If you really think she has a talent, then have your vet check her calcificationprocess at the age of two and a half, maybe three. Until that moment, let her play with her peers and focus on leading, or libertywork, even with some groundpoles.
Let her enjoy her youth and help her grow into a healthy, happy mare!
Have fun!
Miriam

Hi Imago,
.I also agree with all above, but as a breeder of Arabian horses for 27 yrs., I must urge to be patient with your young charge. Miriam talks about the bony structure needing time solidify itself as the horse matures and becomes strong. This is absolutely true as the growth plates come together from the bottom-side of the horse to the top over a period of 5.5 to 7 yrs. in time. The neck and vertebral column are the last to solidify and that is governed by the length of the neck and back of the horse. Usually, a long necked horse will have a long back for a balanced conformation.
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.We have been flooded with mis-information about horses being ready to be backed at 1.5 to 2 yrs. of age. THIS MIGHT BE THE REASON THAT SO MANY THOROBREDS AND QUARTER HORSES HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR INTENDED MOVEMENT AT 5 TO 6 YRS OF AGE AND OUR PUT DOWN FOR SOUNDNESS ISSUES.
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.There are exceptions certainly, and these seem to be what we hear about in the horse industry. What we do not hear about is the alarming number of young horses that can no longer be used because of being put in a physically demanding training program at too early of an age.
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.From a physically demanding point of view, JUMPING HORSES ARE AT THE OUTER LIMITS for stress on their on their bodies, so a careful approach is a MUST to maintain soundness.
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.My advice would be to let her grow up and do things naturally so she comes together both physically and emotionally and enjoy the journey as this takes place. Probably, the most difficult task is going to be is for YOU to contain your enthusiasm and excitement while she matures. I can relate to what you are feeling 1000% looking back through the years with the memories of very promising young horses. I remember the struggles with myself waiting for the individual to grow up. I just didn`t think that I could wait, BUT I DID. Anyway, I hope this helps you and please ENJOY YOUR FILLY.
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.All the best, Bud Gilbert Skyhaven Arabians

Hi. I have to agree with Bud. Play with your baby but nothing too stressful & no tight circling work. Make it fun! Introduce new things to her. Take her for walks. Your bond with her will be greatly enhanced as a result. Keep your expectations low & you will be so happy with your achievements. Work towards understanding your horse. Why does she escape? Is she bullied, bored or hungry? Horses don't waste energy for the sake of it, there is always a reason. Does she have a special friend who she jumps out to be back near to? Too close bonding can bring separation syndrome problems. Be her friend, her safe place to be. Show her, from the ground, the challenges she will face when ridden. Traffic, farm equipment, cows, sheep, dark areas with overhead branches, other horses being ridden away from her, tarps on the ground, the list is endless. Most of all, show her she can always trust you to be her friend. Whilst I understand your enthusiasm you need to remember that your filly is still a baby who has the right to her baby years, to grow & learn. When human children are too focused very young they never seem to develope the same as those given a broad spectrum of interests. Monty says slow is fast & patience is a virtue. Enjoy learning together. You're partners in life. Cheers, Jo.

Wow! Thanks for all the advice! "All That Jazz" (aka 'Jasmine' aka "Poopy")has really only jumped a few times but it has been high. Once was because she was separated (from the herd) in a corral. She wasn't that good at it. Cost me $500 vet bill. Another time she wanted out of her stall(during a storm, I think?). Broke all the 2x4's keeping her in - jumped over the bottom ones. Lastly, she wanted the grass in grandma's front yard, enclosed by a wrought iron fence. Hopped right over. All understandable. No real bad behavior. She's just young, I guess. She doesn't always escape. She just knows that if she needs to, she has the ability. That's why I contemplate her future and what we might do together. Other than her few 'episodes' I could not ask for a better horse. She comes when called. I never have to chase her with a halter. She stands for the farrier (loves him!). You can shake things around her, throw things, make noise. Pretty much bombproof for such a youngster. She licks cars though. Yes, I meant 'lick'. Ha ha

HI; while I'm really glad for you that she has such a lovely temperament and character I feel I need to point out that the three episodes you describe are not indications that she has an "affinity" for jumping; they are indications, in the first two instances, of a level of distress/separation anxiety and in the third instance that coupled with a desire for "the greener grass" I guess :-).
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Please don't misunderstand me; it's quite possible that you do have a show jumper in the making!!! However it is important not to misread the behaviours in order to fit our ambitions. As you've already discovered, the injury costs are high and could end any chance of a glittering career.
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I think it's very very important to set up the situation that she does not want to escape (even if she could) as it could very easily become a self reinforcing behaviour that she engages in whether she "needs" to or not.
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Licking cars is an interesting quirk! ;-)

Licking the cars is something i see the youngsters do a lot in our fields, i put it down to dust/dirt from the fields being on the cars and they're licking that. Minerals etc from the dirt.
X

Talking about yearlings I will have two here in the end of August.I plan on getting to know them more for about a month by playing with them and letting them get used to some scary things for you might say a playful desensitizing etc.Like balls and pool noodles,tarps, water puddles etc.When I start their training what do you think I should start with? Just looking for a bit of input. One is a young stallion the other a young filly these two grew up togather up to this point,when I recieved them.Give me your ideas how you would start them & why?

Hi. My chestnut filly turned 2 last week. I've known her all her life, since she was still wet from birthing. She is totally different from her 3 year old full brother, who is 14 months older. He was born at a livery yard & she was born in the field. They are both incredibly curious of new things but he is usually confident whereas she tends to be more wary & prefers to take her time, check things out for herself. She fights any pressure - to load into the trailer for instance but if I put the trailer in the field & let her check it out she'll load herself, with zero pressure & having made several passes through it she will stand in the right place for me to put her Dually on & close up the ramps. She is getting better & better, having chosen to say 'HELL NO!!' to the trailer at 10 months. I'm talking about spending an hour with her throwing herself into her Dually - total, blind refusal. But now we have total cooperation, albeit on her terms. If I bought the trailer to the field daily I could sort it in a week - but that would be work for her & she's just a baby. Daily would give her stress & she doesn't need that in her life just now. She's not mentally mature enough for stress. Neither of my youngsters have ever been 'worked'. Yet both will happily graze, ignoring the fact that they have a tight surcingle on, both will walk up to me & take a soft bit in their mouths, voluntarily & be bridled - happily. No fingers in mouths, they seek the bit & regard it as a plaything. I've been told I'm too soft but I have a filly who stands better to have her back feet trimmed than the front ones - & a happy farrier. I have taken time to let my youngsters be babies & I have 2 great characters developing. Patience is a virtue. Bring new things into youngsters lives & let them explore - but make sure it's playtime for them. That way they will be more cooperative, more enthusiastic to try new & more challenging things & you will truly have partners. They have long, matted manes. Last night I took a comb to these matts, for the first time in their lives. They were free, grazing quietly. I made sure I didn't tug at the roots & make it a nasty experience for them. Yes, they still have matts - but they have fully combed fore locks & the first third of their manes, from the withers up, is combed through. I quit when they walked away. When they see the comb again they will not move to avoid it. No, I didn't complete the task in 1 go but we made good progress without force. Patience, true understanding & reading their language will get you much further, quicker, in the long run. Cheers, Jo.

Hi. Quick update. Back with comb today. No pressure & we have less matts! Ok. Job not done yet - but they have taken months to get these in so for me to take a few days to resolve it is totally disproportional. Filly is still somewhat resistant but her brother has 50% of his mane shortend & sorted & both have their fore locks sorted. Neither resent my attention & this has all been done loose! Had I tied them up they would be less comfortable with both me & the comb. Cheers, Jo.

AMEN JO, We have done that same approach here at Skyhaven for many years with the babies, always at liberty in a large paddock. My wife usually is the first to start the grooming procedure and within a week, usually, they run to get their brushing time with her. We have found that when you have more than one to be groomed, they compete with each other for grooming time. The slow methodical approach seems to be the way to go.
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If I work the babies at all in the round pen, it is always done with more play to build the connection of relationship to humans. FUN is the order of the day. This is one of my favorite times with my horses. ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY as you will look back on this time in your life with fond memories.
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All the best Bud