Jumping our Yearling!

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assuan

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Doing some work in the school yesterday with our yearling, just some light groundwork. Decided to pull out some wings and poles and stick up a small jump (just to have a go ;) )

He cleared it with ease, so we put it up, again clear, up some more, clear again (he was loving it). Ended up on the top of the wing 3ft 6 and was easily clearing it.

Thing was, they were all from stand-still.......ouch! Think he's going to be a good jumper!
 
I know, very naughty of us, didn't realise how high it was until I measured it (the wings aren't marked up).

He jumps everything in the field, water troughs, bushes, horses that are having a nap!!

He clears that height even if it was 6 inches from the floor, he just lauches himself over it. Also want to point out, he wasn't on the lead at the time, it was purely his own choice.
 
My 2 year old jumps out of the field when she wants to, but I'm afraid I would never dream of putting jumps up in the school for her even now. On the very rare ocassion she goes in the school - usually for in-hand showing practice for 10 mins or so - I have only once put some poles on the floor and those were just for her to walk over and pick her feet up a bit more. I definately will not be looking to do anymore with her for a while yet.
 
assuan, really not a problem when youngsters do this on their own volition, the problem comes when they are being 'forced' into doing things they are just not ready for. The best judge is and always will be the horse, but even then strains and pulls happen. You cannot, and it would be a mistake, to wrap them in cotton wool.
 
My god, anyone would think I was forcing him over the damn jump! So what, do the other horses stop youngsters from jumping in the wild?!

We only put him one side of the jumped and then called him from the other side - he wasn't trapped, he was in the middle of the school, his choice to jump the damn thing!
 
AndySpooner said:
assuan, really not a problem when youngsters do this on their own volition, the problem comes when they are being 'forced' into doing things they are just not ready for. The best judge is and always will be the horse, but even then strains and pulls happen. You cannot, and it would be a mistake, to wrap them in cotton wool.
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Thanks Andy - I would never dream of getting him to do anything he didn't want to do (unless it involved having some manners).

We simply noticed his behaviour in the field and wondered what he'd do with a jump, every time was his choice!
 
I don't see the problem with this, if it was a weekly thing then of course he's way too young, but as a one off out of curiosity I don't think it's the end of the world. You'd feel awful if he hurt himself though OP, so now you know he has talent you'll have to put your curiosity to bed for a few years!
 
Oh god no, I told the OH it was a one off and didn't want to encourage the jumping at his age.

It's just a shame that some people (you know who you are) jump up on the morale pedestals and love to b**ch at people. You can always tell they're the ones at the yard who get their little clique together in the corner and comment on how badly everyone else looks after their horses, how bad the other horses confirmation are and how bad a rider the other people all are - afterall, they're so damn knowledgeable and never do anything slightly outside of the norm, everything by the book everytime! Whatever!
 
gugglebum said:
I don't see the problem with this, if it was a weekly thing then of course he's way too young, but as a one off out of curiosity I don't think it's the end of the world. You'd feel awful if he hurt himself though OP, so now you know he has talent you'll have to put your curiosity to bed for a few years!
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Good Reply !
 
Shoot me dead but if the youngster does this anyway, in a field (presume field is not a cricket pitch or bowling green with a carefully tended surface) and this occasion was a one off, free choice scenario on reasonable going, then blimey, what's the harm?

How do you think we get the horses we do sent over from abroad if it hasn't been tested over there at a young age for ability? They don't feed and care for it til it's three to see if it's going to be any good over a fence! ;)

ETA Don't give him the taste for it or keeping him in a field might prove tricky - and there are dangers to unauthorised fence-hopping...
 
brighteyes said:
Shoot me dead but if the youngster does this anyway, in a field (presume field is not a cricket pitch or bowling green with a carefully tended surface) and this occasion was a one off, free choice scenario on reasonable going, then blimey, what's the harm?

How do you think we get the horses we do sent over from abroad if it hasn't been tested over there at a young age for ability? They don't feed and care for it til it's three to see if it's going to be any good over a fence! ;)

ETA Don't give him the taste for it or keeping him in a field might prove tricky - and there are dangers to unauthorised fence-hopping...
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^^^^^this^^^^ :)
 
I don't see a huge issue with it either, you weren't forcing him and it's something he is doing in the field anyway.
 
niagaraduval said:
Good Reply !
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Why thank you :)

Don't be upset OP, it just happens on a public forum. And people here maybe think first of the horses welfare, and second about peoples feelings (and indeed a full grasp of facts). I know it can't be nice but try not to take it personally. Don't let it pee on your bonfire ;)

This forum should have a 'post at your own risk' disclaimer :D
 
OP what you describe in your first post was that you deliberately asked a yearling to jump 3'6. You did not say you called him over it- there is a world of difference.

I might sit up on my moral pedestal, but i have never deliberately jumped a youngster, nor will I- I have thy wonderful thing Whoch is generally known as PATIENCE.

Jumping in the field is completely different to what you originally described, and babies will be babies and do daft things, so what?

If you call this bitching then suit yourself- personally I always put my horse's health above anything else, but that's my preference. Each to their own.
 
assuan said:
Oh god no, I told the OH it was a one off and didn't want to encourage the jumping at his age.

It's just a shame that some people (you know who you are) jump up on the morale pedestals and love to b**ch at people. You can always tell they're the ones at the yard who get their little clique together in the corner and comment on how badly everyone else looks after their horses, how bad the other horses confirmation are and how bad a rider the other people all are - afterall, they're so damn knowledgeable and never do anything slightly outside of the norm, everything by the book everytime! Whatever!
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Which book would that be then. Lol.

I'm not advocating working young horses, but not letting use their energy and athleticism is a big mistake, youngsters have to be up and able to keep up with mum a least at a very early age, but to try to stifle their natural play drive will lead to serious problems in later life. Strong bones, ligaments and musculature doesn't just happen it needs to be built up over years, we expect much of our horses but seem unwilling to allow them the time and freedom to get themselves naturally fit and athletic.

You wouldn't ask a human sprinter to spend all day in the toilet with their head out the window, go for a jog round the block, then compete, of course not. With horses though, it's a different matter, boxed 90% of the time, then expected to perform.

Of course young horses should be allowed to run and jump, its what they do.
 
@Cadfael&Coffee

Firstly, I made no such implication, you drew that conclusion all on your own, most likely because of your evidentally low opinion of other horsemen. Just like I drew the conclusion that you assume I have very little experience or knowledge of equines...... little do you know about me if such a case. It is not different from described either, I just didn't give every detail, it was a short sweet post, nothing more.

Secondley, you then make the accusation that I do not put my horse's health above anything else, which is garbage - although you didn't make such an implication, I am drewing that conclusiong on my own!

Thirdly, I know it was perfectly fine (albeit a little naughty) that's why it was done....I am not, as some one put earlier, an idiot!

Forthly, a bad workman always blames their tools ;) get a new phone lol
 
brighteyes said:
How do you think we get the horses we do sent over from abroad if it hasn't been tested over there at a young age for ability? They don't feed and care for it til it's three to see if it's going to be any good over a fence! ;)
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Almost all of my clients ask to see a short video clip of my youngsters popping over a little jump. I don't jump them 3'6" as normally you can spot "form" regardless of the size of the jump but yes ours are usually popped over little 1ft - 18 inch jumps to show prospective buyers their potential. It's normal (and expected) to do this in my market.
 
AndySpooner said:
Two years!! head, desk, thump!
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LOL beat me to it.

we do some gentle groundwork with him every week, at the most 10-15 minutes at any one time, he goes for a walk most mornings, often out on the roads. He'll do this until we start our backing program in about 18 months time.
 
OP- I drew any conclusions from your OP, your subsequent posts cleared that up fine, but if you read your OP that's how it came across.

The horses health was not an accusation in the slightest, UNLESS the first post was accurate, Which is what my response is aimed at.

The problem with the web is that things often come across completely differently to how things are actually meant :p

As it happens I'm pleased that
A. You are not a troll, and
B. You aren't a complete numpty schooling a yearling over fences- unfortunately, I've learned on this forum that anything Is possible, and there's a few who would be stupid enough to jump a yearling properly over fences :(

Either way- he sounds lovely, please don't take anything personally.

And follow mrs elle's idea ;) you'll make a fortune!! :D:D:D
 
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