YEARLING ? - If a buyer asked you to ...

[Silver Sport Horses]

If a buyer asked you to put your yearling through a 2'6" jumping chute, would you?

* Horse in question is 15.3 to wither, 16.1+ to hip and is 17 months old *

[didgery]

Not a breeder, but I shouldn't think that a couple trips through a 2'6" jump chute would hurt a typical yearling. I wouldn't repeat endlessly, and I might not bother if I wasn't selling the horse as a jumping prospect. Otherwise, I'd have no problem with the request.

[Hunter_Rider]

I would never let my yearling free jump.....I would consider it at 2 (maybe once through a chute).

[CurlyLindsay]

There is an article published by the American Hanoverian Society, reprinted by KWPN North America, written by Volker Ehlers that states: "If it is a yearling, the stride would be approximately 18 feet... Some people might raise their eyebrows at the free jumping of a yearling or two year old. If you keep the fences simple and low and the encouragement easy, nothing bad will happen to the young horse. If you are raising jumpers, it is important to evaluate the potential of your offspring."

Personally I don't have a problem with a few jumps a few times a month.

KWPN-NA has a 404 error when you try to pull up the pdf file now, but here's a google cache of the cited article, which is good reading, as it describes how to introduce the young or inexperienced horse to freejumping in a positive way. http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:h2DXeaTN9mwJ:kwpn-na.net/freejumping.pdf+free+jump+yearlings+filetype:pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us

[horserider12]

my horse free jumped twice as a yearling, that's what made me decide to hold onto him(and not geld him)! It definitely caused him no harm, and now two I free jump him over low jumps once in a while as he is just trotting under saddle and don't want him to be bored. he still jumps the jumps in the grass paddock on his own, so he definitely enjoys it. Before doing all this I had read an article from one of the major vet schools that stated that horses that free jumped as yearlings actually showed better bone density as older horses, i'll try to find that article for you.

[lauriep]

No problem with it at all.

[vandenbrink]

I don't have a problem with it. I wouldn't do it frequently, but an occasional freejump session won't hurt a yearling. I'd make sure to keep it short and very relaxed.

[Jumper Breeder]

Horserider12, if you can find that article I would love to see it. I have read similar reports about bone density studies with pasture kept young horses as opposed to stall bound horses. Mine pretty much live outside :-) I raise jumpers and we try to give them some exposure to the chute as yearlings. It is very low key and supposed to be "fun". My two year old jumper stallion was presented to the KWPN this year and he needed to be at the stage in his training where he was confident and willing through the chute - which he was. It is all about building confidence in the horse, not fence height or repetition.:) Free jumping is a very important part of raising jumpers.

[TBlitz]

Considering that mine jumps over his ball (~2') quite a bit for fun at nearly 19mo, I wouldn't have a problem jumping him once over 2'6". But, I would want to make sure he was comfortable doing small stuff in a chute first. I don't plan on introducing mine to a chute and jumping over poles and tiny little x's until next summer though (when I'm out of school and able to work with him consistantly).

[Hunter_Rider]

At 2'0 I would not have a problem ,but more than that I would... But that is just my opinion!

[Hampton Bay]

I sent my boy over a couple of the plastic barrels (not sure how high they generally are) when he was right about two years old. I had to lead him to them and encourage him over because he didn't know what to do with them, but once he figured it out he would jump them at a gallop on his own free will. But, I did it when he was not actively growing.

I would consider doing it for a serious buyer, after starting with smaller fences. And only if the horse was not actively growing at the time.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Nevada and one of his babies have both jumped 2'+ as a 3-4month old foal on their own. I had someone riding their moms a couple of times a week, and both the babies just decided to jump. Nevada, we were taking photos of him just running around the areana, so we did catch the jump once (he actially jumped a few jumps). His son the photographer was riding the mom, so no photos of him jumping.

I do have a problem with making a foal jump, like by sending the mom down a chute next to them to force them to jump to stay with her. An 18 month old, if they try it and take to it easily, I would send them thru a chute a few days to see their jump, as long as it was not upsetting them, and it was easy to get them to go thru.

[LockeMeadows]

My babies by Silvio are born "looking for the next jump" My filly from last year, jumped a scary 3' roll-top for the fun of it and my 2008 colt jumped into our warm-up ring and back out at 5 days old. The fence was taller than his withers and he did it like he had done it his whole life. Well, I guess he has, since he was less than a week old!

I don't think it would be a huge deal to let a yearling+ trot down a lane and jump something 2' - 2'6". I'm not so hot on setting up a "shoot" with multiple jumps down the line. To me, that sounds more like pounding then evaluating.

[camohn]

crossrails to show willingness, yes
2'6 is a no.
I would do it at 2, not at a yearling.
I have a weanling that has jumped the fence more than once already. Just because she can doesn't mean I encourage it.

[Tasker]

It would depend on the yearling...if we're talking about a clumsy, gawky, can't-get-out-of-my-own-way type, then no. If it is a fairly balanced & clever type, at 17 months, a few trips through a small grid in a controlled environment should be ok.

Key word - should.

On an ancient VHS tape labeled 'SHOWJUMPING' there was a significant chuck of time spent at Paul Schockemoehle's barn and showed his system for loosejumping yearlings. It went through his process of culling who stays for another year with time spent in the small indoor learning to jump...very interesting & very dated at this point.

[STF]

You know, I watch the babies play HARD in the fields. Watching them buck and twist their bodies, do sliding stops, spins (on their own), kick each other to the point it would crack a bone on a human, etc. They buck and jump so hard sometimes, they are actually coming 2+ feet or more off the ground, etc.
So, I really dont think, as long as they are coordinated enough and someone KNOWS how to set up a jump line to make it correct and comforatble for the horse (there are soooo many people who dont know how to set distances, its scary and a few time down a line in the wrong distance will really hurt a horses confidence!!!!), then its ok. But, they also need to see where the horse is not happy and know when to back off and let it be.

[NoDQhere]

I don't think free jumping over small fences, 2'6" or so is going to hurt a yearling. I would have no problem with it. Not a ton of jumping, of course but free jumping is generally something the youngsters enjoy. We were getting ready to free jump our two year olds this summer and they "figured" it out all on their own just being turned loose in the indoor with the chute set up. :yes: They thought it was the greatest horse/people game ever invented :lol:.

[graystonefarm]

I voted maybe. It depends on the yearling and what stage of growth it is at. It also depends on how the yearling is presented to the shute. I would never do it on the first attempt. The yearling would need to be confident and eager to do it.

[tri]

First of all, I would NEVER buy a yearling as a hunter or jumper prospect WITHOUT seeing it free jump.

I test all my young horses either as yearlings or as 2 year olds through the jump chute to evaluate them.

I remember my now 4 year old jumping over a round bale in the pasture while she was running around as a 2 year old. She thought it was fun.

If jumping through a properly done chute with people who know how to work it blows a yearling's mind, it ISN'T a jumper prospect!!! And you better hope that it can do dressage!

[TKR]

I just made a short video of my Corlando yearling in the round pen (where he had never been) and had him hop over some x's -- which went ok. I put it up to a little over 2' with muck buckets and he hestitated and jumped each time. However, he was more concerned about going back to his buddies, so he was pretty distracted and it is all pretty new. However, I've seen him jump logs in the woods in his turn-out beautifully, so I wasn't concerned about the free-jumping. He is butt high right now, so I think he was more awkward in a new setting and in a circle.
PennyG

[ahf]

Unless the yearling is a complete chicken (and that's something you're going to want to know anyway), you can get the last element up to 2'6" with just a few passes through the chute.

I usually put my yearling through a few passes in the chute. As was said before, mine think this is the GREATEST game! I've seen what they do to themselves in the field. The chute is NOTHING comparatively.

I also would not consider buying a yearling or 2yo for any kind of jumping career without it going through the chute.

[Maddie]

I don't see a real problem with it, but personally I wouldn't. At 2 I'd have no issue. If it were a very highly priced youngster and a VERY interested buyer I might consider it, but it's not something I would regularly do with my yearlings.

[AdAblurr02]

Heck, our long yearlings routinely jump four feet in the air for the sheer fun of it, at a full gallop across a slick hilly pasture - a nice safe low crossrail in a chute on good footing would be just one more stride to them.

It's not like advocating jumping five days a week with a rider up.

[Tiki]

I've known of weanlings, and had some of mine, jump over a 4 1/2 foot fence just to show then can, and then turn around and jump back in again. A few years ago I tried to send one of my yearlings through a jump chute with the highest fence and oxer at about 2'6". She kept jumping out over the side, which was at least 4', and looking quite proud of herself. :lol::D;):winkgrin: It should be no big deal - IF you set the distances right and start with an 'X', go to a mid-sized verticle and work up to a little oxer at 2'6".

[horserider12]

mine was started with ground rails, then worked up. if anyone can tell me how to post a link (i'm a computer idiot!) I will put the video up. He certainly enjoyed it and he is now 2 years old, 16.2 hands clean legged and happy as a clam.

[Sundown Farm]

I free jumped my 2 yo up and coming stallion this morning.. This is what I got---

http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee327/SundownFarm/skipogoldenbadger.jpg

[tri]

I"d watch the way you have those rails stacked!!!!!!!!

Also, you really should go from a low x, to a low vertical to an oxer. Young horses should jump oxers as it teaches them how to push up/across/over and you will get a much better impression of talent.

[alliekat]

I voted maybe as it depends on the mental and physical developement of the yearling. I had a month old colt that would jump around the jumps in his feild. I think if t he chute is properly set up and with knowlegable handlers it should be fine. I just wouldn't make it a routine. I agree if I were looking for a jumper prospect I would want to see it done.

[Silver Sport Horses]

Thanks everyone for all your responses!! Quite a range of opinions.

The yearling in question is owned by a friend. She really doesn't have an appropriate footing or place for a jump chute. We both attended a free jumping clinic years a go but could use a refresher course. The only way it could be done would be to haul the yearling to a facility with good footing. We would probably have to do that a few times before we could see what she really could do. She hasn't been hauled or off the property much.

She has hopped over a small cross rail (like 12") and she brought her knees up in nice form and used her neck really well. She cleared it by a foot or two. The photos were sent to the interested party.

I realize horses free jump themselves in the field and for fun. I have had some foals that jumped fences in the arena for fun but its just different when you are asking them to do it.

Would it also depend on how much you were asking for the horse? This WBx yearling has been priced below $4K for a quicker sale because my friend doesn't have the time or place for her.

How many hoops would you jump through at a lower price? Or do you always jump through the hoops for any buyer? Could use up a bunch of time for a possible tire kicker.