What else can i do with my 7 month old filly besides grooming and leading?

Question
I recently bought a 7 month old TB filly, I'd like to school her into the horse I've always wanted. But i find myself going to the stables, leading her around a bit then grooming her, picking up her feet, giving her love and then putting her back in her paddock with her colt friend. The place where I stable at doesn't have a lunge ring, I take her out and put her in a square paddock and work with her there, I don't want to push her to do anything she's not ready to do yet. I want to start teaching her to go into a horse box, but I don't think that would be too much of a problem. She's quite well behaved for her age, she leads well, I can touch her ears, check her teeth and pick up her feet, also, she is my first filly, I have always only had geldings and one colt, is training her going to be super difficult when she ages? Everyone tells me I was stupid to take the filly, was I? In short, did I make a mistake by buying her? I want to do join up with her when she's older.

Answer
Hi Deirdre,
Thank you for writing in with your question.
Working with young hoses can be so much fun. I always enjoy it.
Always remember, you're training your horse ANYTIME you are with them. Leading, grooming, petting, or even the simple act of just standing there and looking at them is all part of training.
You are correct in not pushing your young horse too far too soon. Her legs aren't fully developed yet and her attention span isn't very long. So the training sessions must be brief. But right now you can do short sessions. You can teach her how to enter a trailer, the box and a few other simple task. You can begin teaching her respect from the round. Lack of a round pen isn't a problem. You can take some rope or any other kind of barrier and close off the corners of the square paddock to make it sort of like a round pen. You can also start rubbing her all over her body. You can teach her to back on a lead line. There are so many things you could be doing with her at this time. Just remember to keep the sessions short and reward the slightest try. Always end on a positive note. The last thing you leave your horse is the first thing it remembers when you approach it again. If you get to a point where you or your horse are frustrated, back up to the last thing she did well and do that. End on that exercise for the day.
Are you planning on racing her, jumping, or just a pleasure horse?
The training of your horse started the day it was born. Synthesizing and desynthesizing of her. Learning to lead and give to the halter, Learning to send off in different directions. Learning to respect your space and not get on top of you. So no, it is not too young to start it's training. If you work with her now, the advanced training later such as learning to accept a saddle will be much easier. As far as joining up with her, you have already started.
Was it "stupid" to take a filly? NO. Why would they say that? I have trained and owned many fillies and mares. If they are referring to racing, some of the best race horses have been fillies. I don't think you made a mistake in buying her. Stick to your guns. She's your horse, not theirs. Let them buy what they want and you get what you want.
Have fun with your filly and ignore what the others are saying.  Be safe and bond with her. If you have any more questions or wish to discuss further, you can contact me through my email:
blpdoc82652@yahoo.com
You can also read more about me on my website:
www.yazooequinetraining.com