If your horse spooks by a gate I suggest not to take any risks and either have an adult to open the gate or get off your horse, open the gate, and then shut it.

I am a 52yr. old novice. Being on a horse is not the most natural feeling! At this point in my lessons, I will continue to be dismounted when opening gates. I really do like this site. It is quite helpful. Thank you!

My horse is a stubborn madame who insists that the gate will not open as we walk forwards. She refuses to budge. We can only meet the gate head on or at a sharp angle because it is at the end of a "passage". Anyone ay ideas for getting a horse to walk through an "immovable" object. She will walk through if being led, even when I am on the other side of the gate!

One of the older horses that I care for is very helpful when going through gates. He knows just what I want to do and as soon as I get the latch undone, he will open the gate for me with his head!

Andrea! Thats amazing. I own a 27 year old mare and she will open gates for me with her nose.

When my friends and I found this was possible, we slowly tried to train their horses to do this useful habit and it's working great. One horse has completely mastered this little trick. It just shows that if you persevere, whilst still treating your horse kindly, over a period of time you can acheive anything!