How do you open yours-gates?

newforest

newforest

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Mar 15, 2008
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Just inspired from a thread I have just read.

Do you lead your horses out pushing the gate away outwards from you, or bring in towards you. This is on the assumption your gate can go both ways.

I push the gate away from me, bring her through and as she turns on the forehand I am closing. She then stands with rope draped over while I do up.

Others pull towards. Now either there is a safe way or their isn't. If there is I can't recall it in my bhs stuff-wonder why I did because most didn't stay in my head!

My reason for not pulling towards is because its extremely windy on my yard. She was injured on a gate bolt as a baby and if the gate blows out of my hand it smacks into her. Trust me that undid a lot of trust with me and gates.

So I push out of her way and use my body to shield it from her. Often she waits as I slide back again as I can't push the bloody thing! Its tied in two places including a bolt, as I said its windy here.
 
I always prefer outwards. However, inwards is an awful lot easier if there are a load of horses behind you wanting to come out.

Our gates tend to only open one way which is slightly annoying, but I think outwards - UNLESS you have all their mates clamouring to get out at the same time, is an awful lot easier.
 
ours only go one way :redface: ponies know how far away they need to stand for me to open it safely and know to turn around and wait once they're through. they also know that they are not allowed to go through before I do or next to me - our gates are narrow, humans go first!
 
She is out with 11 and currently if I shake the headcollar to get her attention, the gallop over brings everyone.
However none ever want to come out, only one little chap will sneak out if your not careful, currently boyfriend material.
 
My field gate has two separate retractable electric gate hooks/tape. So I open the bottom one ready, go under to halter both Rosie and Moët, hold both ropes with my left hand, grab the gate hook making them wait, open the gate and we have to walk in a circle Rosie first, Moët following so that we can latch the gate back on as can't let go of the handle as the gate is viscous!

I'm very pleased to have two very sensible horses who know how to behave at my gateway!

If I am riding and its a gate that opens away from me, I lean down to unlatch then tell Moët 'push' and she shoulders the gate open, we then go behind the gate and she pushes it shut for me to relatch.
 
I don't have a preference.

If I am bringing one in and have the others hanging round I prefer an electric tape gate. Its more flexible to help avoid more than one coming through at a time.

I have a double gate system, electric fence with a gate in it then the main field gate.

It gives me a safety net and also stops the main gateway getting churned up.

Just thought. I like the main field gate to open inwards towards the field, thus if other horses are behind it and I am trying to get in I can encourage them away from me with the gate, if that makes sense.

Mine are all generally pretty good to bring in individully during the summer but in the winter they all think I am a bag of food lol
 
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Good point Tina. Should just point out I don't have others in my field with mine so its just a case of pleasing myself for me. It also depends on available turning space for 2 pony, and my bum.
 
It depends on the gat and who is trying to come squirting through with the one I actually want. Sometimes it's easier to open it outwards if there is a risk of a rush as the risk of them charging and slamming the gate on themselves is much less. I have seen some really nasty injuries from the spring pin of the gate ripping their sides open.
 
I have two gates to the field. My horse has been a pest in the past and barged his way out before (little sod :stomp: ) with the gate that opens outwards. However I started teaching him he wouldn't get anything until he had to stay at a certain point about 15 yards in the field and stay there until I approached him and told him the release word. I taught him by clicker training him to a target, I used to do it to the dogs for send aways when I was doing working trials and teaching gun dog work and used the same theory for him. It worked !

When riding I have bashed my knees on so many gates as he is so wide and my legs are wide to that I have a slight fear of doing them :cry: I always get off lead through then get on on the other side when leaving the farm, out hacking I tend to go to popular areas and have very nice dog walkers or people out walking hold them open for me (To which I always give a big Thank You !) if the gate opens towards me as the FC gates around here are on a steep angle that swing back and will hit the horses bum if your not quick enough and we aren't ! If I have to push the gate open away from me then I tend to push it open and we rush through, it's not the best method and because I have caught as I said my knee and he has caught his side on the latch a few times we're both a bit nervy of them.
 
Our urban turn out has high surrounding fence and a padlocked gate which opens outwards. But the animals dont come near the outer gate - There is an inner electric tape which you can either unhook or duck under. That's why I posted that we catch our horses in the field and not at the gate.
Horses were never fed near the gate or given a treat at the gate. Food (hay) was put near a wind break or near the shelter/store hut at the far end of the field.
 
Either way is definitely better!!!

When the horse you are catching actually gets a move on and the gate opens outwards and there is nothing behind you, much easier.

When your horse is being a dolly day dream, and there are others behind him - inwards is far easier. You can stand on the field side of the gate, send him out in front of you and be there to close the gate quickly and easily as you turn around.

Most horses are savvy enough to bend their ribs, and once they have been caught once on a gate they learn easily.
 
My gate only opens inwards. I too have an inner elec fence with a small area that I store their rug bin, head collar box poo scoop etc in.

Both boys stand and wait at the fence, I always put Chanter head collar on first let him in to the safe area then just open the gate where he lets him self out and walks over the grass with his lead rope over his neck. I then collect Ginger walk out the gate leaving it open for the morning and collect Chanter as we walk passed.

In the morning I throw Chanters lead rope over his neck open the gate he walks in through to safe area and waits for Ginger and I, Ginger walks past Chanter to the main field as I remove his head collar and then Chanter walks in after as I am removing his. They both turn and wait for their treats.
 
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