Further to Rosies gate post, can anyone solve this one!

M

MyBoyChe

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I absolutely always close gates, come from a family of farmers and realise the importance. However, there is 1 gate on a local bridleway that I just cannot manage, either mounted or leading. Imagine this scenario and see if any of you can offer a safe plan of attack. The gate in question opens towards you and is on strong self closing hinge. Immediately through the gate is a small wooden bridge over a deep ditch, no rails on bridge and about four horse steps. The only way to get through it is to tie it back with a bit of twine or else it closes up on your horses heels. Once through and over the bridge you cannot reach to close it without walking your horse back across the bridge, it is only wide enough for 1 horse. You would then have to back your horse off the bridge as not wide enough to turn around and as no sides to bridge you run the risk of stepping off into the ditch (a drop of several feet) The bridge is overhung by brambles so quite tricky anyway. The gate is between two arable fields with no livestock for several fields, which I know is not the point. I have been speaking to the local council for over 12 months now in a bid to get this made safer but so far, no joy, although they do accept it is not ideal. If you come from the opposite direction it is tricky but manageable. Sorry that turned into a bit of an essay, it is difficult to explain without seeing it I know, but does anyone have any thoughts on how to ride this safely.
 
Ooo er - with great difficulty I imagine!

Is there anyway you could use a long bit of twine to hold it open so that it is not tied, but attached to the gate then looped around the gatepost with you holding the long end, so that when you're over in one piece you let go and the gate swings shut?
 
Jump over it!
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I really have nothing useful to suggest, sorry.
 
i used to encounter gates like this on the bridleways in Staffs. it was slightly safer to do bridge first rather than gate first, so i always did it that way round, but my good quiet manoevrable mare got her reins hooked over the gate-handle once and panicked, fought it for about a minute on the narrow bridge (with me being thrown about like a rag doll on top) until stopping and letting me release her. horrible.
i'd try: bridge first, open gate as far as possible, push on through and give it another shove as i went through. VERY dangerous though and tbh if it's between arable fields, why does it have to be there?!
i'd have a word with the landowner definitely.
i'd be tempted to sabotage the self-closing hinge personally, i'd take the weights off or release it.
 
I love a challenge
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OK - have I understood right?
You have this:
Gatepic1.jpg


You could try this
Gatepic2.jpg


Once you let go of the string, the gate swings shut. You would only have to fiddle about setting it up once, then you could leave it there for next time.

OK, maybe not entirely practical... but it has amused me for a little while anyway
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I was thinking about this when reading the gate, post , we have a bridleway that crosses a stream,you have to open a gate onto a narrow wood bridge, cross the bridge and go through another gate. The only safe way to do this is to get of, open the first gate lead horse over the bridge and through the second gate, tie up horse and walk back to close both gates.
 
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You're right.



I think he needs a rug on, he looks chilly. Do you think he will be suitable to breed from?
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Yep - definitely the ideal type! Especially if it bucks, rears and is generally unrideable!
 
he needs 6 rugs on an def suitable to breed from, am surprised he has no foals on the ground atm though that might have something to do with the lak of essential equipment
 
Nothing useful to add about your problem, but boy, the pics are fantastic and made me giggle uncontrollably!!!

Can we see the mare he will be put to??!!!!!
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HoppingRobin, that is so impressive I think I might try it!! The only issue i might have is losing the string in the brambly hedge, it is so thick I might not be able to get through it, but your drawing is so impressive and do you know, it just might work!!! I shall let you know. Who suggested "jump it" who do you think I am, blumin Mary King! Not. Kerilli, Che also got a rein hooked over the gate handle when stood on the bridge, thank god he is quite a sensible boy but it gave me a bit of a scare, was terrified he was going to panic and step back off the bridge. The only successful tactic I have found so far is to leave it tied open, take a circular route and close it on the way back, not ideal and I dont always want to come back the same way but as you can see from HRs fantastic and very accurate diagram it is quite a tight spot.
 
Could you carry a long lead rope with you (rolled up and clipped to D ring while riding) so your horse can stand on the other side of the bridge whilst you shut the gate?
 
I use a bridleway whereby you have to travel over a narrow bridge (horse width). One end of the bridge opens into a slightly wider path and the other side there is a small fenced off area (enough for 1 large horse and possible pony - rectangle shape) just after the bridge where you can safely open a self closing gate which opens/closes both ways. This system really works and could be done both sides. Suggest you contact your local bridleways group to see if they can address this problem and/or with Rights of Way Dept (local Council) and don't forget the landowners who's land this belongs to.
 
Further to Hopping Robins' excellent suggestion and drawing!

Try tying a rock/brick to the end of the rope and chucking that over the brambles - and hopefully, if your aim is true, the rope will be at the other side, waiting for you!

Ridiculous situation though!

Do you have local RC who could act on your behalf? At ours, we have a dedicated bridleways lady who is in constant contact with the local Council and County Council reporting problems, although I know she has had issues with a similar gate that slams shut and squashes the horse - so even our brilliant Bridleways lady can't always sort it first time!
 
You say this gate has strong self closing springs, so when it swings shut does it latch itself or do you have to turn around and put a hasp through a staple?

If its self latching, as I can only imagine it is, going by HH's drawing and baler twine invention
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, why do you have to turn back over the bridge to close it?

Is it because you can't hold the gate open long enough to get your horse through? If so, have you tried hacking with a hunting crop? You can use the handle to keep the gate pushed open whilst you pass. I have to admit I never leave the yard without mine - its invaluable!!
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We have a gate with a similar set up, only difference is the gate is not self closing, and no bridge, but a narrow 'chute' next to a cattle grid. You have to ride through the gate, through the chute then turn around and ride back in to close the gate, and rein back out.

As its self closing, can you not just hold it open whilst going through? Thats what I've always done, even if it means leaning quite a bit to keep it open enough for you to pass through.
 
Because you are asking the horse to step on to a narrow wooden bridge there is usually a little bit of hesitation when they hear the noise their hooves make and are not sure they trust the surface, therefore you cannot keep the gate open for long enough to ensure you are safely onto the bridge. Also the last thing you want to do is rush and risk the horse slipping off of the bridge in panic as the gate slams up behind you so you really need to prop it open. The biggest difficulty is the narrow width on the bridge which means you cannot get back to it to close it up behind you. I have thought about tying him up on the far side but there is nothing substantial enough to hitch him to, just the hedge, no solid rails. I am seriously considering HoppingRobins plan, it is just bordering on the insane but could just work.
 
we have this on the farm.

i open the gate, ride across the bridge, dismount, turn around and lead the horse back across the bridge, do gate up and reverse horse back to land.

bit of a pain in the bum but we have sheep in the field.
 
That sounds like the same scenario to me. If there was livestock around I would have to do the same, it's just so scary thinking what would happen if they step back off the bridge!! It is quite a deep ditch and the damage they could do doesn't bear thinking about does it?
 
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