Gate Catches

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Merlod

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We have metal gates with the sprung handles built in. These close into latches on the gate post.
My horse has caught his side, and shredded his rug on the way into the field as he had a spook :(

I am looking to put something safer in situ, any idea of gate fittings that have NO protruding parts?
 
Merlod said:
We have metal gates with the sprung handles built in. These close into latches on the gate post.
My horse has caught his side, and shredded his rug on the way into the field as he had a spook :(

I am looking to put something safer in situ, any idea of gate fittings that have NO protruding parts?
Click to expand...
lead rope round the gate which can loop over the post
 
I hate those type of latches. We have a quite few as they are good for cattle (they can't open them!). I'm gradually changing them all for D latches, as although they stick out they don't impale you as they are nice and rounded.

For me the absolute best latch for 'hacking gates' is just a chain and a hook to catch the chain link on, would also work nicely for field gates.
 
All mine have chains and clips on, with old lead lines to loop over the post too, I would like to put metal loops on but they freeze to the rails in the winter and you need a flipping blowtorch to get them open again.

I hate any catches on gates, inevitably someone, horse, or human, is going to get caught on them - pensively rubs gate induced scar on thigh :(
 
A particular bugbear of mine. I had a yearling get the corner of her mouth caught on a hook (NOT the one in the illustration). It has healed OK and should not interfere with the bit, but is still annoying. I now use these (see picture) which are pretty safe, but I cut off the screw portion and weld on a bolt which goes through the gate and is secured with a washer and nut on the other end. I wouldn't trust those silly screws as they will pull out.

m9XfcgP_blm33artMjDe8mA.jpg
 
A yard we use has one of these on the gate to the arena, the most you can catch on it is your fingers if you're being very uncareful and not looking what you're doing with your fingers ie not lifting the catch from the top / leaving a finger in the way when opening the gate, so it's difficult to injure anyone, and it's pretty flat to the post so doesn't tend to get clobbered, there's nothing on the gate at all.
http://www.gatecatch.com/
 
We use the ones likes Dry Rot has, or on the non road adjoining fields, a chain and nail. Don't know why but they never come undone, even though they don't look very stock proof. One type I would never touch are the ones which come down on top of the gate, usually when you have a pair of gates, as they are just asking to lose a finger.
 
Can you not drill a hole into your post? Our main gate into fields has a sprung handle and it just slots nicely into a deep hole drilled into the post. It's a big post and the gate closes right next to it so it keeps it securely closed (bit more difficult to drill a hole if your gate is to right next to the post. We can never use ropes etc looped over the posts as have one that like to try to let himself out!
 
Makemineacob said:
Can you not drill a hole into your post? Our main gate into fields has a sprung handle and it just slots nicely into a deep hole drilled into the post. It's a big post and the gate closes right next to it so it keeps it securely closed (bit more difficult to drill a hole if your gate is to right next to the post. We can never use ropes etc looped over the posts as have one that like to try to let himself out!
Click to expand...
All my gates have this closure. I have never had any problems with them touch wood.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! My gates overlap the post a little, which is why we can't have holes in the posts. But we are getting rid of the horrible latches and my dad has welded some lovely round D shapes for the sprung bolts to go in. We will also be taking the springs out as one of the gates opens inwards so that there will be no protruding bolt and as he is an engineer he will come up with some clever way to make the unsprung bolts secure :)
 
I hate those sprung bolts, we have them on the main gate and the field gates. I once managed to get my stirrup iron caught on the bolt while opening the gate mounted. It could have been a terrible accident but luckily my mare is a total saint and didn't panic so we walked away with a broken stirrup leather and a few scrapes and bruises. If it were up to me I would just have chains.
 
Merlod said:
Thanks for all the suggestions! My gates overlap the post a little, which is why we can't have holes in the posts. But we are getting rid of the horrible latches and my dad has welded some lovely round D shapes for the sprung bolts to go in. We will also be taking the springs out as one of the gates opens inwards so that there will be no protruding bolt and as he is an engineer he will come up with some clever way to make the unsprung bolts secure :)
Click to expand...

Just arrange for the tube the bolt travels in to be angled, then the weight of the bolt will hold it in place. But you've still got the end of the bolt protruding past the gate to snag something.

A simple chain with a hook with spring loaded catch is safe and works but it does need two hands.
 
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