Question about self closing horse gate

[Jingleballs]

We’ve just had one of these installed at the forest next to your yard – previously we’d used the gap in the fence next to the main gate but more and more drivers are blocking this leading to riders being blocked in our out of the forest. I contacted the BHS, forestry and local council access officer who worked together to get his put in which we are very grateful for

I’ve never seen or used one before but I expected it to be something you could use without getting off your horse – it has a long vertical handle that I can reach when mounted but when I open the gate it swings back extremely quickly so I end up having to get off to hold it open – not a problem for me on a 14.3 but other local riders I've met are finding it difficult as there is then no where to remount on the other side.

I contacted the forestry and BHS about this and was told the riders should themselves arrange to get it hung and resprung properly – I have no idea how these things are supposed to work and wondered if anyone had any ideas how to fix this (if indeed it’s not supposed to work like this)

Any ideas would be welcome!

 

[BigRed]

get someone to drop a piece of log on either side of the gate, to use as a mounting block. Some of these gates do slam shut quite fast, especially when they are new. If its a bridlepath they have a duty to hang the gate properly, but it's not a big deal to buy a tub of grease and get a spanner and have a play with the spring until you are happy it shuts a bit slower.

 

[Jingleballs]

get someone to drop a piece of log on either side of the gate, to use as a mounting block. Some of these gates do slam shut quite fast, especially when they are new. If its a bridlepath they have a duty to hang the gate properly, but it's not a big deal to buy a tub of grease and get a spanner and have a play with the spring until you are happy it shuts a bit slower.

Thanks! I'll see if there is anything lying around that we could use for mounting block - as I say, it's not an issue for me. I do however tend to still use the old gateway (when it's not blocked) as the gate is also on a very muddy part of the forest and even with me just popping through it a couple of times its very boggy and churned up.

It was being ver strongly hinted at that the riders should resolve the issue themselves - my Y/O has used these gates before - will see if she or her OH can come up with ideas to help slow it down.

 

[BigRed]

I do agree that riders have to help themselves, you can't expect the council or Forestry commission to do everything. In my area, local riders clubbed together to pay for some road planings to improve a local bridlepath which had previously been un-usable in winter.

 

[Jingleballs]

I do agree that riders have to help themselves, you can't expect the council or Forestry commission to do everything. In my area, local riders clubbed together to pay for some road planings to improve a local bridlepath which had previously been un-usable in winter.

I totally agree - but not every other rider will and you do often end up with it being the same people who work to get things improved while the masses get the benefit. I've been fighting alone for years to get some access issues resolved.

We have some tar planings at our yard - I will speak nicely to Y/O to see if we can have some to repair the damage - I did just want to check with the forestry that they wouldn't have an issue with me doing this.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

I contacted the forestry and BHS about this and was told the riders should themselves arrange to get it hung and resprung properly – I have no idea how these things are supposed to work and wondered if anyone had any ideas how to fix this (if indeed it’s not supposed to work like this)

Any ideas would be welcome!

If these are the proper horse gates there should be a long spring going diaganolly across the bottom third. This canbe tightened or loosened to control the speed the gates close. If it is new it will be a bit quick. with more use it will slow down!

 

[Jingleballs]

If these are the proper horse gates there should be a long spring going diaganolly across the bottom third. This canbe tightened or loosened to control the speed the gates close. If it is new it will be a bit quick. with more use it will slow down!

Excellent thanks - that's exactly the sort of help I was looking for!