Walkers leaving gates open - very annoying!

[seoirse]

Annoyingly we have a footpath running through our paddocks, so each fence line it crosses has to be gated to accommodate it. At the weekend some walkers left the blimming gates open and 3 of our geldings got out and went on a trip around the farm, stirring everyone up and generally being mental. They were eventually caught and returned to their field but thought life was boring in the paddock so spend the whole of the next day fiddling with the same gate they’d got out through, eventually removing it from its hinges. It then found its way onto one of these mischievous creatures legs and he proceeded to wear it around as a bracelet. Fortunately he is a sane old boy in times of crisis so he didn’t flap or hurt himself and simply waited for someone to save him. He barely had a scratch on him luckily as it could have been very different. Gate is now back on the fence and we are going to have to put these 3 in another field away from the temptation. Very very annoying! Why oh why would anyone leave a gate open when they found it closed and there are horses in the field? It could have caused a major accident which doesn’t bear imagining.

 

[OWLIE185]

We had exactly the same problem but solved it by having kissing type gates fitted that will not allow the horses to get out - whatever position the gate is in.
If you need gates that the horses can get through then fit additional gates next to the kissing gates which have their hinges reversed so that they can not be lifted off the hinges and padlock them shut.
http://www.centrewire.com/woodstock.htm

 

[Spudlet]

How annoying! Gives walkers a bad name

Not sure where you are, but some local authorities it seems will supply stile kits - not sure if that would be an option for your set-up?
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage...ling/prow/formsandguidance/gatesandstiles.htm

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

i have a footpath thru my fields too - its a gate, with a chain round it.
The amounts of times the gate is shut - but they seem incapable or re chaining it again.
Bloody leave it as you find it!

Annoying as hell!

 

[Luci07]

and even more annoying (and overlooking the fact that the horse could well hurt themselves) you as the owner are legally liable for any damage the horse does.

Although, having painfully sat through reviewing my NFU insurance, my insurance for 3rd party liability does not include damage the horses may do to either a: fences or b: crops!