The Importance of Horse Gates and Doors in Your Barn
Horses are intelligent, strong willed creatures, so it's important to have the right gear and equipment in place to keep them safe and secure. This includes barriers such as horse gates, both for their stalls and for the aisle of the barn. When it comes to choosing the right gate, you want to be sure that it is safe and will allow you to effectively transport the horse in and out of the stall, aisle or paddock. It must be safe enough for horses that they can mill around the gate without being able to open it or jump over it. The positioning, size, and material of the gate are just a few of the factors to take into consideration to ensure that you make the right choice for your horse and barn.
You can begin by thinking about where to put these various horse gates. If you are looking at gates for a stall or barn, they will be placed in the front of the stalls or across the aisle. On larger farms where horses need to run from one paddock to another, a Dutch gate might be an option to consider. The positioning of the gates is crucial. You could put the gates in the corner of the stall, in doing so; entry into the stall is far easier during feeding and horse inspection times. If you put the gate right in the center of the stall, it can be harder to guide or deter the horse while entering the stall. It's also important to think about the size of the gate which typically 4’ to 5’ in height and the same in width, obviously smaller versions are available on the market for miniature horses.
In terms of features of horse gates, you might see those that have grilled sections or mesh in the middle, those with lumber, and those that are completely unadorned. Specialty gates can be ordered with logos or horse silhouettes if you are looking for something very special for your barn. Before you purchase a gate, you should carefully consider using a hinged gate over a sliding style door. Be sure that you are comfortable latching the gate and or rolling the stall door. If your gates are made out of mesh, safety could be a concern, always beware that a horse could kick through a mesh gate or sliding door.
Other safety features include the gaps in between the stall gates, fronts or fencing. And industry standard is 3” between bar spacing, however 2” and 1” spacing options are available. Always choose heavy duty 1/8” aluminum when purchasing stall gates or fronts and choose a gate height and width that is sufficient for the size horse that will inhabit the stall. These are just a few of the main safety and practicality issues to think about when you are comparing the various horse gate options on the market today.
If you wish to find the best fit for your farm, check out more stall gate options.
Article brought to you by: Armour Companies