Horses are large heavy creatures prone to flight at the slightest hint of danger. Good horse gates reduce the risk of injury to these animals that are renowned for getting themselves into trouble. There are a number of factors that are worth thinking about when planning your enclosures.
Wood has been used for a long time on many farms. The problem with wood is it is a high maintenance material and as it ages it becomes more dangerous. This is because old wood splinters more easily and can cause serious injuries if it is broken in an impact. Metal construction is more common now but these often have large square mesh to enclose the open area. These squares are just the right size for an equine to put its foot through and hook up a shoe.
The mesh used to enclose the open area of gates needs to be small enough that an equine pawing at the gate cannot catch its shoe or hoof on the edge of the opening. Many injuries occur when shoes are caught and ripped off by a panicking horse. The main frame of the structure also needs to have rounded edges so that horses leaning against or over it do not get scraped or scratched.
The material a gate is made from needs to be strong enough to withstand the rough play of horses. If they push hard up against it or fail to stop completely after a run down the paddock you do not want the gate to buckle or collapse. On the same lines it should have some give to absorb the impact reducing the chance of injury.
Gateways are a favorite place for your animals to congregate. It is here that food first appears and it is here that exit to exciting and interesting activities occurs. Where the gateway is placed is important to decrease the risk of harm to the horses residing there. Ideally they are kept away from corners where further restriction occurs from the adjoining fence line. The more restricted your livestock is the more likely it will do something silly that will cause it to be injured. Too small a gate in too large an opening also creates problems.
Latches and catches should be mounted on the outside of the post. Injuries from these are more common than most people would think. Because they are usually metal and protrude away from the post it is easy for a horse to get caught up. Some people like the idea of automatic closers. They work on the slam shut principle. This avoids the risk of a gate being left open accidentally allowing the animals to escape.
Maintaining a property can take a lot of time and involve some cost. It is usually worthwhile to check out what maintenance is required when you are looking to purchase items that will last for a long time. Standard gates will fit in with the design of most properties. But, if you would like a custom design to fit with the aesthetic appeal of your property you can get them at an increased cost.
Most owners are aware that enclosing horses restricts their ability to run from danger. But, it does not prevent them from running into solid objects and hurting themselves. Buying horse gates and installing them on your property rather than using general farm designs can reduce the risk of injury to your horses.
Wood has been used for a long time on many farms. The problem with wood is it is a high maintenance material and as it ages it becomes more dangerous. This is because old wood splinters more easily and can cause serious injuries if it is broken in an impact. Metal construction is more common now but these often have large square mesh to enclose the open area. These squares are just the right size for an equine to put its foot through and hook up a shoe.
The mesh used to enclose the open area of gates needs to be small enough that an equine pawing at the gate cannot catch its shoe or hoof on the edge of the opening. Many injuries occur when shoes are caught and ripped off by a panicking horse. The main frame of the structure also needs to have rounded edges so that horses leaning against or over it do not get scraped or scratched.
The material a gate is made from needs to be strong enough to withstand the rough play of horses. If they push hard up against it or fail to stop completely after a run down the paddock you do not want the gate to buckle or collapse. On the same lines it should have some give to absorb the impact reducing the chance of injury.
Gateways are a favorite place for your animals to congregate. It is here that food first appears and it is here that exit to exciting and interesting activities occurs. Where the gateway is placed is important to decrease the risk of harm to the horses residing there. Ideally they are kept away from corners where further restriction occurs from the adjoining fence line. The more restricted your livestock is the more likely it will do something silly that will cause it to be injured. Too small a gate in too large an opening also creates problems.
Latches and catches should be mounted on the outside of the post. Injuries from these are more common than most people would think. Because they are usually metal and protrude away from the post it is easy for a horse to get caught up. Some people like the idea of automatic closers. They work on the slam shut principle. This avoids the risk of a gate being left open accidentally allowing the animals to escape.
Maintaining a property can take a lot of time and involve some cost. It is usually worthwhile to check out what maintenance is required when you are looking to purchase items that will last for a long time. Standard gates will fit in with the design of most properties. But, if you would like a custom design to fit with the aesthetic appeal of your property you can get them at an increased cost.
Most owners are aware that enclosing horses restricts their ability to run from danger. But, it does not prevent them from running into solid objects and hurting themselves. Buying horse gates and installing them on your property rather than using general farm designs can reduce the risk of injury to your horses.
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