That’s not a bad idea!
I could also just do regular slide latches, and drill a hand-sized hole to be able to reach through and operate from the inside, hang a little piece of rubber over it so not too much wind comes through.
I have an MD barn with sliding doors at the front and the back. At the rear of the stall, the sliding door is one solid piece top to bottom, that slides over a pipe partial door.
On the sliding door, the latches consist of a rounded loop on the door, that slips into a slot on a hinged flat plate on the receiving edge of the stall, with a snap on the end of a chain that snaps to the rounded loop. The loop is not large, and only projects a short way into the opening when the door is slid open. The hinged plate can be completely flattened out of the way
Horses can’t open these, and I can reach through the bars if I’m locked in the stall (for instance, if I entered through the back door). The disadvantage is that, if the back door is latched, it can only be opened from inside.
The pipe door has a spring bolt latch – there’s only a very short end sticking out when unlatched. These doors swing open completely flat against the inside of the exterior wall and latch into place there, where the horses have no access to that short end of the bolt. These can be opened from inside or outside the stall.
I’ve had my barn for decades and have yet to have a horse injured on either of these latches, and have never had a horse defeat either of these latches. The only repair needed is that I eventually replaced the snaps on the stall front chains.
1 Like
Not sure if you are building wood or metal doors, but my solid one piece wood horse doors sag and are a pain to open/close. My wood Dutch doors are much lighter and don’t sag in the slightest. All were installed/built at the same time.
1 Like
I canNOT say enough about the Lucas Equine gravity latches. They just work. No latches hanging out into the doorway, no spring to break, they are amazing.
4 Likes
Please edit this out so as not to jinx yourself 
But, seriously, do plan for that one horse that is going to need stall rest for injury or illness and is going to want to be able to see its buddies. Whether that’s a window in a full door or Dutch doors, I personally would plan for the scenario of lone horse in the barn for days or weeks on end. That way, if planned for, it will never happen Murphy’s Law, right? Oh wait, horses. Best to both edit AND build for the possibility 
4 Likes
Ha! If that’s the case, my layout will allow for a medical paddock to be made quickly out of some temp posts, with access to the stall maintained. It’s all planned for, even if we all hope it won’t happen!
1 Like
Have you touched one of these latches in person?
I ask that because I have a friend who has these on all their various doors in their barn, places where the horses interact with at times, etc.
Every time I touch one I twitch a little feeling like they are an injury waiting to happen. Ripped eye lids come to mind.
Clearly this is just me being paranoid because this friend has not have a problem with these latches. I just wanted to make sure you actually touched these before buying lots of them.
1 Like
Yes I have, the barn I’m at has them on all exterior doors.
At this point, I think I’m just going to use double ended snaps to hold the door back - as not-elegant as that is, it’s pretty fool proof and will work.
And my young mare will still try to get a trip to the clinic, bet.
