I asked this question on the Around the Farm Forum and didn’t get much response. I am getting ready to build a barn and will have exterior dutch doors that will connect to a dry lot. What types of latch systems do you use to keep the doors closed and open? Pictures would be awesome!
Most of the ones I’ve had have been typical sliding bolt type closures, but one at the top and bottom.
I have a similar setup. Top and bottom doors have regular sliding stall latches, bottom door has two as I have escape artists. I couldn’t find pics but to keep open I have fairly simple hooks with the little sliding “keeper” thing
The barn that I’m helping out at has large-ish hooks on the outside of the barn. The lower part of the door has a chain with a carabiner that can be hung on the hook (or used to keep the lower door closed if the horse kows how to undo these types of latches).
The upper door has these types, which can also go on the hook, keeping the upper doors open.
A different barn that I had been to had a piece of wood attached to the inside top of the lower door. When the doors were kept open this meant that you only need to secure the lower door as the piece of wood would keep the upper door from swinging open.
Usually just sliding bolt like Sempiternal posted in the first picture-- they’re nice because you can reach over the bottom door to unlatch from inside if necessary (and most horses that can undo them can be foiled by a screweye and snap being screwed in.) Make sure you line all the edges with metal though (unlike that picture) so they don’t get chewed. In a perfect world I would use stall screens and only close the dutch doors in winter, but that is an added expense.
If I ever get to build a barn I will be doing something like Highflyer said.
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Thanks everyone. The sliding latches seems to be what most people have…
I have the sliding latch on my dutch doors: http://www.keystonebarns.com/images/drop-latches-large.jpg
However, as an extra precaution, I have a ring screwed into the wood that the handle drops around, which I clip a snap to (like a double ended snap, but they just hang from a chain so they don’t get lost). You have to undo the snap to get the handle lifted up. Make sense?
Here we go, found a photo of the same idea, though a carabener seems much fussier to open: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4YqYpo-PQYw/Uk2iP1UJKnI/AAAAAAAABY4/ttqQAFAR0-U/s320/slide%2Bbolt%2Band%2Bwing%2Bnut%2Blocks.jpg
There actually a Dutch door latch that allows you to open & close from inside or outside. Its made for Dutch doors., plyco.com I think carries them or can point you.
Do you not have “kick” latches in the USA?
I have had the Dutch door latches. They weren’t bad and I do like being able to open from inside or out, but, at least the ones in the barn I had were abused and didn’t work terribly well (sticky. Some didn’t latch consistently). They require a little maintenance to keep them moving freely.
I’ve kick latches, too. Again, they were abused/neglected (all abuse was before my time). Moral of the story: take care of your things so they work when you need them the most.
What is a kick latch/how do they work? I googled some pictures, but I’m not 100% sure what I’m thinking is how they actually work!
[QUOTE=HealingHeart;7433576]
There actually a Dutch door latch that allows you to open & close from inside or outside. Its made for Dutch doors., plyco.com I think carries them or can point you.[/QUOTE]
My barn builder actually pointed me to the dutch doors from Plyco. Are you pretty happy with these latches? My horses will be able to touch the doors from the inside and outside since the paddock will run right up to the barn.
I highly suggest metal doors. They do not get chewed.
I have full stall doors with my Dutch doors so I can full open the stalls for more air in the summer. It also makes it so they can not unlatch the doors too.
Here are mine. I can try and get better pictures. Sorry they are on their side. Not sure how to fix it on my phone!
[QUOTE=Tuesday’s Child;7433895]
What is a kick latch/how do they work? I googled some pictures, but I’m not 100% sure what I’m thinking is how they actually work![/QUOTE]
The ones we have are just sliding bolts about 10-12 inches off the ground. You can kick them open/ shut. They are in addition to the regular sliding latches, and for most of the horses we just use those. The kick latches we have are 50+ years old though so maybe it’s changed since then.
A kicklatch is a flat metal bar with one edge rolled over that pivots on a bolt. It is placed on the door at the bottom and fits into a u-shaped metal piece and can be opened or closed by putting your toe on it and flipping it in and out of the holder (or it could be on the door jamb now that I think on it). It will keep the door closed even if your horse gets the top latch open
Does a kick latch = a slam latch?
The latches are fine, flat type and no effect on horses leaning on doors from inside. I have large paddocks for each stall connected, similar to your setup I think. I do use a chain & clip to hold the Dutch doors when open and connect to the outside wall using a metal ring that was screwed on to wall. I think dover had something that I used.
The Dutch doors are top of line.
[QUOTE=RedRyderKy;7433902]
My barn builder actually pointed me to the dutch doors from Plyco. Are you pretty happy with these latches? My horses will be able to touch the doors from the inside and outside since the paddock will run right up to the barn.[/QUOTE]
I have the sliding latches pictured by a coupe of posters above. I hate them because they caused 2 serious injuries. One horse bumped the latch as he walked out of his stall, ripping a foot long gash in his stifle area. The other horse backed into the latch while I was holding him, ripping a foot long gash in his buttocks.
Just a comment - some people weld a horseshoe onto the bolt which is the part you lift and slide.
There have been a number of instances where horses will play with the horseshoe part and the horseshoe has slipped over their front lower teeth onto the gums, horse
freaks out and I’ve personally seen two broken jaws. The horseshoe is dangerous and should at least be welded so a horse cannot get his jaw under it.
I cannot even imagine the scenario, but have seen the results with a wired shut jaw - but don’t even know how the horse would be fed - slurping…
