I have volunteered at a therapeutic riding stable. They certainly had rules and procedures that were different for me and often made things a little more difficult. But we were reminded that the horses were handled by many different people and safety and consistency was extremely important. Volunteers may have messed up, but tried to follow the rules.
I think a clip back system for the open doors is a great idea.
Give them a rule to remember: When you lead a horse through a gate, open twice what you need and then some. It’s in my head every single time.
Full screens are kind of pricey but they would be a good solution, especially if the doors need repair work anyway. Easy to hang, all you need is a couple of screw eyes, safe for any horse, and they swing open instead of slide.
We have used them without incident for Thoroughbred mares and foals, yearling colts, and horses on stall rest.
One example from a top-drawer Kentucky supplier. You can probably find less expensive ones:
There were a couple of those at my lesson barn. Unless they are perfectly balanced or have a hold back mechanism they are equally problematic.
I am wondering if some of the volunteers in this case may be people with learning/memory challenges, since it is a therapeutic riding center. For this community, dire warnings and monetary threats may not be effective/appropriate. I love the idea of the visual cue, “Open the door past the white paint,” and also the idea of mantra to be repeated often enough so that it becomes fun. Something like what ZP suggested, but if the volunteers respond better to rhymes, something like, “All the way, makes my day” or “Open the door, more, more, more.”
If it was my barn, I would print out a pages with something like “Stall door must be opened till flush with the wall.” Make the type large enough to fill an 8.5 x 11 paper, then slide them into clear page protectors. Fasten them right below the stall latch with thumbtacks.
If you need more motivation you could also add smaller type at the bottom saying that any injuries resulting from disregarding these instructions will be the responsibility of the volunteer.
This is a serious risk and obviously you need to take whatever steps are necessary to stop the behavior.
I spent over 20 years at a large barn, around 50 horses including school horses and boarders. It has large traditional and therpaeutic lesson programs. What got me back into horses was volunteering. Things exploded over the years and I did everything from all of the chores to sending out the newsletter to helping the BO select and construct her new 120x200 indoor with attached barn. My initials are in the footings, and I installed a lot of hardware including stall latches and rings for crossties. I was the oldest horse owner and oldest rider (coming 75 next month) with the longest tenure. I was highly visible but kept a low profile.
One day when I was still rookie volunteer, a 14-year-old with her own horse and a 5-year friendship with the BO, told me I had just done something dangerous. It was a valuable moment of learning and I did not fault her for saying something to a 51-year-old beginner. She knew what she was talking about. It was my obligation to pay attention to her.
I’ve ignored a lot of questionable behavior until a horse or a human is at risk because a horse was confused or frightened, or was being mistreated. I would ask the person, most often a kid, if I could share some tips I learned over the years. One of the nicest notes I received when I put my horse down came from a college student I had helped when she was 15. She thanked me for helping her train her new young mustang mare to stand quietly and straight in the crossties. They are a beautiful pair.
I can’t ignore situations like partially open stall doors with the latch sticking out. One of the school horses suffered a significant torn laceration about 15" long on her left belly. A BO or staff member can’t be everywhere. They should have a few individuals who will diplomatically admonish someone who is doing something potentially harmful to horses or humans; then turn it into a learning experience. If the recipient complains, the BO can take care of it.
“Jane, remember to always open the door all the way and push the latch back. Maybe pause a moment and check. The doors are only 48” wide. Horses are really good at injuring themselves on almost anything. We had a school horse who suffered a huge torn laceration on her belly rushing out of the stall. She was out of action for quite a while but it healed up."
I have a VERY old barn with heavy sticky wooden doors and latches that permanently stick out. I bought myself a grease gun and greased the wheels at the top of the doors. BAM!! They slide so easily now! Just thinking if the sticky doors sliding more easily might help
Try replacing the latches with safer ones. Gravity latches are one solution.
I replaced my stall latches with a pin lock type when I rebuilt my stable, for this very problem – not that I have volunteers, but that it only takes one careless moment or one unexpected panic with those hip-stabber latches, and it always worried me.
Training the volunteers is important. This is how we open the door, put the halter on and ask the horse to back up prior to being led out of the stall. I think asking the horse to back before going out is important for safety reasons including giving the handler time to ensure the door is fully open.
I understand that volunteers are really important, but I am inclined to agree with other commenters that if a volunteer can’t handle this basic task, they may not be a good fit for the role. Could you find a more low-risk job for them?
I also think it would be helpful to show the photo of an injury so they fully understand the risk. Good luck!
Amen 
Having hosted a couple Horsey Raves in my own barn when “someone” Me! It’s Me!! 
left a stall unlatched.
I boarded one place with the pin locks & might invest in a couple.
They were easy to use 1-handed & might stop me having to retrace my steps to the barn to make sure I’d latched stalls 
My barn used to have the pin lock type. I really, really like them with one exception: if you have just half doors, your horse may learn how to unlatch her door. Ask me how I know. 
This doesn’t mean don’t use them, but something to keep in mind.
I replaced my doors to hanging doors so use the kind embedded in the door, which are great, but not an option for sliding doors.
2DogsFarm, although I am happy with my pin locks, I still check every time I leave the barn for unlatched doors. You can still leave them unlatched!
Pico_Banana, that’s a good point. My stalls have half doors but they have yokes in the upper half so unlatching isn’t possible.
I’m a meanie but it’s pretty simple, do it right or don’t volunteer anymore.
Yes yes yes I KNOW programs like this rely heavily on volunteers. But they also rely on uninjured horses and lack of vet bills more. Explain to the offending parties that they either do it right as it’s a serious safety issue, or they are out.
This has always been a pet peeve of mine. I can’t tell you how many horses I’ve seen with scars on their hip bones. Once when I was working at a race barn, the handler for a very nice standardbred led her through a door that wasn’t opened wide enough and she nailed her hip. He took no notice but you can tell she was hurting.
Maybe too simplistic but spray the heck out of the rollers with Slick 50. That should make it a lot easier to at least slide the doors back further and, hopefully, out of the way.
My OTSB always panicked going through openings when I first got her. I used to wonder if it was something to do with her track life.
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