The Rope Gate Obstacle

horse challenge open close rope gate

The Rope Gate obstacle (jump standards).

The rope gate is a very challenging obstacle but once you and your horse master it, it’s very rewarding. There are a number of ways to approach this obstacle.  The most effective and safe ways are those where the horse’s movement/path is not blocked by the rope.  The horse’s movement should not be impeded by the need to either change the hand that the rope is in or, move the rope from one side of the horse to the other. Below are two safe and effective ways to approach this challenge.

Task:

Open the gate with one hand, move horse through the gate opening, close the gate.

Common Mistakes:

Approaching the gate from the wrong side, being too far away from the obstacle, dropping the rope, tipping over a post.

Materials:

Two fence posts or jump standards, one heavy-weight rope.

Skills Required:

Preparation:

  • on the ground – lead your horse through the gate
  • on the ground – back up your horse through the gate
  • let your horse smell the rope
  • rub the horse (incl. legs) with the rope
  • wiggle the rope

Precautions:

  • stay as close as possible to the gate posts
  • don’t lean off of your horse
  • drop the rope if you need to
  • keep your arm stretched out so that the rope cannot get hooked on your tack

Rope Gate Diagram Option 1

The Rope Gate – Option 1

The first option is to approach the gate at the “latch” post, pick up the rope, move forward to the “hinge” post, turn and back through the gate posts, turn toward the latch post. walk forward to and set the rope down on the latch post.

  1. Approach gate at Post A. Stop. “Open” the gate (take the rope into your left hand).
  2. Walk forward until the horse’s shoulders are in line with post B. Stop.
  3. Turn on haunches, 90° to the right (use your left leg to move the shoulders to the right). Stop. Back-through the gate. Stop.
  4. Turn on haunches, 90° to the right. Stop.
  5. Walk forward to post A. Stop.
  6. “Close” the gate (put rope onto post A).

Note: The distance between post A and post B should be a minimum of 8 feet.

The Rope Gate – Option 2

The second way to approach this obstacle is to walk past the hinge post, pick up the rope, back up, turn 90° into the gate opening, walk forward through the gate, turn 90° toward the hinge post, back up to the latch post, and set the rope down.

  1. Approach gate at Post A. Stop. “Open” the gate (take the rope into your left hand).
  2. Back up until the horse’s shoulders are in line with the the half-way point between the two posts. Stop.
  3. Walk forward, through the gate while turning to the left, 180°. Stop.
  4. Align your horse, so that she is parallel to the gate. Stop.
  5. Back up to post A. “Close” the gate (put rope onto post A).

Note: The distance between post A and post B should be a minimum of 8 feet.

Rope Gate Diagram Option 2

More Images of Gate Obstacles

  • horse challenge open close weighted gate
  • horse challenge open close weighted gate