Your gate is the handshake of your property: the first impression that sets the tone for everything beyond. And for those of us who’ve spent our lives working land and raising horses, we understand that not just any gate will do.
Split rail gates have earned their place on ranches and equestrian properties for good reason. They’re not trendy or flashy. They’re honest. They combine strength with a certain dignity that seems to grow more handsome with age, much like the weathered hands that operate them daily.
At Buckley, we don’t just manufacture fences and gates—we build entrances worthy of the land and livestock they protect. Our split rail designs are born from conversations with folks who know what it means when a gate fails during calving season or when you’re trying to load horses in the rain. We’ve taken those decades of feedback from the field and forged them into steel split rail gates that function flawlessly.
Every day. Every season. Every year.
We understand that for serious property owners, a gate isn’t an afterthought. It’s an investment. One that should stand strong through harsh winters, unrelenting summers, and everything Mother Nature throws at it. One that should still be standing tall when you eventually pass your property down to the next generation.
That’s the Buckley promise. Split rail gates and fences built with the same care and attention you show your own property. Because when you’ve put your life into your land, you deserve an entrance that honors that commitment.
What Is a Split Rail Fence Gate?
A split rail gate consists of horizontal rails secured within a sturdy frame, creating a design that’s simultaneously simple and substantial. These aren’t the lightweight decorative gates you’ll find at big box stores. They’re built with purpose, typically standing between 4 and 5 feet tall with 3 to 4 horizontal rails depending on your containment needs.
These gates can be built from traditional cedar or locust for a completely authentic look, or built from our premium steel or aluminum for unmatched longevity.
For horse owners, these gates provide the perfect balance of visibility and security. Your animals can see through them, reducing anxiety, while the substantial construction stands up to the inevitable lean, scratch, or nudge from curious equines. We’ve seen plenty of lesser gates bow and bend under similar treatment within a season or two.
The right split rail gate doesn’t just complete your fence line. It improves it. It transforms a simple opening into a proper entrance, one that signals to visitors they’re arriving somewhere that’s cared for. Something built with intention.
Quality matters here. When you’re bringing in hay during a threatening storm or moving nervous horses between pastures, you don’t have time for sticking gates or failing latches. You need something that operates smoothly year after year, through freezing winters and baking summers alike.
The Best Split Rail Gate Designs
When it comes to split rail gate designs, we don’t believe in compromising strength for style. The following split rail designs combine classic aesthetics with modern materials that outperform traditional wood in every category.
1. Galvanized Steel Split Rail
Our signature Steel Board Gates feature galvanized steel construction finished with architectural-grade powder coating. Unlike wooden split rails that warp and rot over time, these gates maintain their precision and appearance for decades.
Available in textured black or gloss white, they complement any property while providing unmatched durability against the elements. Each gate incorporates our innovative internal bearing system, allowing for smooth, quiet operation that you’ll appreciate every time you pass through.
2. Three-Rail Configuration
The Three-Rail configuration provides the perfect balance of visibility and containment for most horse breeds. Standing at 4’6″, this design allows your horses to see clearly through the gate, reducing anxiety while providing secure containment.
The three horizontal rails are precisely spaced to prevent even determined horses from attempting to reach through or over. This design has become our standard for working equestrian properties where both function and appearance matter equally.
3. Four-Rail Premium Design
For properties with smaller horses, foals, or those requiring maximum security, our Four-Rail Premium design adds an additional horizontal rail. This configuration is particularly valuable for breeding operations or facilities housing multiple types of livestock.
The additional rail prevents smaller animals from ducking under or through, while maintaining the clean, open aesthetic that makes split rail fencing so desirable on equestrian properties.
4. Single and Double Gate Options
Available in 4-foot, 8-foot, and 12-foot sizes, our gates can be installed individually or as doubles to maximize access. This flexibility allows you to create openings suitable for everything from daily horse turnout to occasional equipment access.
Each gate is designed with our unique mounting system that rests on top of a separate steel tubing post set in concrete. This engineering detail eliminates the stress points that cause traditional hinged gates to sag and drag over time.
How to Choose the Right Materials for Your Split Rail Gate
The material you choose for your split rail gate will determine not just how it looks on day one, but how it performs over decades of weather, wear, and daily use. Sure, tradition might point toward wood, but experience has shown us that modern materials offer major advantages for serious property owners who value longevity and reduced maintenance.
Let’s compare your options and look at what matters most when your gate needs to stand up to horses, weather, and time:
| Material | Durability | Maintenance | Appearance | Safety | Lifespan | Cost Over Time |
| Galvanized Steel | Exceptional resistance to impact, warping, and weather | Minimal – occasional cleaning only | Modern interpretation of classic design with clean lines | No splintering, consistent strength | 30+ years | Highest initial investment, lowest long-term cost |
| Wood (Cedar/Pine) | Prone to warping, splitting, and decay | High – annual staining/sealing required | Traditional rustic appearance that weathers over time | Can splinter, weaken with age | 7-10 years with maintenance | Low initial cost, high replacement frequency |
| Vinyl/PVC | Good weather resistance, poor impact resistance | Low – occasional cleaning | Artificial appearance, limited color options | Becomes brittle in extreme cold, can shatter on impact | 15-20 years | Moderate initial cost, eventual replacement needed |
| Aluminum | Good weather resistance, less impact resistant than steel | Low – occasional cleaning | Similar to steel but lighter profile | No splintering, can bend under pressure | 20+ years | High initial cost, moderate long-term value |
Practical Considerations for Horse Owners
Here’s what you need to consider for your gate if you’ve got horses to take care of:
- Safe Spacing Design: The space between rails matters more than most realize. Our gates feature precisely calculated spacing that prevents curious horses from getting hooves or heads caught between rails (a common injury risk with poorly designed gates). For properties with foals or miniature breeds, our four-rail configuration provides additional security without sacrificing visibility.
- Latch Reliability: A gate is only as secure as its latch. Our EZ Latch system operates smoothly with one hand (even with gloves on) and secures automatically when the gate closes. Unlike traditional latches that freeze or stick, ours maintains consistent performance through all seasons and weather conditions.
- Opening Mechanism: The way your gate opens and closes might seem minor until you’re dealing with it multiple times daily. Our unique bearing system allows the gate to rest on top of the post rather than hanging from hinges, eliminating the sagging and dragging that plague traditional gates. The result is smooth, quiet operation that never requires lifting or forcing, even after years of use.
- Width Considerations: Access requirements should drive your gate width decision. Standard 4-foot gates work well for daily horse turnout, but consider 8-foot or double 12-foot options if you need to move equipment or vehicles through occasionally. Proper sizing prevents unnecessary wear on both your gate and surrounding fence posts from tight maneuvering.
- Post Foundation: The strongest gate will fail if mounted to inadequate posts. Our separate steel tubing gate posts are designed to be set in concrete at precise depths based on your soil conditions. This foundation approach provides stability that wood posts simply cannot match, guaranteeing your gate remains level and functional regardless of ground movement from freeze/thaw cycles or moisture changes.
Build Once, Build Right
When you’ve put your heart into your property and your horses, you deserve gates that honor that commitment. Buckley split rail gates aren’t just built differently—they’re engineered to be the last gates you’ll ever need to purchase for your property. Our combination of premium materials, thoughtful design, and horse-focused functionality creates entrances that work through decades of daily use.
When it comes to your property’s entrances, compromise is never the answer.
