Gatecatch.com is a designer and manufacturer of speciality gate furniture, notably the Equine catch, earlier versions of which were called 'Kitch Catch'.

Phil Evans and his wife Caroline took an interest in the simple gate catch when both had persistent but different problems in using standard gate catches.

Caroline has been working with horses for over 25 years. Lecturing on the first horse management courses at Witney College in Oxfordshire, she has had her own livery and competition yard since 1995. She teaches dressage riding to a high standard and competes horses in her own right.

Dealing for many years with the problems of having to reverse fresh horses, or mares and foals whilst having to pull gates open towards her, she asked her engineer husband, Phil, to find a solution.

After completing the initial design Phil had a major mis-hap as he scaled a ladder on a straw stack . He slipped and fell. The two broken legs and one broken arm took a long time to heal so as Phil was convalescing from his job as lecturer in engineering, he was reduced to metaphorically leaping to the challenge of ensuring the catch worked for his wheelchair too.

Over the next 5 years, Phil nurtured Equi-catch from the drawing board to the gatepost. Since then, this two way, simple to operate gate catch has transformed the lives of many.

Swindon Borough Council heard about the catch and persuaded Phil to go into production for disabled access to the countryside. The catches are fitted on parks and gardens all over the UK including those operated by The National Trust. Similarly, they are fitted as standard by major arena builders worldwide.

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