How to Make a Pet Door for Your Horse

Yes, your housebroken horse can live in the house. Simply make her a double-swinging door. She will learn how to push the door open with her nose. That way, when she wants to go out to do her business, she can let herself back in.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Brushes
• Polyurethane Finishes Or Paint
• Measuring Tapes
• 2 Sawhorses
• Belt Sanders
• Bench Planers
• Block Of Wood
• Chisels
• Drill Bits
• Hammers
• Routers
• Safety Glasses
• Screwdriver Sets
• Variable-speed Drills
• 2 spring-loaded, double-swinging, industrial-strength hinges

Preparation

1. Pick out the door and doorway you want your horse to use.
2. Remove the door. Put a small block of wood under the bottom of the door before you start loosening the hinges. The wood will help hold the door up as you remove it.
3. Measure the opening of the doorway.
4. Measure the width of your new double-swinging hinges. Use that measurement to determine how much you'll need to trim off from the width of your door. Remember, adding these super-sized hinges will make your door wider.
5. Notch the door and door frame 6 inches from the bottom and 6 inches from the top so that the double-swinging hinges can seat into them. Use a chisel and hammer to notch.
6. Round off the side of the door opposite the hinge side with a planer, router or belt sander. Because the door needs to swing in both directions, rounding it off will keep the door from binding.
7. Screw the hinges into the door while the door is lying across two sawhorses.

Installing the Door

8. Lift the door into the door frame.
9. Place a small block of wood under the door to hold it up in the door frame.
10. Position the hinges so they rest in the notches you've made in the door frame. Be sure the door frame screw holes line up with the hinge screw holes.
11. Screw the hinges into the door frame.
12. Remove the blocks of wood you put into the hinges.
13. Swing the door back and forth to check for binding and adequate clearance.
14. Trim the edges of the door as needed so that it swings freely.

Tips & Warnings

• For hardwood doors and doorways, consider pre-drilling the screw holes. This helps keep the wood from splitting and saves the integrity on the head of the screw.
• Wedging a block of wood into the hinge will help keep it open while you screw it into the door and door frame.
• Always wear safety glasses. When operating power tools, be sure not to use cords that are frayed or damaged.
• To keep the door from binding during humid, rainy weather, seal it with a good polyurethane or outdoor paint.
• Never let your horse use the horse door without proper training. See "How to Train Your Horse to Use a Pet Door."