Out of misfortune can come the potential to make a fortune — at least that is what Phil Evans is hoping, thanks to his new invention. Faringdon-based Mr Evans found himself in a wheelchair after breaking two legs and an arm while climbing a ladder on a straw stack.

But while he was recuperating, it gave him the luxury of having the time to think about solving a problem which had vexed him and his wife Caroline for ages.

They wanted a simple solution to opening a gate while mounted on a horse. As a lecturer in engineering, Mr Evans had already come up with an initial design for the Equine Catch, and being in a wheelchair gave him the opportunity of perfecting the idea.

He said: “Nothing on the market did the job properly — hence the need to take a fresh look at the problem.”

Mrs Evans was also keen to find a solution, having worked with horses for more than 25 years.

Lecturing on the first horse management courses at Witney College, she has run her own livery and competition yard since 1995, and teaches dressage to a high standard while competing horses in her own right.

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

Struggling to open a gate that has an awkward catch is hard enough for most people, however, for horse riders the challenge can not only be stressful, but also often physically demanding.

Imagine a rider being able to open the gate, and not having to back-up the horse, and then being able to ride away without having to go through the whole exercise again.

And, as Mr Evans discovered, being a wheelchair-user, it is difficult to put pressure on a normal spring gate catch, and then have to back-up to open it — a very awkward situation, especially in the countryside.

Then consider the challenge faced by disabled horse riders.

Mr Evans said: “The issue comes down to how to always have a gate that opens away from you quickly and easily”.

The Equine Catch aims to solve this difficulty through using a simple, effective mechanism.

“The gate always moves away from you and, once more, when you’re through it, you just fling it back for the catch to grab it.

“There is no need to back-up,” said Mr Evans.

Other users who can benefit from the invention are ramblers, those involved with field sports and, of course, farmers who open and close gates constantly.

Mr Evans explained: “Basically, it can be used by anyone — we have had a fantastic response from everyone, from horse arena builders to local councils, and even the National Trust.

“You can see how easy it is to move through a gate fitted with an Equine Catch on horseback without having to dismount. It’s just as easy if you’re in a wheelchair”.

Swindon Borough Council heard about the catch and persuaded him to go into production, to allow those with disabilities better access to the countryside. And the response from customers has been encouraging, according to Mr Evans.

“People seem to really like it. One customer even wrote to me saying how she was so delighted with the Equine Catch that she has fitted it to every gate at her farm and riding school.”

Now Mr Evans is keen to develop his business across the UK and, of course, is confident its universal appeal will help it transfer to international markets.

That is already starting to happen through his website and Mr Evans is confident the product’s potential is huge.

n Contact: 08452 607 706.

Web: www.gatecatch.com