Livery yards - what swings it for you?

Maximum turnout - I don't think I would stay at a yard that allowed less than 12 hours in summer and less than 6 hours per day in Winter. Granted all yards will have the odd cluster of days with no turn out due to weather.

Safe fencing.

Also - the people are a must, I need encouraging people who inspire me and encourage me to hack out and push my boundaries.

Distance to the yard. In an ideal world I don't want to drive more than 10 minutes to get to the yard.
 
big no no's are very limited turn out in winter - i like mine out as much as possble and couldnt keep them somewhere where t/o was very limited - i did when i was a wp and probably wouldnt do it again! another one would be fields that are too far away with no running water - there is nothing i hate more on this earth than lugging buckets of water to the field!! we have hoses to all the fields - it is bliss - although i do someties forget to turn it off and then flood the gateway :o

as much as i say ooh i dont need an arena - unless the yard was 100% perfect in everyother way, i probably wouldnt even look at itwith out some sort of arena! and lovely liveries! or no liveries would be perfect but beggars can be choosers!

currently on the most perfect yard ever! except its half an hour away - almost an hour if i leave at the wrong time :(
 
i would love my perfect yard to be 10mins away - far enough away that i dont feel bad for driving - close enough to walk if absolutly necessary and close enough that i can 'pop' home if need be - im forever forgetting stuff!!
 
An indoor arena is a must for me. Riding in the evening after work means that it's dark and mostly wet for a large part of the year so I want a lit indoor arena. I've learned over several years not to get involved with other people in the yard, including the YO so I keep to myself and stay out of yard politics. No indoor arena is a deal breaker and I get over limited turn out if I have an indoor.
 
Turn out is the biggie for us. Winter daily t/o and summer 24/7 obviously weather dependent. Arion has mild bone spavin so turnout is important for him as he gets stiff in his stable if hes in for too long.

Not too many liveries, we currently have 6 horses on the yard with room for 2 more. Our last yard was 70+ horses.

A school is important too, not an indoor necessarily but definitely an outdoor and access to hacking is an absolute must.

On site YO is a must too.
 
All year turn out and few liveries. I like to do my own thing and have learn't to keep out of yard politics. We have an indoor school but I dont like riding in it. There are stables around it and can get quite busy. I much prefer an outdoor school so thats a must too!:)
 
Without wanting to sound at all fluffy, the thing that swings it for me is actually the atmosphere . . . many yards around here have decent stabling, grazing, a school, etc., but what I really love about my current yard is that it is largely a supportive, lovely, friendly place to be. Oh, that and no roadwork/hacking directly onto fields and Forestry Commission land :).

P
 
I have a few 'musts':

-Security- preferably someone living on site.
-Indoor school.
-Off road or very quiet road hacking.
-Plenty of available turnout.
-Safety, ie. safe fencing, arena's etc.
-Atmosphere- no good being somewhere lovely if everyone else is horrible!
 
Ample mixed grazing in large fields [24/7 365 days if poss]. Good hay, being treated like an adult, superb hacking, and an indoor school just up the road. In short exactly where I am, and I ain't moving any time soon.
 
A YO I can trust as there are days where I can't get to the yard because of my health/weather, having been badly let down in the past I am now very wary!
 
A floodlit school, as I can't get up until late and daily turnout in all but the most awful weather as mine stresses if kept in.
 
Turnout and people, my yard is a bit run down and there are nicer ones around but we have massive fields where they go out as herds which my girl loves, and everyone gets on great. There are at least 10 people there that I would trust implicitly to look after my horse whatever happened.....I don't think any amount of facilities can ever make up for that x
 
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