What’s your most important thing for consideration when choosing a yard?

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Horses needs come first so safe all year turn-out whether group or individual would be a must. Although herd turn-out is theoretically ideal many are over-crowded, unstable and do not have sufficient grass to be satisfactory. Combine that on a DIY yard with a range of bringing in times makes it a catastrophic injury waiting to happen. I currently have good sized allocated paddocks for my two who are in together and I can manage them as I wish which is ideal. I also want a good sized safe stable at my disposal and plenty of storage.

For the riding part I want a flood-lit school usable most weathers and excellent safe hacking. I would not willingly go to a yard without both.

To make it a pleasant owning experience I like decent facilities- good lighting, proper toilet, basic tea-room, good surfaces around stables, decent footing to and from fields. I can survive without but I don’t want to just survive I want to enjoy my horse all year round.

On top of that sane and fair management. On my current yard we are not micromanaged which I really like on the whole. There is no manager on site.

I’m spoilt at my current yard hence been there 11 years and I doubt I could find anything as good elsewhere.

 

[Flame_]

1) Safe, regular, suitable, convenient turnout.
2) People I'll have to deal with there being reasonably sane, trustworthy, responsible and courteous.
3) Hacking
4) Somewhere to park truck.
5) Would love an arena again but manage without.

 

[Cob Life]

Turnout
arena with lights
location
if there is restriction on times you are allowed on the yard as I can work long/odd hours

 

[Ali27]

Turnout - 24/7 from Spring to Autumn and then daytime in Winter!
Sane YO and liveries!
Good hacking
An arena

However so hard to find! Luckily I’ve just bought a field and I have an arena next door to hire so I’m very happy and all boxes ticked 100%? And nobody else there apart from me so absolutely perfect!

 

[007Equestrian]

For me, the essentials are:

Arena with excellent surface, at least 20x60m.
Good hacking (ideally off road)
Good sized stables.
All year turnout.
Nice ‘vibe’ - ideally a small yard with a knowledgeable owner on site.

Nice to haves:
Floodlights
Other liveries who compete (I find we typically have similar mindsets when it comes to how we like to manage our horses)
No competitions or clinics on site - less battling for the arena!
Trailer parking

 

[scats]

Turnout is key for me. At least day turnout in winter.
Decent hacking
A manège.

Im pretty much on my perfect yard. There are niggles sometimes when things don’t get fixed etc, but I suppose nowhere is perfect.
We manage the yard how we like and YO allows us to make the decisions now about who moves on.

In an ideal world, id like the option of assisted livery.