Viewing a livery yard is easy. Choosing the right one is harder because the real differences show up in winter routines, how extras are handled, and whether communication stays organised.

Use this checklist on the day. Tick boxes, write short notes, and compare yards fairly afterwards.

How to use this

• Print it or keep it open on your phone.
• Ask the questions in order.
• If an answer is vague, follow up with: “How does that work here in a normal winter week?”

Care and Routine Questions

Daily routine

• [ ] What’s the weekday routine (feeds, turnout/bring-in, checks)?
• [ ] What changes at weekends?
• [ ] What changes in winter?

What’s included vs what’s the owner's responsibility

• [ ] Exactly what does the yard do daily, and what does the owner do?
• [ ] If the owner can’t make it, what support is available and what does it cost?

Monitoring and emergencies

• [ ] What does an “eyes-on check” include, and who does it?
• [ ] If something looks wrong, what happens first, and how quickly are owners contacted?
• [ ] If the owner can’t be reached, who can call the vet?
• [ ] Where is the emergency plan (injury/colic/fire) written or displayed?

Vet/farrier logistics

• [ ] Can the yard hold horses for vet/farrier/dentist? Included or extra?
• [ ] Is there a safe working area for professionals year-round?
• [ ] Are owners allowed to use their own farrier/instructor, or are there restrictions?

New arrivals and disease prevention

• [ ] What’s the process for new horses arriving (any isolation/monitoring)?
• [ ] Do you require up-to-date vaccinations?
• [ ] Is there a yard approach to parasite control (worm counts/worming plan), or owner-by-owner?

Turnout and Grazing Questions

Winter turnout reality

• [ ] In winter, what turnout is realistically provided (how often and roughly how long)?
• [ ] If fields are waterlogged or closed, what’s the alternative plan?

Grouping and suitability

• [ ] Do you offer individual turnout, small groups, or only large herds?
• [ ] How are groups decided and managed?
• [ ] What happens if horses don’t settle together?

Grazing management (especially important in the UK)

• [ ] How is grazing managed in spring/summer (rotation, resting fields, strip options)?
• [ ] For good doers: can you support restricted grazing or muzzle routines?

Field safety basics

• [ ] How often are fences and water checked?
• [ ] Is there shelter, and how do horses cope in bad weather here?

Facilities and Access Questions

Stables and practical day-to-day

• [ ] Are stables well ventilated and in good repair?
• [ ] Where do horses tie up/groom in bad weather?
• [ ] Is there a wash area and safe lighting for evenings?

Arena and riding access

• [ ] Is there an arena? Indoor/outdoor? Floodlights?
• [ ] Is it usually available when you’d ride (after work/weekends)?
• [ ] Is there a booking system or peak-time restrictions?

Hacking and location

• [ ] What’s hacking like directly from the yard (safe routes vs heavy roadwork)?

Storage and security

• [ ] How much tack/feed/rug storage do liveries get?
• [ ] What security is in place (locked areas, staff presence, CCTV if relevant)?

Parking and transport

• [ ] Is trailer/lorry parking available? Included or extra?

Policies: Notice, Extras, Visitors

Contracts and notice

• [ ] Is there a written livery agreement/contract?
• [ ] What’s the notice period?
• [ ] Is there a deposit, and what are the terms for return?

Visitors and sharers

• [ ] Are sharers allowed? Any restrictions?
• [ ] Any visiting hours or quiet hours?

Extras and boundaries

• [ ] What counts as an “extra” here (holding, rug changes, extra forage/bedding, late bring-in)?
• [ ] Is there a written list of extra charges or a price menu?
• [ ] How are one-off requests handled so they don’t become misunderstandings?

Payments and Communication Questions

This section saves you the most stress long term.

Payments

• [ ] How are payments made (bank transfer, online payment link, card, cash)?
• [ ] Can payments be made from home, or is it mainly in-person?
• [ ] Are invoices itemised (monthly fee + extras clearly shown)?
• [ ] What happens if a payment is late, and how is it handled?

Communication

• [ ] What’s the main channel for requests and updates?
• [ ] Who should be contacted for urgent issues vs routine queries?
• [ ] What’s the typical response time?
• [ ] Do you use a platform like Cavago (or similar) for service requests, messaging, records, and payments, so everything stays in one place?

(If yes, it usually means clearer records, clearer extras, and fewer “what was agreed?” moments.)

Quick yard scorecard (write this immediately after each viewing)

Yard name: ___________ Date: ___________

• Best thing: ___________________________________
• Main concern: __________________________________
• Would this work in winter on my busiest week? Yes / No
• Overall feeling: Calm / Busy / Unclear / Professional
• Decision: Shortlist / Maybe / No