1) What sort of livery is offered (Full, part, DIY, grass)
2)
- Is there 24/7 turn out over summer
- Is there 24/7 turn out over winter
3) What services are offered by the livery staff at an extra cost i.e.
- Clipping
- Plaiting
- Mucking out
- Feeding
- Rugging
- Turning out/Bringing in
4) Do you have to bring your own feed/hay/bedding onto the yard, or is it
- included in the livery bill
- supplied and bought from the yard
5) Do they split their horses by mares & geldings, or do they have mixed groups
6) Do they have an age limit (my livery yard prefers horses over 3 years old, unless it is discussed and agreed with the YO to have anything younger)
7) Is there somewhere safe to store your tack and equipment
8) What facilities will you have the use of, e.g.
- indoor school
- outdoor school
- toilets
- kitchen facilities
- jump poles
- dressage markers
- laundry facilities (for rugs, numnahs, etc)
- horse walker
- washing area for cold hosing/bathing horses
9) If there is anywhere out of bounds to liveries/horses
10) Whether you will be expected to poo-pick fields or if that is included in your livery fee
11) If there is electricity and hot water
12) Do you need to supply your own tools for mucking out
That's all I can think of at the minute... Don't forget to make a mental note of whether the yard looks fairly tidy and
safe . Not all yards have everything I've listed above, but it's worth asking
. The most important things are that the place your horse will live is going to be safe for him - ask to look at the fields and note whether the fence is in reasonable condition; do the fields look clear of horse manure and poisonous weeds/plants/trees; is there some form of shelter; is the water trough full?
If you will also have a stable, make a note of what the area is like - well lit; reasonably tidy (not a palace, but will you or your horse trip over anything, or be injured on anything obvious?); are the other liveries welcoming and friendly?
