Choose for the handover, not just the feature list
Start with one real job that gets missed or repeated: an unassigned care task, an unclear shift note, or a stock delivery nobody recorded. A useful yard app should make that job easier for the people doing it.
This checklist is a practical buying worksheet, not a competitor ranking. Use the same example records in each product so you can compare the workflow fairly. Pocket Yard is one option; assess it with the same questions.
A worked five-horse yard example
Imagine a fictional yard with five horses and two people sharing morning and evening work. One bedding delivery is due tomorrow. The morning person leaves before the evening person arrives.
- Create one care task for a fictional horse, assign it and set a due time.
- Record completion, then leave one outstanding handover action about the delivery.
- Ask the evening person to find the completed task, the outstanding action and the relevant stock record without a phone call.
If they cannot find all three, note where the process broke down. Repeat the same example after a short introduction; this helps distinguish a learning issue from a workflow that does not suit your yard.
Print your comparison worksheet
Tick a row only after you have tried the workflow. Print this page using your browser's Print command. The checkboxes stay in this page and no worksheet entries are sent to Pocket Yard.
| Check | What to look for | A practical test | Tried |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care responsibility | A horse-care task with one named responsible person, a due time and a clear completion record. | Create a task for a fictional horse and ask another person to find it. | |
| Shift handover | An outstanding action that the next person can find without searching through messages. | Leave a note with the next action and due time; ask someone else what remains. | |
| Supplies | A record of stock, usage and deliveries using consistent units. | Record 10 example bales and a delivery; check that the units remain clear. | |
| Team access | Separate accounts and a clear boundary around owner/admin finance. | Check which role can see shared care work and which can access finance. | |
| Usable on your devices | A layout your team can use on the phones and laptops they actually own. | Open the same workflow on two devices and check text size and input controls. | |
| Recovery and limits | Clear account recovery, support contact and honest device limitations. | Find the password-reset route and the documented GPS/background limits. | |
| Price and renewal | A per-yard cost, included team access and visible cancellation terms. | Read the renewal terms before paying; calculate the annual cost for your yards. |
Work out the cost for your team
Separate per-person charges from per-yard charges, and read what happens at renewal. For Pocket Yard, one paid yard membership is £39.99 per year with invited team members included. Two paid yards would therefore be £79.98 per year at that stated price. This is an example, not a discount or an offer for other software.
Test weak signal before depending on it
Use the offline preparation guide to understand which instructions you should prepare before losing signal. Do not assume every feature synchronises offline. For ride tracking, check device permissions and remember that browser recording may stop when the screen locks.
Bring one colleague into the decision
The person entering records and the person reading the handover may notice different problems. Agree which three workflows matter most, test them together and record the gaps before committing.
Start with the Pocket Yard sample yard, browse the feature screenshots, or use the free handover sheet while comparing options.
Try the workflow before you sign up
Explore the sample yard Start your free month
Your own yard needs an account. No card for the one-calendar-month trial. Paid membership is £39.99 per yard per year and automatically renews until cancelled.