Crossword Genius

Rural pile has riding gear around yard (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

haystack

'rural pile' is the definition.

'has riding gear around yard' is the wordplay.
'riding gear' becomes 'tack'.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'yard' becomes 'y'.
'has'+'tack'='hastack'
'hastack' enclosing 'y' is 'HAYSTACK'.

(Other definitions for haystack that I've seen before include "Pile of cut grass" , "Large pile of fodder" , "Pile of dried grass" , "Large mound of dried grass" , "Rick of dried grass" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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