If you're shopping for software to run your barn, BarnManager and Stable Secretary are two names that come up constantly. Both have been around for years, both handle horse records and scheduling, and both have loyal users. But they're built for different kinds of operations—and neither was designed specifically around a professional training business. Here's an honest breakdown to help you decide.

Quick verdict

• Choose BarnManager if you want a clean, modern interface focused on health records, document storage, and team communication for a private or boarding barn.

• Choose Stable Secretary if you've been managing records for years, want deep record-keeping plus built-in invoicing, and don't mind an interface that prioritizes function over polish.

• Look at a trainer-specific option (more on that below) if your real problem is running the business of training—show-bill splits, day fees, owner updates, and program management.

Pricing compared (2026)

Neither company publishes flat, transparent pricing, which makes apples-to-apples comparison hard.

BarnManager uses a tiered model that scales with the number of horses on your account. Smaller barns start affordably, but costs climb as your herd grows, and specific pricing typically comes from a demo or quote rather than a public price list.

Stable Secretary offers tiered subscription plans, with invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting reserved for its higher tier. It offers a free trial with no credit card required.

The practical takeaway: if predictable, published pricing matters to you, you'll have to request quotes from both to know what you'll actually pay—and BarnManager's per-horse scaling means your bill grows with your barn.

Features head-to-head

Both cover the fundamentals of records and scheduling well. Stable Secretary pulls ahead on billing and accounting; BarnManager pulls ahead on interface and day-to-day team communication.

Where both fall short for professional trainers

If you run a training business—reiners, cutters, hunters, jumpers, cow horses—you've probably noticed that "barn management" software treats every operation like a boarding barn. The gaps show up fast:

• Show-bill splitting. Neither was built to split show expenses cleanly across multiple owners.

• Training programs. Tracking what each horse is in, what's billed monthly, and what staff are responsible for isn't a first-class feature.

• Owner experience. A true client portal where owners see their horse's progress, records, and invoices is limited or absent.

• Registry and competition tracking. Multi-registry numbers (AQHA, USEF, FEI) and the realities of a show string aren't the design priority.

For a boarding or private barn, that's fine. For a training operation, it means you're still living in spreadsheets and whiteboards for the parts of the business that actually make you money.

A third option built for trainers: EquineOps

EquineOps is the first business-management platform built specifically for professional horse trainers—not boarding barns retrofitted for training.

That focus shows up where it counts:

• Purpose built programs for feed, health, treatments, training, and farriers so you always know whats going on with each horse.

• Quickbooks syncing designed for multiple owners

• A real client portal where owners see records, updates, and invoices without texting you at 9 p.m.

• Multi-registry and Coggins tracking, custody transfers between barns, recurring tasks, and shared-tablet kiosk mode for the aisle.

• Published, flat pricing—Hobbyist $35, Essentials $79, Professional $129, Enterprise $219, Unlimited $319 per month—so you know your cost before you ever talk to sales.

EquineOps tracks whether contracts and liability waivers have been signed and collected, keeps every horse's history in one place, and replaces the spreadsheets and barn whiteboard that most training operations still rely on.

We'll even set you up for free, just click here and fill out this 2 min form. See if it fits your operation today.