How Payments Work at Equestrian Systems: Safety, Choice, and Direct Control

Online payments are one of those things most riding school owners set up once and then don't think about again — until something prompts the question of whether they've got the right setup. This post explains exactly how payments work at Equestrian Systems: where your money goes, what we never touch, what your choices are, and why the structure matters.

No jargon where plain English will do. If you're already using Equestrian Systems and just want to understand the setup better, this is for you. If you're comparing options, these are the right questions to be asking of any platform.

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The one question every riding school should ask

When a rider books a lesson and pays by card, does the software platform sit in the middle of that transaction — collecting your money, holding it, and paying it out to you on their schedule? Or does the money flow directly from your rider to your payment provider to your bank, with the software just handling the booking side?

For some platforms, the answer is the former. The software company processes payments through a central account — often using a platform arrangement with a payment processor — then distributes funds to individual businesses. That puts the software company in your money chain. Their payout schedule becomes your cash flow. Their financial health becomes your concern.

The FCA reviewed payment firms that failed between 2018 and mid-2023 and found that on average, their customers recovered only around 35p in every pound owed. These funds aren't covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. That's why tougher safeguarding rules for payment firms came into force in May 2026.

Our answer to the question is: Equestrian Systems is never in your money chain. We are equestrian management software. Our job is to connect your lessons, livery, shop, and everything else to whichever payment provider you choose. The money flows from your client to the payment provider to your bank. We never hold it, and we never have access to it.

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How the money actually flows

Equestrian Systems connects your payment provider to every part of the platform — lesson bookings, livery invoicing, the online shop, memberships, and more. Whether you use Synapto, Stripe, GoCardless, or a combination of all three, your payment account is held directly in your business's name — not ours.

When a client pays, the money flows to the payment provider under your direct agreement with them, and from there to your bank account on the agreed settlement schedule (typically the next working day). Equestrian Systems sits outside that chain entirely — we receive a payment confirmation, nothing more.

For card payments specifically, Equestrian Systems supports Synapto, a UK payments company that connects to major global acquirers including Fiserv (the company behind the Clover platform). With Synapto, your merchant agreement is directly with the acquirer — not with Equestrian Systems, and not with Synapto. The acquirer holds funds briefly during settlement and pays out directly to your bank.

The distinction that matters: some platforms process payments through a central company account before distributing to individual businesses. In that arrangement, the platform is financially between you and your money. With Equestrian Systems, your payment account and agreement are yours. We are the platform layer, not the payment layer.

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Your payment accounts are yours — permanently

Because your Stripe, GoCardless, or Synapto account is held directly in your name, it isn't tied to Equestrian Systems. If you ever moved to different software, your payment setup comes with you — your transaction history, your payout schedules, your merchant agreement. You don't start from scratch, and you don't lose your processing history.

This also means Equestrian Systems's business health is irrelevant to the safety of your funds. If we ceased trading tomorrow, every payment your riders had already made would still settle to your bank account as normal. We were never in the chain; there's nothing for our closure to interrupt.

For Synapto specifically, it's also worth knowing that Synapto works with more than one major acquirer, Fiserv among them. If one acquirer's terms changed, Synapto can move your centre to another without you needing to change software or re-register.

Compare this to a setup where the software company processes payments through a central platform account. In those arrangements, your payment history sits inside the platform, your payout schedule is the platform's decision, and leaving the software means leaving your payment setup behind too.

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Rates and what they actually mean

Card payment fees can be presented in a way that obscures how much you're actually paying. Here's ours, plainly:

For context, on a £40 lesson that's 50p. On a £200 block booking it's £2.10. Rates vary by card type — business cards, international cards, and Amex carry different rates, which are published and available on request. There are no surprises in the statement at the end of the month.

We also don't charge booking fees to your riders. Some platforms add a fee on top of the lesson price to cover their payment processing costs — this passes the cost to the customer, which creates friction at checkout and, frankly, annoys people. We absorb the processing cost into the platform subscription model instead.

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Freedom of choice: Synapto, Stripe, GoCardless — or all three

Different riding schools handle payments differently. Lesson bookings, block bookings, livery invoicing, online shop purchases, memberships, camp deposits — they all suit different collection methods. Most equestrian software platforms lock you into one payment provider. Equestrian Systems supports all three — and you can use any combination simultaneously.

Synapto — card payments via direct acquirer settlement

Our recommended option for online card payments. Your merchant agreement is directly with a major global acquirer (such as Fiserv), the acquirer relationship is yours to keep, and PCI DSS compliance is held at the acquirer level. Rate: 1% + 10p per transaction for UK consumer cards.

GoCardless — Direct Debit and instant bank payments

The best fit for block bookings, recurring monthly memberships, and anything that follows a predictable schedule. The rider sets up a Direct Debit mandate once; collections happen automatically after that. GoCardless also supports instant bank-to-bank payments, so many yards use it as their only payment method without needing a separate card processor. Rate: 1% + 20p per transaction.

Stripe — card payments for online bookings

A widely recognised card processor. If you already have a Stripe account, you can connect it directly — your existing account, your history, your dashboard. Fully supported alongside the other options. Standard UK rate: 1.5% + 20p per transaction.

Mix and match for your yard

There's no rule that says you can only use one. Being locked to a single provider means accepting whatever that provider decides on rates, what types of business it supports, and when it releases your funds. Supporting three means your centre always has an option — and if one provider changes its terms, you can switch without changing software.

Simpler accounting, too

Because ES connects directly to your payment provider rather than sitting in the middle, payout reports from Stripe, GoCardless, and Synapto map directly to your records — lessons, livery charges, shop sales, whatever was paid. Your accountant sees what came in, when, and against which transaction. There are no bulk platform payouts to unpick, no references to decode, and no lag between what the platform shows and what your bank shows.

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Questions to ask about your current payment setup

Whether you're on Equestrian Systems or evaluating any platform, these are the questions worth having clear answers to:

• Does the platform sit in your payment chain? Does it collect your riders' money through a central account before passing it on to you, or does payment flow directly to a provider account held in your name?
• What is the full rate card? Including business cards, international cards, Amex, and any premium card types. The headline rate rarely tells the whole story.
• Is there a platform markup on top of processing fees? Some platforms take a percentage above what the payment processor actually charges them.
• Are booking fees charged to your riders? If so, what are they, and are your clients told before they complete a booking?
• What is the settlement schedule, and who controls it? If the platform holds funds before paying out, their schedule — and their decisions about holding funds during disputes — become your cash flow problem.
• What is the PCI DSS compliance level, and who holds it? Level 1 compliance held by the acquirer directly is the gold standard.
• Can you use more than one payment provider? Being locked to one means accepting whatever that provider decides, indefinitely.
• If you left the software, what would happen to your payment setup? Do you keep your account, your history, and your rates — or does it all live inside the platform?

If you'd like a straight comparison between your current setup and ours — including fee calculations based on your actual booking volumes — we're happy to run the numbers. Send us three months of transaction data and we'll show you exactly what you're paying and what you'd pay with us, card type by card type.

Want to talk through your payment setup?

We can walk you through the Synapto, GoCardless and Stripe options, run a fee comparison against your current processing costs, and answer any questions about how settlement works — in a free call or demo, no commitment required.

Also read: How to Stop Chasing Riding Lesson Payments →

Also read: Best Booking System for UK Riding Schools (2026 Guide) →