YardForge vs ObstacleStudio (2026): Free Course Designer Comparison
TL;DR: Both are browser-based show jumping course design tools with a free path, strides, 3D and PDF export. ObstacleStudio leads on organiser obstacle parks, multi-class weekend shows and QR publication for riders. YardForge leads on British Showjumping + FEI live validation (with optional Apply fixes), AR walk-through in a real arena, a full Free 2D designer with watermarked multi-role PDFs, and an all-in-one path into yard ops and show hosting. Neither is “official FEI” or British Showjumping software — both are planning aids.
If you are choosing show jumping course design software in the UK, this page is the straight comparison.
At a glance
| | YardForge | ObstacleStudio | |---|----------------|---------------------| | Platform | Web / PWA (phone, tablet, desktop) | Web (tablet-optimised) | | Free design | Full 2D designer, up to 8 saved courses | Free trial: ~10 drafts, 30 days, watermarked PDF, no cloud save / no publish | | Strides / distances | Live free-track strides, combinations, footing options | Automatic stride / distance | | Rule validation | FEI, British Showjumping, Hunter, Unaffiliated — live | Design-focused; not marketed as BS+FEI rule engine | | 3D | Orbit, walk, free-flight, fly-over (Pro+) | Rider-facing 3D after QR publish | | AR in real arena | Yes (Pro+, supported devices) | No | | PDF | Master, athlete, builder, judge — watermarked on Free, clean on Pro+ | PDF with watermark on free trial | | Rider share | Public /view course page + 3D / distances | QR publish → phone zoom, distances, 3D ride | | Organiser park inventory | Yard inventory (kit estimates); not OS-style multi-class parks | Obstacle park per organiser, shared across weekend classes | | Beyond design | Yard management, GPS routes, show organiser tools | Season archive, multi-arena show weekends | | Pricing (public, 2026) | Free · Pro ~£12/mo · School & Venue ~£39/mo | Free trial · €149/yr · €15/week | | Best for | UK BS/FEI validation, free ongoing design, AR, yards | Ringside CD season archive, parks, rider QR |
Facts for ObstacleStudio are taken from their public site (pricing and FAQ, 2026). Always re-check vendor pages before you buy.
Free tier: what you actually get
Search interest in a free show jumping course designer is high. The products answer that query differently.
YardForge Free keeps the full 2D canvas, stride calculator, FEI/BS (and Hunter / Unaffiliated) validation and watermarked master / athlete / builder / judge PDFs for up to eight saved courses — no card. Clean (unwatermarked) PDFs, 3D and AR are Pro and School & Venue. Open it in the free designer.
ObstacleStudio Free is a time-boxed trial: roughly ten drafts and thirty days of access, watermarked PDF, without cloud save or rider publication. Paid annual or weekly plans unlock season archive, park inventory, multi-device sync and QR publish.
Bottom line: if you need an ongoing free design habit (Pony Club nights, yard schooling), YardForge’s Free tier is the stronger long-term free path. If you only need one show week and then park the tool, ObstacleStudio’s weekly pass may match that workflow.
Design canvas and strides
Both tools place fences on a scaled arena and calculate related distances.
- YardForge is sequence-first: place fences, then connect / draw the track (or drop onto path). Strides update on the ridden path, with combination-aware numbering (5A/5B) and optional footing / going inputs. See the stride calculator guide and how to design a show jumping course.
- ObstacleStudio is built for tablet ringside editing with automatic strides and highly configurable obstacle widths (including common rail widths).
Neither replaces walking the line with a measuring tape on build day — software distances are planning aids.
Validation: where UK builders feel the gap
UK affiliated and club designers usually care about British Showjumping tables as much as FEI.
- YardForge checks heights, spreads and combination distances live against FEI Jumping Rules and BS tables (plus Hunter / Unaffiliated). Optional Apply fixes run only when you choose them — nothing rewrites the course silently. Planning aid only: not a substitute for a qualified designer, TD or official inspection. YardForge is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FEI or British Showjumping. Deep dive: FEI vs British Showjumping validation.
- ObstacleStudio focuses on design, inventory and publication. It does not market a dual BS + FEI validation engine the way YardForge does.
Choose YardForge when rule compliance and “will this distance stand up under BS/FEI?” is part of every draft. Choose ObstacleStudio when equipment stock across a weekend matters more than rule-table automation.
3D, AR and how riders see the course
| Need | YardForge | ObstacleStudio | |------|-----------|----------------| | Designer-side 3D walk | Yes (Pro+) — four camera modes | Rider-side 3D after publish | | AR in your real arena | Yes on supported phones (Pro+) | No | | Rider QR after course walk | Public view link + 3D / distance overlay | Core product — scan, zoom, 3D memorisation |
ObstacleStudio’s publish → QR → rider 3D loop is excellent for modern shows that want every athlete to review on a phone. YardForge’s differentiator is AR placement at full scale in the physical ring before poles move — plus designer 3D for the person building the plan. See AR course walkthrough.
Obstacle parks, shows and season archive
This is ObstacleStudio’s home turf:
- One obstacle park per organiser, shared across classes so you know if the triple will strip the rest of the weekend.
- Arenas and venues remembered for next year.
- Anti-repetition: browse what you set last season at the same ground.
- Courses remain readable for life after you stop paying (edit/create needs a paid plan again, per their FAQ).
YardForge approaches the same problems differently: yard inventory and kit estimates for what you own, a public course view for share/QR workflows, and separate show organiser tooling for entries and results. YardForge does not yet match ObstacleStudio’s multi-class weekend park model. If that is your job every Saturday, ObstacleStudio is purpose-built.
Pricing snapshot (check current pages)
| Plan idea | YardForge | ObstacleStudio | |-----------|-----------|----------------| | Try free | Free forever tier (limits apply) | Free trial (drafts + 30 days) | | Occasional show | Pro monthly | €15 / 7 days | | Full season | Pro or School & Venue | €149 / year | | Teams / venues | School & Venue | Annual + multi-device |
Exact figures change — use YardForge pricing and ObstacleStudio’s pricing section before you commit. YardForge is free during alpha (every feature unlocked); Pro will be from £12/mo after launch, with founding pricing for alpha users.
Who should pick which
Pick YardForge if you:
- Want a free showjumping course designer you can keep using after the trial window
- Design under British Showjumping and/or FEI and want live validation
- Care about AR or designer-side 3D before build day
- Want one login that can grow into yard management, GPS hacks or show hosting
- Prefer watermarked multi-role PDFs on Free (master / athlete / builder / judge)
Pick ObstacleStudio if you:
- Are a season course designer who returns to the same organisers and parks
- Need shared equipment stock across many classes in one weekend
- Prioritise QR rider publication and 3D memorisation after the course walk
- Prefer €/week or annual European pricing over a UK multi-product suite
Either can work if you: only need a browser canvas, basic strides and a printable plan for unaffiliated clear-rounds — try both free paths and keep the one your tablet fingers prefer at 7 a.m. on show morning.
Migration notes
There is no automatic ObstacleStudio → YardForge course import today (and no PPD/Visio import on YardForge either). Practical switch path:
- Rebuild key tracks in the YardForge designer from your printed plan or memory.
- Set the correct standard (BS / FEI) first so validation matches the class.
- Re-share via public view or PDF for builders and judges.
- Keep ObstacleStudio read-only archives if you still need last year’s park history.
FAQ
Is YardForge a free ObstacleStudio alternative?
For ongoing free 2D design + UK rule checks, yes — that is a common reason people look for an ObstacleStudio alternative. For organiser parks and QR-first rider publish, ObstacleStudio still leads; compare those columns before you switch.
Does either tool replace a course designer or technical delegate?
No. Strides, validation and PDFs are planning aids. Courses are built and jumped at your own risk. Neither product is official FEI or British Showjumping software.
Where can I compare the wider UK market?
See best show jumping course design software UK (2026) and the product page for course design software.
Next step
Open the free designer, place a simple related distance under British Showjumping, export a watermarked builder plan, and decide whether you still need an organiser park tool for the next fixture — or whether validation + AR is the gap you were filling by hand.