Horseshoes

The outside game of horseshoes can be played between either two teams of two people each or just two individual players. Four horse shoes are used along with two stakes and each player or team get two horseshoes a piece. The basic concept of horseshoes is that players or teams take turns tossing their horse shoe implements at stakes that have been pounded into the ground.

The modern horse shoe is rigid made of hard plastic or more than likely a U-shaped metal. These horse shoes are larger, typically about twice the size of one used on an actual horse. The horseshoe pit is where the stakes are placed. The playing area is long and narrow with a stake placed on each end about 40 feet apart. The horseshoe pits where the stakes are located are typically filled with sand to cushion the impact of the horseshoes landing.

Rules for horseshoes are rather easy and there are few, if any, variations. The horseshoe rules most commonly followed whether the game is in your own backyard or in competition are set forth by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America (NHPA).

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Horseshoes rules state that a coin toss decides who will throw first initially. The coin toss winner throws both of their horseshoes, one at a time to the opposite stake and then the second player does the same. Scores are tabulated and the first player to score 21 points wins the round. Scores in horse shoe rules are earned by tossing a ringer or getting your horseshoe closest to the opposite stake.

A ringer is a horseshoe that encircles the stake and earns three points. Close horseshoes are given one point each if they are within 6 inches of the stake. If both horseshoes of an opposing player is closer to the stake than your own, they earn two points. This works both ways. A leaner which is a horseshoe that lands and leans on the stake is officially work one point. Because the total number of points is 21, players have to win the round by two points which may necessitate additional play to determine a true winner. Your horseshoe pitching stance and technique can make the difference in play.

If you are a fan of horseshoes, you can look into horseshoe pit construction. Building horseshoe pits is fairly easy as long as you have enough yard space to construct two horseshoe pits. You will just need some wood to construct the pit framing, sand for the pit and of course, the stakes. To make it a fair game, just be sure to follow the measurements exactly when tabulating the distance the stakes need to be apart.