Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people (or two teams of two people) using four horseshoes and two throwing targets (stakes) set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart. Modern games use a more stylized U-shaped bar, about twice the size of an actual horseshoe. The object of the game is to pitch the horseshoe so that it comes to rest encircling the stake; failing in that, it comes to rest within six inches of the stake.

The Playing Field

Got a stick and some old horseshoes lying around the backyard? Turn it into a fun and competitive game of horseshoe and challenge your friends. There are a variety of different ways that you can set up a horseshoes playing field. The following guidelines are for a basic backyard setup .

The required court layout for a game is two stakes fastened securely in the ground 40 feet apart. The stakes should be of iron or soft steel one inch in diameter protruding 15 inches from the ground, each leaning approximately 3 inches (12-deg. from vertical) toward the opposite stake.

Each stake is placed in the center of a "pit" measuring between 43 and 72 inches long and measuring between 31 and 36 inches wide. Moist blue clay works best as a cushion substance in the pit but other types of moist clay as well as loose dirt and sand are acceptable. On both sides of the pits are long, narrow (approx 6' long and 18" wide)"pitchers platforms" from which contestants are to pitch their shoes. Foul lines shall be marked at 27 feet and 37 feet from the opposite stake across the pitching platforms. Shoes pitched by adult males must be released from the platform behind the 37 foot foul line. Women and all youths up thru 18 years of age may pitch from any platform at any distance from behind the 27 foot foul lines.

Equipment

"Horseshoes" manufactured for pitching (real horseshoes are not readily available or uniform in size and weight) are to be used, each weighing approximately 2-1/2 pounds and having an opening no greater than 3-1/2".

"Stakes" should be of iron or soft steel one inch in diameter protruding 15 inches from the ground.

How to Play

Divide players into two even teams, and give each team two horseshoes.

Flip a coin, play paper- rock-scissors or toss one shoe closest to the stake to decide which team will pitch first. Or whatever you like.

Have the first player from the first team pitch both horseshoes (one at a time) from anywhere behind the foul line.

Let the first player from the opposing team do the same, pitching toward the same stake.

Let the next two players (one from each team) pitch the shoes from the opposite side of the court back toward your side.

Alternate pitching from one end of the court to the other until all players have pitched. This constitutes an "inning."

Play until one team has reached the winning score usually 21 points (40 points in professional games) to determine the winner.

Scoring

In horseshoes, there are two ways to score: by throwing "ringers" or by throwing the horseshoe nearest to the stake. This scoring system gives rise to the popular expression A ringer is a thrown horseshoe such that the horseshoe completely encircles the stake. Disputes are settled by using a straightedge to touch the two points at the ends of the horseshoe, called "heel calks". If the straightedge doesn't touch the stake, then the horseshoe is a ringer.

One player pitches both shoes in succession to one pit, followed by the other player. This is formally called an inning. Normally only one pitcher can score points per inning, however some leagues and tournaments play "count all", in which all points in each inning are counted.

A live shoe that is not a ringer, but comes to rest six inches (6") or closer to the stake, has a value of one (1) point. This includes a "leaner". If both of one player's horseshoes are closer than the opponent's, two points are scored. A ringer scores three points.

In the case of one ringer and a closer horseshoe, both horseshoes are scored for a total of four points. If a player throws two ringers, that player scores six points. If each player throws a ringer, the ringers cancel and no points are scored. If two ringers are thrown by one player and one ringer by the opponent, the player throwing two ringers scores three points.

Back-yard games can be played to any number of points that is agreed upon, but are usually to 21 points, win by 2.

Single points in amateur games must measure 6 inches or less from any part of the shoe to the nearest part of the stake. Also, a game cannot be won when an opposing player, tossing a shoe, bumps an opponent's shoe to cause the opponent to reach the winning score be it eleven or twenty-one. The game winning point must be attained by the person tossing the horseshoe pertaining to his own score.

A shoe making contact outside the pit before it comes to rest does not count in the scoring and if it lays within scoring distance of the stake it may be removed before the next pitch by either contestant.

Scoring Rules – There are two methods of scoring:

Cancellation System – Closest shoe to the stake within 6 inches scores 1 point, two shoes closer than opponent's scores 2 points, one ringer and closest shoe of the same player scores 4 points, and each non cancelled ringer scores 3 points. All equal ringers count as ties (no score). All ringers count towards total ringer percentages. A leaning shoe has no value over one lying flat touching the stake. The player that scores or ties a score receives first pitch.

Count-All Scoring – Contestants shall receive credit for all points. The maximum is 2 ringers (6 points) and the minimum is both shoes beyond 6 inches from the stake (0 points). Count-all games are pitched to a preset shoe limit – 20, 40 or 50 shoes are popular choices.