Horseshoes is a game that dates back to Ancient Greece. An easy game to play for adults and kids alike, horseshoes is the perfect activity for a backyard barbeque, a family reunion, a carnival game, or in a physical education class.
This Rubber Horseshoe Game can be played inside or outside and comes with four durable horseshoes (two red, two blue), two rubber mats, two pegs, two stakes and rules. If you are playing inside, two pegs are used to hold the mats in place. If you are playing outside, the sturdy plastic stakes can be used to firmly plant the rubber mats against the ground.
Horseshoes is a great game to take on camping trips, picnics and more. To set up the game outside, stakes should be driven into the ground about 40 feet apart and angled slightly towards each other. The stakes should stick out of the ground about 12 inches. If you are playing inside, set the two plastic pegs about 40 feet apart on a smooth surface. When tossing horseshoes, the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association states that the foul line should be 27-37 feet away from the stake.
If you want to make a more permanent backyard field by digging a 4-inch deep rectangular pit around each stake, measuring 31 inches wide and 43 inches long. Fill each pit with sand, sawdust or a fine filler substance.
To play, flip a coin. The winner goes first. Each person tosses two horseshoes per inning, followed by his opponent. Once both players have tossed their shoes, scoring begins. Any shoe within 6 inches of the peg/stake gets one point.
If one player has both shoes closer to the stake/peg than his opponent, that player is awarded two points. If a player gets a "leaner", or a shoe that falls upright against the stake/peg, that person is awarded one point.
If a player gets a "ringer", or a shoe that completely circles the stake/peg, that player gets three points. If one player gets a ringer and has his other shoe closer to the peg/stake than his opponent, that player would be awarded a total of four points.
If both players get ringers, the player with the shoe closest to the stake/peg gets one point, and the ringers cancel each other out. If there is a tie at the end of the game, an extra two innings are played to determine a winner.
During game play, a tournament consists of 50 points, while a regular game contains 21 points.
Brybelly Notes:
Horseshoe Rules
1. Flip a coin. The winner goes first.
2. When tossing horseshoes, the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association states that the foul line should be 27-37 feet away from the stake.
3. Do not attempt to distract your opponent when it is his or her turn to toss.
4. During game play, a tournament consists of 40-50 points, while a regular game contains 21 points.
5. A typical game contains 20 innings.
6. Each person tosses two horseshoes per inning, followed by his opponent. Do not approach the stakes, or remove the tossed horseshoes from the playing surface until both players are finished tossing.
7. Once both players have tossed their shoes, scoring begins.
a. Any player who has a shoe (any part of the shoe) within 6 inches of the peg/stake gets one point. This also applies to a "leaner", which is a shoe that falls leaning upright against the stake.
b. If one player has both shoes closer to the stake/peg than his opponent, that player is awarded two points.
c. If a player gets a "ringer", or a shoe that completely circles the stake/peg, that player gets three points. To qualify a ringer, a straight edge must be able to touch both points of the horseshoe.
d. If one player gets a ringer and has his other shoe closer to the peg/stake than his opponent, that player would be awarded a total of four points.
e. Cancellation Method: The twist in the game of horseshoes is the ability to cancel out your opponent's points, allowing for strategy within the game. If one player scores a ringer, the points will be cancelled if the opposing player tops it with another ringer during the same turn. The same rule applies for all other equal plays during the course of one turn. For instance, if both players throw a ringer and a leaner, no points are awarded. If one player throws two ringers, and the other player throws one, the player with two ringers gets three points for that turn.
8. If there is a tie at the end of the game, an extra two innings are played to determine a winner.
Attention CA Residents: Prop 65 Warning
WARNING:
This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to
www.p65warnings.ca.gov.