HT Games
Court
Measure out a regulation horseshoe court that is 50 feet long and 10 feet wide. Make sure the ground is fairly level and there are no obstacles such as rocks or large roots in the area of play. Plant two stakes 40 feet apart on either end of the court. Each stake should extend 14 inches above the ground. You may want to create a dirt or mulch patch around the immediate area of each stake. Regulation horseshoes must not weigh more than 40 ounces.
Players
Horseshoes may be played by two players or two pairs for a set number of innings or until one player or pair reach a given score. In regulation play, the game ends when a player reaches 50 points. In informal games, players often play to 21 points.
Start
Determine the order of play with a pregame horseshoe toss. Standing at the same stake, each opponent tosses one horseshoe at the opposite stake. The closest to the stake will toss first.
Rules
The first player pitches two horseshoes at the opposite stake. His feet cannot move beyond three feet of the nearby stake. The opponent and spectators should stand clear of the active player and not make any noise to distract his play. Once the first player has pitched both shoes, the second player does the same. Once all four shoes have been pitched (eight for pairs), players calculate the score together.
Scoring
To score, a horseshoe must land within 6 inches of the stake. Ringers-horseshoes that land around the stake--are worth three points. You must be able to draw a straight line between the two open ends of the horseshoe without touching the stake for it to count as a ringer. If both opponents score a ringer, they cancel each other out. If no ringers are thrown, the closest horseshoe to the stake earns 1 point. If the closest two rings are the same distance from the stake, they cancel out. Once the score has been tallied, play resumes from the opposite stake.