Horseshoe Throwing Rules

How to Score

• Two players or two two-person teams may play against each other. To decide who goes first, each player throws a horseshoe and whoever gets closest to the stake shall go first. Those who are not pitching should stay far back, as even the best horseshoe players can throw a wild horseshoe every once in a while. The first pitcher throws their horseshoes at the opposite stake, and their goal is to throw the shoe as close to the stake as possible, if not around it, which is called a ringer. When the first player is done, the second player will go. Once all four shoes are tossed, players will take note of the score. The traditional method of scoring is as follows: Ringers are three points and shoes touching, learning or lying within 6 inches of the stake is one point.

Cancellation Method and Fouls

• When using the cancellation method of scoring, one player can score per inning. For example, if both players get a ringer, the score is canceled out. Or, the person closest to the stake within 6 inches will receive points while the other person does not, even if they are within 6 inches as well.

  Fouls are declared for the following reasons: A shoe is rolling out of the pit or hitting the wooden backstop, a shoe is thrown into another inanimate or animate object, a second shoe is tossed with a different hand than the first horseshoe, or if a second shoe is thrown from a higher elevation from the first.

Determining a Winner

• Before a game, players usually choose a method of scoring, either the traditional or cancellation method. They then choose the points required to win, which is typically 21 to 40. If, at the chosen number of winning points, the teams/players are tied, there can be a sudden-death round. Whoever reaches the chosen number of points first wins.