Measurements for the Texas Horseshoe Game

Board Measurements

• The boards used to play Texas horseshoes have specific measurements. In order to build the two boards according to the official rules, four 3-inch boards, six 15-inch boards, and two 3-foot-by-18-inch plywood sheets will be needed. Build a rectangular frame by placing the two short boards on the inner side of the three long boards. Apply the plywood sheet to the top of the rectangular frame. This will result in a game board of the correct height, length and width.

Hole Measurements

• Texas horseshoe boards have three holes, which are assigned different point values. In order for the board to meet official standards, the holes must be 3-inch in diameter and placed at specific intervals. The first hole is 8 inches from the front of the board. The second hole is at the 18-inch mark, and the last hole is placed at the 28-inch mark. The holes must be centered at the 9-inch point of the board width. The easiest way to measure the hole distance and placement is by using a framing square.

Finishing the Boards

• The boards need to be sealed with two or three coats of polyurethane. Creativity is allowed with this part of the process, as design is not officially mentioned anywhere in the rules. Paint the boards with favorite team colors, abstract designs or geometric designs. If the simple wood finish is what is wanted, simply use clear polyurethane topcoat. Whatever colors are chosen, make sure that the polyurethane is applied in several light coats.

In Game Measurements

• There are only two measurements related to game play. The first game play measurement is that the boards need to be placed exactly 10 feet apart. The second is the player positioning measurement. The player must throw beside or behind her board. If the player steps past the front of the board, it is considered to be a foul and the washer thrown does not count.

  In traditional horseshoes, being close to the peg counts for points and must be within a certain measurement. However, in Texas horseshoes, a washer only counts for points if it falls into a hole completely. For this reason, no washer measurements apply.