EQUIPMENT

Two stakes no larger than 1 inch in diameter made of soft metal, mild iron, or synthetic material.
The stake should not extend more than 15 inches above the level of the playing surface. Four horseshoes made out of drop forged steel.
An official horseshoe shall not exceed 7 1/4 inches in width, 7 5/8 inches in length and weigh no more than 2 pounds ten ounces.
The opened end of a shoe on a parallel line shall not exceed 3 1/2 inches.

HORSESHOE COURT

A horseshoe court should be a flat surface 50 feet in length and 10 feet in width with two pitcher's boxes. Each pitcher's box is a six-foot square, with a stake placed in its exact middle.
The stakes should be 40 feet apart and be slightly angled toward each other.
The pitcher's box should be filled with clay or sand four inches deep. Always allow at least 2 feet behind the pitcher's box for extra room. A foul line is placed three feet in front of each stake and should stretch across the court.

THROWING A SHOE

First you grip the shoe and stand with your feet together close to the stake.
There are many ways to grip the horseshoe. You should use the way that is most comfortable to you.
Next you bring the shoe up to arm length and sight the stake in the center of the shoe.
Then you bring the shoe back with an easy swing past your body. Stepping forward at the same time bring your arm forward throwing the shoe towards the stake at the opposite end of the court.
Keep in mind that you want the shoe to flip as it travels through the air.

RULES

Horseshoes can be played one on one or two on two.
When playing one on one, each player throws two shoes each from the same end of the court, which is called an inning. Then they switch ends. When playing two on two, one-member throws from one end of the court and the other member from the other end of the court. The pitching distance for men is 40 feet.
Women, juniors, handicapped and 70+ year old men can throw from either 30 feet or 40 feet.
When a player is pitching from 30 feet the foul line is moved 10 feet in front of the regulation foul line.
When pitching the shoes the pitchers shall not cross the foul lines or the shoe will not be scored.
The pitcher can stand on either side of the stake to throw the shoes; however, they must throw both shoes from the same side of the stake. No repair of the material in the pitcher's box will be done without the consent of the other player or the tournament official. If a player breaks this rule, he forfeits his next two shoes.
No player is allowed to pickup their shoes or opponents shoes until points are awarded. Players are not allowed to walk to the other end of the court until the inning is complete.
Players may switch horseshoes each inning unless they have already thrown one shoe.
Violation of this rule marks both shoes as foul and that player will not receive points. Any pitched shoe that crosses the foul line will be ruled a pitched shoe and may not be repitched.
Shoes that land outside of the pit are considered a foul.
If a shoe hits a stationary object, it is considered a foul.
If it strikes a foreign object while in the air, it may be repitched.

SCORING

There are two methods of scoring, the cancellation method, and the count all scoring method. When playing a cancellation scoring game the first player to 40 points win. The winning points can be adjusted to fit time allowed. Points are declared when a shoe is within 6 inches of the stake. A ringer is scored when both ends of the shoe clear the stake. A leaner constitutes one point.
If the shoes of each player are equal in distance from the stake, they are considered ties and no points are awarded. If each player throws a ringer in an inning, no points are awarded. When playing using the count all method each player receives credit for all points determined by position of the shoe. The winner is the player with the highest score after 25 innings.

POINT VALUES