free printable
Horseshoes Rules Card
A one-page horseshoes rules card: how to play, how to score, and how to set it up. Hit print, fold it, and keep it with your set. Want the full walkthrough? See the Horseshoes rules.
LAWNLEAGUES.COM
rules card Horseshoes
Players2 (singles) or 4 (doubles)
Ages8+
Setup5-15 min
SpaceAbout 50 ft long by 10 ft wide
What you need
- Four horseshoes (two per player, usually two colors or markings)
- Two steel stakes
- Two pits or soft landing areas (sand, loose dirt, or clay) around each stake
- A tape measure to set the stakes 40 ft apart
- A flat-ish stretch of yard about 50 ft long
Scoring
- Ringer (shoe encircles the stake so a straightedge touches both shoe ends without touching the stake): 3 points
- Closest shoe within 6 inches of the stake: 1 point
- Leaner (shoe touching the stake but not a ringer): 1 point, same as any close shoe (it is NOT worth 3)
- Double ringer by one player: 6 points
- Two ringers, one from each player: they cancel out and score 0 (cancellation scoring)
- Only shoes within 6 inches of the stake count for points; everything farther out scores nothing
How to play
- Set up the court. Drive the two stakes 40 ft apart for regulation play. Each stake should stick about 14 to 15 inches out of the ground and lean roughly 12 degrees toward the opposite stake. Build a pit of sand or loose dirt around each stake so shoes land soft and stay put.
- Decide who pitches first. Flip a coin or play a quick toss-off. The winner gets to choose whether to pitch first or second. Pitching last can be a small advantage because you get the final say on the inning.
- Pitch both shoes. Standing next to one stake, the first player pitches both of their horseshoes one at a time at the far stake. Stay behind the stake while you throw. Then the opponent pitches their two shoes at the same far stake.
- Score the inning. Walk down, see whose shoes landed closest, count up the points, and clear the shoes out. That completes one inning, sometimes called a frame.
- Pitch back the other way. Now both players pitch from the far end back toward the original stake. Keep alternating ends inning after inning.
- Play to the finish. Keep pitching innings and stacking points until someone hits the winning total. Most backyard games play to 21, while many leagues play to 40. Pick your number before you start.
Set it up
Regulation pitching distance is 40 ft from stake to stake. Many casual and kids' games shorten it to 30 ft (and as little as 20 ft for little ones) so shoes actually reach the pit. Stakes stand about 14 to 15 inches tall and lean roughly 12 degrees toward each other.