How to Play Quoits & Horseshoes in Ireland

Horseshoes and quoits are lawn games that spread throughout the United Kingdom in the 14th century. In both games, two players alternate turns throwing an item at a distant target, known as the hob. Points are awarded to the player who gets closest to or encircles the hob. The winner is determined after a set number of rounds or innings have been played, or when one player exceeds a certain score. The rules for horseshoes are universal, but there are regional variations on the rules for quoits. The Northern game is most commonly played in Ireland.

Instructions

  1. How to Play Quoits: Northern Rules

    • 1

      Stand in one of the two pits (clay beds where the hobs are located) with your opponent. You should both have two quoits in hand.

    • 2

      Throw one of your quoits in the air as if making a coin toss, and have your opponent call a side. The winner of the toss has the first throw.

    • 3

      Throw your quoits, one at a time, at the hob in the opposite bed, without letting either foot leave the pit. Try to land the quoit as close as possible to the hob. Landing the quoit so that it rests against the top of the hob and encircling the hob (called a "ringer") are the two best throws you can attempt.

    • 4

      Wait for your opponent to throw his or her two quoits. Then walk over to the opposite hob to check the results of your throws.

    • 5

      Award two points for the top ringer on the hob. All other ringers count for zero points.

      A quoit that covers the top of the hob beats a quoit touching the side.

      So, if you are throwing first, it is a better strategy to try to land the quoit against the top of the hob rather than try for a ringer, because you prevent your opponent from scoring any ringers and are guaranteed at least one point for the closest quoit.

    • 6

      If there are no ringers, award one point for the closest quoit. If the quoits are equally far from the hob, no points are awarded.

    • 7

      Pick up your quoits and throw again in the same order. Continue playing until a set number of rounds have been played or until one player scores 21. The player with the higher score at the end is the winner.

    How to Play Horseshoes

    • 8

      Stand in one of the two pits with your opponent. You should both have two horseshoes in hand.

    • 9

      Throw one of your shoes in the air as if making a coin toss, and have your opponent call a side. The winner of the toss has the first throw.

    • 10

      Throw your horseshoes, one at a time, at the opposite peg, trying to encircle the peg with your horseshoe (a ringer), land against it (a leaner) or get as close as possible. Unlike quoits, a ringer always counts the same number of points and is worth the most points, so it is the best shot to make.

    • 11

      Wait for your opponent to throw his or her shoes. Then walk to the opposite pit to check the results of your throws.

    • 12

      Award three points for each ringer. The peg must fall entirely within the line connecting the two ends of the horseshoe for a throw to be counted as a ringer.

    • 13

      Award one point for the closest shoe to the peg. If a player has both shoes closer than the other player's shoes and neither is a ringer, he or she is awarded two points. If the two players' closest shoes are the same distance, no additional points are awarded.

    • 14

      Pick up your horseshoes and throw again in the same order. An official game lasts for 20 innings (rounds), but you can also play to a certain score. The player with the most points at the end is the winner.