Pitching Rules for Barnyard Horseshoes

Pitching horseshoes is an ancient game that probably began among Greek or Roman soldiers. The first world tournament was held in Bronson, Kansas around the turn of the last century. Horseshoes was such a popular rural pastime that it was once known as barnyard golf. The barnyard moniker stuck and games are played at country fair competitions today called barnyard olympics, although almost no one uses actual horseshoes anymore. There are casual and tournament rules for pitching and scoring.

  1. Backyard Horseshoes

    • Backyard horseshoes can be adapted to suit the players at hand. A standard amateur pitching court can be about 6 feet wide and 46 feet long. The sandy pit areas double as the pitching areas---players choose to pitch the horseshoes from the right or the left of the stake toward the other pit. Children and rank beginners can pitch from a closer foul line; 27 feet from the target stake is a good measure but the distance can be shortened for younger players. Placement point values are determined before the game. If points are awarded three/two/one, a "ringer," when the horseshoe lands around the stake, counts for the most points--three. A "leaner," when the horseshoe lands just touching the stake, counts for fewer points--two. A horseshoe that lands 6 inches from the stake earns the least amount of points--one. Farther out doesn't count. Play for 40 points, best of 40 pitches, 21 points or most points won when everybody loses interest and the mosquitoes start biting.

    Barnyard Olympics Horseshoes

    • Barnyard olympics at county fairs often includes a game of horseshoes as well as hay bale tossing and wheelbarrow races. Rules can be locally determined but usual play is two horseshoes per player with a set number of players per team. Points are awarded for ringers, leaners, and graduated distances from the stake---1-inch away, 2 inches, 3 inches and then no points for horseshoes outside that distance. Distances are calculated from the closest part of the horseshoe to the stake. The winning team is the team with the most points after a predetermined number of innings, or the first team to reach a set number of points. Foul lines for pitching can be decided before the competition, depending on whether the team players are mixed ages and ability or all considered in the same competitive class.

    National Horseshoe Pitchers Association Tournament Play

    • National Horseshoe Pitchers Association tournament play has explicit rules. A court is 50-feet long and 10-feet wide with sandy pits at either end for the iron stakes, which must show 14 inches above ground and be placed 40 feet apart. Contestants may pitch from foul lines set by age and fitness. Junior cadets, under age 9, pitch from a 20-foot foul line. Junior boys, junior girls, women, senior women, elder men and the physically challenged pitch from the 27-foot line. Men and senior men between the ages of 60 and 70 use the 37-foot foul line. An inning consists of each of two players pitching two horseshoes in succession within 30 seconds of stepping into pitch position. Each player pitches from either the right or left pitching platform but must use the same side for both pitches. Ringers earn three points. Leaners and shoes landing 6 inches or closer to the stake earn one point. Games are played to 40 points or 50 shoes tossed--whichever is reached first.