Horseshoes

Horseshoes is a popular and great game that can be played anywhere from the beach to your own backyard.  The equipment is minimal and the rules are simple and easy to follow.  Horseshoes is also a game that can be enjoyed by the mature and young making it a great game for family functions, barbeques, tail gate parties and any fun function in all.  A better options for kids might be cornhole as the bags are safer, but with supervision you can absolutely have the kids enjoy as well.

For a game of horseshoes you will need two metal stakes and four horseshoes, which is really all other than a paper to write down your score if you can’t keep track in your head.  The scoring for a game of horseshoes is simple a ‘ringer’ is three points and close (within 6 inches) scores you one point.  The stakes are driven into the ground 40 feet from one another and each player, or team of players stands at opposite horseshoes. 
The players flip a coin or randomly decide who will throw first.  Then each player takes turns tossing all of their horseshoes toward the stake trying to hook the horseshoe around the stake which is called a ‘ringer’, or get as close to their stake a possible. After the first player has thrown all his horseshoes the second player throws her horseshoes at the same stake.  After both players have thrown all their horseshoes the players walk to the stake record their points, collect their horseshoes and then throw them in turn to the opposite stake.  An average game of horseshoes is played to 21 points and the first player or team to score 21 points wins the match. 

Horseshoes is a great game for all your backyard events with easy set up, clean up and an inexpensive game to purchase at the local department store.  It is great for camping as well since the stakes can be put anywhere in the ground, all you need is a relatively even piece of land that is approximately 45 feet long to have fun with everyone.