Horseshoes (game)

Horseshoes Game

The horseshoes game is a fun activity you can play with friends in a yard or sandbox. You will need four horseshoes and two sticks stuck in the ground about 40 feet apart. Players take turns throwing the horseshoes, trying to get them as close as possible to the sticks.

This game is easy to learn and enjoy. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors and have friendly competition. You can play alone or with two people on each side. The goal is to get your horseshoe closest to the stick.

Players can score points in two ways: by throwing a horseshoe that completely circles the stick, called a "ringer," or by throwing the horseshoe closest to the stick. A ringer scores three points. If a horseshoe is very close to the stick—within 6 inches—it scores one point.

The game has been played for a long time. A special place to play horseshoes was built at the White House in the 1940s by President Harry Truman. Later, President George H. W. Bush brought the game back there in 1989 and enjoyed playing it with others, even showing it to important visitors like Queen Elizabeth II.