The Playing Field

• Playing Field
  
  The playing field is 46 feet by 6 feet with a pit at each end. The pit is 72 inches by 36 inches, and the stake is centered in it. The foul line is 1 foot in front of each pit.
  
  

Beginning Play

• It's a ringer!
  
  To start, one person from each team throws two horseshoes from the foul line toward the opposite pit.
  
  

Scoring Play

• The horseshoes are scored at one point each for shoes that land within 6 inches of the stake and three points for "ringers" that surround the stake. Horseshoes that land further than 6 inches from the stake do not earn points.
  
  

Continuing Play

• The next two players stand at the foul line and throw the horseshoes back toward the first stake. Scoring is done the same for the second round as for the first.
  
  

Figuring the Winner

• The winner can be the team that reaches 40 points first or the team that is ahead after 40 pitches.