In backyard horseshoes, the only rules are to have fun! However, there are some common rules that are used by many backyard horseshoe pitchers.

• The games is played to 21 points. The first person to 21 points wins.
• To determine which horseshoe player pitches first, one horseshoe pitcher will ask the other horseshoe pitcher heads or tails and then flip a horseshoe in the air. If the horseshoe lands cleats side up, that is heads.
• The winner of the horseshoe toss will pitch first.
• Once both horseshoe players throw, you will need to review the score
  • Ringer = 5 points
  • Leaner = 3 points
  • The closest shoe within a horseshoe width from the stake = 1 point
• Different Scoring Scenarios
  • If Player 1 and Player 2 both get a ringer = 0 Points
  • If Player 1 gets 2 ringers and Player 2 only gets 1 ringer = 5 Points for Player 1
  • If Player 1 has a ringer and Player 2 has a ringer that is closest to the stake = 5 Points for Player 1, 0 Points for Player 2
• The player that doesn't score goes first. If no one scores, whoever went first during the last pitch, goes first again.