How to Construct a Horseshoe Pit

If you love playing horseshoes, you may want to consider a horseshoe pit in your own backyard. Constructing a horseshoe pit in your backyard is fairly easy and doesn't require very many materials. What's more, it can provide hours of fun for you and your friends and family.

Things You'll Need

• Level Ground (at least 40 feet)
• Measuring Tape
• Rebar
• Drill
• Nails
• Hammer
• 2 Iron Rods
• Pit Material (sand or clay)
• Wood
• Outdoor Lighting

Instructions

1. Take a look at the area you will be working with. You need about 40 feet of space in the backyard, and the ground should be fairly level. If it isn't, do whatever you need to do to level it out.

2. Gather materials. You will need two iron rods that are about 36 inches tall and one inch around. You may also want to create a backstop, in which case you will want to buy some lumber - you will probably want six pieces of 4x4 lumber to border the pits. You will also need some kind of sand or clay for the pit.

3. Drive the stakes into the ground, 40 feet apart from each other. Drive each stake into the ground until about only 14 inches is remaining above ground. Make sure the stake is nearly vertical, but it should be leaning toward the other stake at a 12 degree angle.

4. Create a border for each horseshoe pit. Using the 4x4 lumber, create a back and sides to the pit. The back should be about 36 inches wide, and the sides should be about 48 inches. Drill two or three holes into the top of the lumber that will fit rebar through it, and drive the rebar through the lumber into the ground. Do the same for both pits.

5. Lay your sand or clay into the pit. You will probably want about two to three inches of sand in each pit.

6. Create markers and place in front of each pit to serve as foul lines. One marker should be three feet in front of the pit, and one marker will be 13 feet in front of the pit. The three foot foul line is for children, women, and older adults. The 13 foot foul line is for all other adult men. You should be set!

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to slightly angle the rods when you secure them in the ground, as they will loosen over time if you do not.

• Supervise children when they play the game.

Resources

• National Horseshoe Pitchers Association