How to Throw Horseshoes onto Ringers

Learning to throw horseshoes on ringers can be fun and challenging.

Throwing horseshoes is an age-old tradition dating back to the Romans, who threw metal circles at stakes in the ground. The game of horseshoes is most commonly associated with wartime. Many soldiers pitched horseshoes during the Civil War to cure boredom, then brought the game home to their families. Still a backyard sport for all ages, pitching horseshoes can be fun for the whole family, and throwing ringers can be mastered with some practice.

Things You'll Need

• Horseshoe pitch
• Horseshoe

Instructions

1. Grab your horseshoe and stand approximately ten feet away from the pitch or metal stake in the ground with your feet parallel.

2. Hold the horseshoe in a comfortable manner. The two most common ways are in the middle of the "U," also known as the "burr," or on the side.Your fingers should be underneath with your thumb on top of the horseshoe.

3. Aim the horseshoe at the bottom of the ringer, and keep your eye on the bottom of the ringer at the same time.

4. Take one step forward and bring your horseshoe down to the side of your mobilized leg. The thumb on the horseshoe should come down beside your leg and not pass this point.

5. Pitch the horseshoe by bringing your arm back up for the release of the horseshoe in a slow, upward motion. Keep your eye on the bottom of the ringer and the release point, or bottom of the shoe, aimed in the same direction.

6. Spinning the horseshoe is the object of this game. In order to secure a ringer, the horseshoe should slowly spin once or twice, and hook onto the ringer. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Throwing ringers may take a while to master.

Tips & Warnings

• Holding the horseshoe on its side can help you slide and hook the horseshoe onto the ringer and is sometimes easier for young competitors.

• Use caution when throwing with others. This game can be fun, but dangerous. Always be sure that the pitch is clear of others before you throw a horseshoe.

References

• National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America
• Distinguished Civil War scholar James McPherson podcast
• Sport of horseshoe pitching

Resources

• Build your own backyard horseshoe pitch