Anybody else into pitching horseshoes?

Johnny · 06-10-2023, 08:51 PM

It's an older sport, starting in 1909 I believe. Its original inspiration dates back to Roman times.

My Dad was a stellar horseshoe player. Unfortunately, he never really gave us any lessons. I just remember this weird twist he'd do to make the shoe fly flat and steady with a gentle spin.

For the past year or so, I've been practicing. I set up a horseshoe pit, bought a bunch of vintage, used horseshoes, painted them and have been trying to replicate Dad's style. Some of the horseshoes I bought are likely over 100 years old. I don't want any modern shoes. I only want stuff my Dad might have used. Need to keep things fair, you know!

I haven't come close to getting "good", am still very inconsistent, but am seeing some slow improvement. Most importantly, I'm having fun doing it. Whenever I have 30 minutes to kill, I hit the horseshoe pit.

4thIDvet · 06-10-2023, 11:19 PM

A cold drink of choice BBQ smoking and horseshoes flyin. You don't get a more American get together than that.

REDOAK · 06-11-2023, 11:57 AM

I'm not too bad at it. It would have been easier if I removed them from the horse first.

4thIDvet · 06-11-2023, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDOAK

I'm not too bad at it. It would have been easier if I removed them from the horse first.

2

Sanders · 06-11-2023, 04:01 PM

I spent hours and hours throwing horseshoes - before the dang internet. First thing anyone did when we had a family get together or camping trip was pull out the tape and measure out a horseshoe pitch and drive the stakes.

Nobody I know plays anymore, though. I remember when every public park had a row of horseshoe pits, as common as basketball courts and tennis courts. Seems everything is getting bulldozed over to make way for soccer fields.

Johnny · 06-11-2023, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanders

I spent hours and hours throwing horseshoes - before the dang internet. First thing anyone did when we had a family get together or camping trip was pull out the tape and measure out a horseshoe pitch and drive the stakes.

Nobody I know plays anymore, though. I remember when every public park had a row of horseshoe pits, as common as basketball courts and tennis courts. Seems everything is getting bulldozed over to make way for soccer fields.

Exactly! That's why I'm on a 1-man mission to bring back the sport!

I've got beautiful horseshoe pits, completely shaded by mature pines with a pine log back stop. Nobody I know cares or is interested. No biggie. I'm completely content. It's a great time.

What I like about horseshoes is not necessarily the game, but the history behind it. It's a glimpse into better times. That's one of the reasons I insisted on using only antique horseshoes from the 1940's and earlier. The shoes I'm throwing have been used by many long-dead people before me; perhaps even my own Dad!

GARANDNUT · 06-12-2023, 10:46 AM

I like all of the old yard games. My favorite is probably croquet but my yard is ill suited for it. I bet the reason you do not see horse shoes in public parks anymore is because they feel it is a liability.

JD Miller · 06-12-2023, 11:15 AM

Lawn Darts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_darts

4thIDvet · 06-12-2023, 01:18 PM

Cornhole game.

Cornhole (also known regionally as sack toss, cornball or bags) is a lawn game popular in North America in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with a hole in its far end

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornhole#Rules_and_format

GARANDNUT may be correct I never thought of the liability.
Cornhole? Don't laugh just yet. Our VFW just put out a game on Memorial weekend with a $1,000 first place prize.
500+ people showed up. $$

Johnny · 06-12-2023, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thIDvet

Cornhole game.

Cornhole (also known regionally as sack toss, cornball or bags) is a lawn game popular in North America in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with a hole in its far end

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornhole#Rules_and_format

GARANDNUT may be correct I never thought of the liability.
Cornhole? Don't laugh just yet. Our VFW just put out a game on Memorial weekend with a $1,000 first place prize.
500+ people showed up. $$

Cornhole is essentially replacing horseshoes. I've never played it, but I can see some advantages. Bean bags are safer, lighter, and easier to toss. Looks like fun.

To me, cornhole just doesn't have the same historic and nostalgic "cool factor" as horseshoes.

4thIDvet · 06-12-2023, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny

Cornhole is essentially replacing horseshoes. I've never played it, but I can see some advantages. Bean bags are safer, lighter, and easier to toss. Looks like fun.

To me, cornhole just doesn't have the same historic and nostalgic "cool factor" as horseshoes.

No but when some damn drunk hits a chick in the cranium with a bean bag it doesn't hurt as much as a horseshoe.
Or yah clip a horseshoe off Merc's noggin and yah wake up on your back in the E.R.

Johnny · 06-13-2023, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thIDvet

No but when some damn drunk hits a chick in the cranium with a bean bag it doesn't hurt as much as a horseshoe.
Or yah clip a horseshoe off Merc's noggin and yah wake up on your back in the E.R.

Last year I filled in at a horseshoe tournament at an AMVETS. It was actually a pretty good time. Definitely an older crowd though. Despite a bit of drinking among the contestants, nobody got hit by a horseshoe. Kinda surprised me.

MrKalashnikov · 06-13-2023, 09:09 AM

I played the game quite a bit as a kid. Our neighbors across the street had a sand pit in their backyard built for 'shoes. Summer evenings over there tossing, the adults all smoking & having cocktails or beer, the kids drinking little cokes or lemonade. I can still hear the "clank" of the shoes hitting the iron rod.

Have not played for many a moon.

Johnny · 06-13-2023, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrKalashnikov

I played the game quite a bit as a kid. Our neighbors across the street had a sand pit in their backyard built for 'shoes. Summer evenings over there tossing, the adults all smoking & having cocktails or beer, the kids drinking little cokes or lemonade. I can still hear the "clank" of the shoes hitting the iron rod.

Have not played for many a moon.

Good memories. I too remember the "clank" of my Dad's shoes hitting the stake. Great sound!

I also remember a lot of laughter and good-natured "smack talk" that went along with every horseshoe game.

06-10-2023, 08:51 PM	#1
Johnny Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,220	Anybody else into pitching horseshoes? It's an older sport, starting in 1909 I believe. Its original inspiration dates back to Roman times. My Dad was a stellar horseshoe player. Unfortunately, he never really gave us any lessons. I just remember this weird twist he'd do to make the shoe fly flat and steady with a gentle spin. For the past year or so, I've been practicing. I set up a horseshoe pit, bought a bunch of vintage, used horseshoes, painted them and have been trying to replicate Dad's style. Some of the horseshoes I bought are likely over 100 years old. I don't want any modern shoes. I only want stuff my Dad might have used. Need to keep things fair, you know! I haven't come close to getting "good", am still very inconsistent, but am seeing some slow improvement. Most importantly, I'm having fun doing it. Whenever I have 30 minutes to kill, I hit the horseshoe pit.

06-10-2023, 11:19 PM	#2
4thIDvet slug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Astor Florida Posts: 48,452	A cold drink of choice BBQ smoking and horseshoes flyin. You don't get a more American get together than that. __________________ God Bless Americas Veterans. All who are serving and have served.

06-11-2023, 04:01 PM	#5
Sanders Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 66,511	I spent hours and hours throwing horseshoes - before the dang internet. First thing anyone did when we had a family get together or camping trip was pull out the tape and measure out a horseshoe pitch and drive the stakes. Nobody I know plays anymore, though. I remember when every public park had a row of horseshoe pits, as common as basketball courts and tennis courts. Seems everything is getting bulldozed over to make way for soccer fields. __________________ "The truly dangerous man dresses inconspicuously and is soft- spoken. He walks away from most confrontations. The only time you learn that the truly dangerous man is mad at you is a split second before you die, for he never fights. He only kills. The truly dangerous man knows that fighting is what children do and killing is what men do." - Charley Reese 1986 3

06-12-2023, 11:15 AM	#8
JD Miller Fake Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 39,218	Lawn Darts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_darts __________________ .......

06-11-2023, 11:57 AM	#3
REDOAK Intelligent Posterior Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,713	I'm not too bad at it. It would have been easier if I removed them from the horse first.

06-12-2023, 10:46 AM	#7
GARANDNUT Pontificator Maximus Join Date: May 2006 Location: between the hills Posts: 8,733	I like all of the old yard games. My favorite is probably croquet but my yard is ill suited for it. I bet the reason you do not see horse shoes in public parks anymore is because they feel it is a liability.

06-12-2023, 01:18 PM	#9
4thIDvet slug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Astor Florida Posts: 48,452	Cornhole game. Cornhole (also known regionally as sack toss, cornball or bags) is a lawn game popular in North America in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with a hole in its far end https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornhole#Rules_and_format GARANDNUT may be correct I never thought of the liability. Cornhole? Don't laugh just yet. Our VFW just put out a game on Memorial weekend with a $1,000 first place prize. 500+ people showed up. $$

06-13-2023, 09:09 AM	#13
MrKalashnikov Deplorable Join Date: May 2008 Location: Behind The Iron Curtain Posts: 8,077	I played the game quite a bit as a kid. Our neighbors across the street had a sand pit in their backyard built for 'shoes. Summer evenings over there tossing, the adults all smoking & having cocktails or beer, the kids drinking little cokes or lemonade. I can still hear the "clank" of the shoes hitting the iron rod. Have not played for many a moon.