Playing horseshoes while camping is a tradition of our families that we grew up playing. We were lucky enough to have a nice pit at our favorite camping spot. It was at this campground we would host our annual tournaments, with bragging rights. Keep reading for the rules of Horseshoes and 7 games like horseshoes that offer more portability.
I love the game of horseshoes and would love to play it more than once a year. Plus I could gain a competitive advantage by bringing this to my backyard. Not all of us have the luxury of a huge backyard to entertain the idea of building a horseshoe pit. Enter portable horseshoes.
Disclaimer, this isn’t for serious players, but as a fun not-so-serious game or for kids, you will probably like this set.
Portable Rubber Horseshoes Game Set
Portable rubber horseshoes are one of the best backyard games for kids. The soft rubber horseshoe games have come a long way, and although not as strong for competition-level horseshoe players are still fun for kids or a fun game of horseshoes.
The rubber pads are good for playing indoors or on cement to keep them in place. Get the price.
How to Play Horseshoes
Horseshoes is a game played with either two or four players (2 teams) in a larger outdoor area. Teammates sit on opposite sides and take turns throwing into a sand pit trying to get closets or around a metal stake, about 40 feet apart.
The horseshoes you throw resemble a U shape and are about twice the size of an actual horseshoe used for a horse.
Only one team can be awarded a point for each round, with different points for landing your shoe around the ringer or getting 2 closer. If you are skillful enough for the horseshoes to land around the middle pole it counts as 3 points. The first team to get 21 points win!
Those are the basics. Here are more detailed rules for how to play horseshoes.
7 Fun and Portable Games Like Horseshoes
1. Ring Toss
If you’re looking for a new pastime reminiscent of horseshoes, you might want to check out Ring Toss. It’s an entertaining outdoor game that breathes new life into traditional garden games, adopting elements of horseshoes and bocce ball.
Ring Toss offers an engaging twist on standard outdoor games, swapping out classic pieces for rings. The goal? Toss these rings and hook them onto targets. This game provides entertainment on various terrains, be it the sandy shore of a beach, a lush, grassy park, or the inviting green space of your backyard.
Explore the pricing options for Ring Toss, and prepare to add a fun new element to your leisure activities.
2. Toss Across
If you’re fond of games like horseshoes, you’ll find a new outdoor pastime in Toss Across. It revitalizes the classic, beloved tic-tac-toe game and brings it to your lawn, adding elements reminiscent of Horseshoes and Bocce ball.
This game features safe, gentle-tipped pieces that stand upright when thrown, replacing the old-style pointed darts. Whether you’re on the sandy beach, the lush grass of a park, or the comforts of your backyard, Tic Tac Throw makes for a delightful addition to your outdoor fun.
It’s important to note that this game isn’t meant for hard surfaces like concrete, much like how you wouldn’t dream of tossing a horseshoe onto cement. Discover the pricing options for Tic Tac Throw and get ready to introduce a new, exciting game to your outdoor activities.
3. Ladderball
The rules of Ladderball are all so similar to horseshoes except for instead of landing a horseshoe on a ring you are throwing a string around a bar. There are 3 different levels with varying points for trying to throw your bola around one of the 3 bars. Partners throw at opposite ends while trying to beat the other teams to be the first ones to 21. Get the price or build your own DIY ladder ball game.
4. Washer Toss
Washers is one of the closest games to horseshoes, just a miniature version. Instead of throwing horseshoes, you throw smaller washers. Instead of throwing into a large sand bit, you throw into a little wooden or plastic enclosure. Instead of throwing from 40 feet you throw from about 8 feet. Washers even come as a part of many backyard game combo sets which makes it even more affordable. Get the price.
5. Cornhole
The classic bean bag toss game is very similar to horseshoes in that you are aiming at a target with a similar way to score. Also a 2 or 4-player game, instead of playing with pits or horseshoes, you are playing with a wooden board with holes in it and bean bags.
The boards are heavy and not as portable as the other games, but still more portable than horseshoes. Three points are awarded (like a ringer) for landing it into one of the holes in the platform. Get the price.
6. BulziBucket
Bulzibucket is another game very similar to horseshoes, with a mix of beer pong. Instead of using pits, you use portable and compact buckets. And instead of heavy metal shoes are playing with balls. The rest of the Bulzibucket rules are pretty and the point structure is very similar. However, the biggest benefit of this game is that it floats and patent pending buckets fold up very small. After playing and seeing it you will see why we rated this one of the best beach games for adults. Get the price.
7. Rollers
A mix between horseshoes, bocce, and lawn bowling is the game of Rollers. The rules are simple, similar to horseshoes you stand approx 25 feet away from the target and roll the wooden disc towards the target. Instead of a ringer, you earn more points by your piece getting closest to the target and standing on it side, instead of falling over. This takes rolling of throwing technique, just like getting practice for throwing a horseshoe. The rollers are definitely not as heavy so it’s a game accessible to more ages, without having to adjust the throwing line. Here are the rules for rollers or get the price.
