'Close only counts in horseshoes', the old saying goes. But what does this mean exactly? Horseshoe pitching is one of the few sports where 'close enough' actually counts for points.

The game in its purest form only requires two stakes set roughly 40 feet apart, a few horseshoes and a minimum of two people to play it.

In competitive horseshoe pitching, participants use specially manufactured horseshoes that weigh a maximum of 2lb 10 oz, are seven inches long with a three inch opening. Games are played on courts 46 feet long and six feet wide, with a target area of moist clay and two foot-high stakes spaced 40 feet apart.

In these competitions, there is a referee to settle scoring disputes (which are likely to occur if the competitors are very serious about their games) and an official scorer. There are various types of contest. Two players usually play the best of 11 games. Each player may have to pitch 50 or 100 shoes in a game.

There are two basic types of competition - singles and doubles. In a singles game, each player has two shoes and uses the same pitching box. Players pitch both shoes at the opposite stake to complete an 'inning'. They then walk to that stake, tally the score and pitch back to the other stake. In a doubles game, partners play separately, with one at each stake. Shoes are pitched from one box by two players and then pitched back by the other two. The partners' scores are added together, but the individual record of ringers and shoes pitched should be kept.

Games

There are two basic types of games which you can play:

• Cancellation scoring
• Count-all scoring

In a cancellation scoring game, each ringer scores three points. Each shoe closer to the stake than an opponent's scores one point. Innings continue until one player reaches 40 points. Only the difference between the scores in each inning counts (for example, if Arthur scores 4 points and Ford scores 2 points, Arthur's score for the inning is 2 and Ford's is 0; however, if they both score the same score, no score is recorded).

In a count-all scoring game, each ringer scores 3 points and 1 point is scored for every shoe within six inches of the stake, regardless of the position of an opponent's shoes. A game lasts 25 innings with 50 shoes being pitched during the game by each player. Ties are broken by pitching an extra inning.

Scoring

Shoes must be within six inches of the stake to count for a score. A shoe that hits the ground outside the target area cannot be scored. A shoe that encircles the stake so that you can draw a line between the two prongs without touching the stake is called a 'ringer'.

Pitching Rules

A player in the act of pitching must keep his feet behind the foul line until the shoe has left his hand. His opponent must remain on the opposite side of the stake to the rear. An opponent must not talk, move or in any way distract the pitcher. Failure to abide by this rule results in a loss of score in that inning. No player may walk to the opposite stake, or be informed of the position of the shoes before an inning is complete. Once thrown, shoes may not be moved or touched until the scores have been decided.