how to build horseshoe pits?
Answers:
The important thing is that the stakes are 40' feet apart and at a slight incline towards each other.
Mine are 3'x5' inside dimension, framed in railroad tie with 2 1/2' runners on each side. You want to use a hardy stake, the one you get with a set of horseshoes is too short and too small in diameter. I used a 1" diameter solid steel rod. To set the stakes, drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of your stake in a block of wood. In my case, I used railroad tie (I had them, so I used them). Bury the block of wood and drive your stake through it. This will keep the stake firmly in place for years, while the wood block absorbs the shock and reduces the chance of a banged up ankle from a renegade shoe.
As far as what material to use, a lot of people prefer sand. Me, and most everyone I know who has pits, prefer blue clay. It's more maintenance, keeping the clay moist, you have to water them regularly and keep them covered when not in use but, playing on clay takes skill. When your shoe hits, it stays where it's at. Not like sand where you can hit 2 feet in front of the stake and slide in for lucky points. Not to mention, you don't get sand sprayed all over your yard. If you decide to use clay, you can usually find it (for free) around big construction sites where there is excavation going on. They can't use the clay as backfill, so when the excavator runs into a pocket of clay, they put it to the side seperately to be hauled away later.
I can see my horseshoe pits on Google Earth, cool huh?
Other answers:
Dig 2 holes that are about a half of a foot deep and about 1-2 feet across! Most are circles but can be oval! Depending on who is playing is how far they holes need to be apart! I think that ours are about 5-6 yards apart! Drive a stake(iron or metal) into the ground inside the hole!
Hope That Helps!
Dig 2 holes that are about a half of a foot deep and about 1-2 feet across! Most are circles but can be oval! Depending on who is playing is how far they holes need to be apart! I think that ours are about 5-6 yards apart! Drive a stake(iron or metal) into the ground inside the hole!
Hope That Helps!
I too am intrested in setting up a horseshoe pit and found the following url to be VERY helpful.
Horseshoe pit is 4ftx4ft.
40ft between stakes
foul line is 3ft in front of stake(1ft in front of pit)
stake ht. is 14-15 inches
I used 4x4 lumber and a chainsaw to build mine. It was quite simple.I made the overall dimension 4ft which is smaller than it should be but this size allows for a plywood cover when not in use that keeps it clean and I can just drive the mower over it instead of weed eating around it.
Some of my friends object to the front board on the pit because it racks your nerves when you throw short and glance off of it.