Trip Report - Making Horseshoe Pits

[P Chippa]

I like playing horseshoes. It goes perfect with barbeque and beer to make a great summer day in the backyard. This is how I made mine over the weekend.

Materials Needed:

Garden Border Timber (4x)
Painter's Plastic Drop Cloth (1x)
4" Nails (16x)
Bags of All Purpose Sand (14x)
Can of Spray Paint - any color - (1x)

Tools Needed:

Hand Saw for cutting wood
Hammer
Spade Shovel
Measuring Tape


1) Cut the garden timbers to 41.5" & 48" (4 of each). (I used a handsaw, it took about 90 seconds per cut.) A horseshoe pit is supposed to be 3ft wide x 4ft long (inside the pit). The 40.5" pcs go in the front and back and overlap the longer pieces.

2) Measure 40 feet in the area where your pits will be. This is the distace between the stakes. Hammer the stakes into the ground.

3) Nail together the timber and lay them around the stakes. The stake should be directly in the middle of the box.

4) Spray paint the grass around the outside of the box. Remove the box. Now you know where you have to dig.

5) Dig out marked area around 4 inches deep. You will have to remove the stake to finish up.

6) Cut the drop cloth in half and lay the pieces in the pits. The drop cloth I got ended up being two layers because I didn't unfold it all the way. This is going to prevent weeds from growing up through the sand.

7) Fit the wooden frame into the dug up area. You may have to do a little re-digging and finagling to get it in there properly.

8) Hammer the stakes back in and dump the sand in.

9) Get beer, turn on grill. Play Horseshoes.


http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8184/pit1jpeg8ub.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8297/pit26fd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

edited: 3'x4' on inside of pit

[meleader2]

i dunno about regulation sizes or anything, but the pit looks a little small. it doesn't seem to prevent a bounce INTO the pit.

[P Chippa]

[ QUOTE ]
i dunno about regulation sizes or anything, but the pit looks a little small. it doesn't seem to prevent a bounce INTO the pit.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not totally sure either, but really nothing is going to prevent short tosses from bouncing/rolling in there.

[dcasper70]

Nicely done.

Three quick thoughts (I've built a few of these):

1) I'm not a fan of the front piece of timber. Short tosses that hit that could carom anywhere, injuring participants or spectators. Granted, you have this risk with the side and back timbers, but far more shots land short vs long/wide.
All you need during a heated match is one curious child wandering into the area getting hurt and you lose the pit, and the house that goes along with it.

2) Doubling up on the back timber can help the issue in #1 with regards to long shots. This also provides some bounce back points.

3) To better secure the posts, I've found that cheap 8-10" terra cotta planters are very useful. They usually have a hole in the bottom the size of the rebar posts. Put the post through the hole, temporarily secure it on the underside with duct tape, and fill the planter with Quickrete. After it cures, remove the tape and bury the whole contraption. A little more work, but well worth it IMO.

[P Chippa]

I've only seen them with wooden border or without. I've never seen it 3 sided (less the front). I think it would look kinda strange. I know what you mean about the ricochet off the front, but like you said, there's going to be bad shots bouncing in wierd directions no matter what you do.

I may scoop up your idea with the planters. I'm debating whether or not I want the stake easily removable for storage in the winter months though. With that drop cloth weed barrier down it might be a pain in the ass. As I use it I'll determine if the stake needs to be more firmly istalled.