BRUCE MCLAREN: The fine art of pitching horseshoes

Around this part of the country the game of horseshoes often refers to pitching washers. Some folks refer to it as Texas, Polish or redneck horseshoes.

There are other contests where the object “pitched” is referred to as a dried “cow-pie.” In the words of the famous colonel from “MASH,” Sherman T. Potter, all of these were probably lumped into his category called “horse-hockey.”

I’m not exactly sure what he actually meant, but so as not to sound disparaging towards either washer horseshoes or cow-pie pitching, I’ll leave these two events to ebb and flow within themselves and stick to a game played between two people or two teams of two people using four metal objects called horseshoes and two metal stakes.

The horseshoes are not really shoes used on horses, but ones designed for tossing at one of the two stakes in the ground. Points are scored on the basis of the position of the thrown shoe to one of the two stakes. Now these stakes are placed 40 feet apart, thus making the throwing of the horseshoe a challenging experience for even the most able of players; but more on that later.

Not unlike other sporting competitions, this game is governed by rules established by the National Horseshoe Pitching Association of America. This organization regulates such things as the height of the stake above the ground, the shape of the horseshoe, various point-scoring rules and events held to determine national championships.

In case you are wondering, this game has not made it up to Olympic level as yet, however its history goes as far back as the American Revolutionary War. To find out more about the game, how to lay out a court and other finer details of how it is played, go to http://www.horseshoepitching.com. You will get a wealth of information that I cannot hope to include in this column.

Why then, you ask, have I chosen to spend my 750 words on something you could just as easily learn about off of the Internet? To be frank, my interest is not so much in the game as it is in the people who enjoy it as a non contact, family-oriented game.

Let’s look at this Fourth of July we just celebrated as a place to start, and harken back to that holiday a few years ago when folks gathered to celebrate Independence Day, not in contests to see who could remain standing after consuming large quantities of frothy beverages or playing a major league-wannabe softball game with its injuries, sprains and the aroma of eau-de liniment.

Rather, many families gathered around for the importance of the holiday and a chance for fellowship, friendship, food, homemade ice cream and a “friendly” game of horseshoes.

Once the outdoor experience of roasted corn, lemonade and all those other goodies was finished, for a while, a game of horseshoes brought folks together for a little friendly competition. Tame by today’s super-competitive, all-or-nothing activities, folks used this as a time to relax and work off some of the homemade meal without physically throwing too much out of whack.

Pitching a horseshoe that 40 feet to hopefully hear it make that resonating “clang” against the metal stake might be considered heated competition as the game wore on, but played without many disagreements, harsh words or modern-day brawls.

While other outdoor games such as croquet were almost as popular, horseshoes brought a spirit of competition that almost always ended with handshakes by winners and losers. Another unique aspect was that it permitted members of the family to play together, not pitted against each other, providing a unique bond unlike present-day competitive relationships. These moments provided them the opportunity to share a unique connection of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Look back at those times, not really so long ago, when families got together in parks and backyards with friends and neighbors. Contests, games and special kinds of fun were tied to those get-togethers, often seen lacking in our present-day needs of speed, daring-do or one-upsmanship. Horseshoes may not have been the glue that held those times together, but they did instill a certain truism in the saying that “a family that plays together, stays together.”

Ready to try returning to more wholesome family gatherings? Lose your competitive edge and buy a set of horseshoes. Give it a try and have some fun.

San Angeloan Bruce McLaren is a member of the Standard-Times editorial board.

If you would like to purchase a set of horseshoes go to:

http://tinyurl.com/l344qn