Score four horseshoes using cancellation or count-all rules, with measured close-shoe distances in inches or centimeters.
Horseshoes Inning Scoring
Ringer = 3 points. An eligible non-ringer within 6 inches (15.24 cm) = 1 point; cancellation also depends on the opposing shoes.
Classify the Four Shoes
Enter two shoes for Player A and two for Player B after their final positions are agreed. Choose ringer only for a legal ringer. Choose close non-ringer when the shoe is within the scoring distance, including a leaner. Choose out of count or foul for a shoe that cannot score. Only close non-ringers need a distance measurement in the form.
Measure From the Stake
For a close shoe, enter the nearest distance between the shoe and stake, with the unit immediately beside the input. Six inches is exactly 15.24 centimeters. Each distance can use either unit; the calculation converts centimeters to inches by dividing by 2.54. Zero represents a non-ringer touching the stake. If the distance is farther than the limit, change the shoe result to out of count.
Cancellation in Two Stages
Opposing ringers cancel in pairs. Any surviving ringer is worth three points and controls which player can score that inning. With no surviving ringer, the closest remaining non-ringer can score, and that player’s second shoe also scores if it is ahead of the opponent’s closest remaining shoe. A player with a surviving ringer can add a close-shoe point only when that shoe wins the distance comparison.
Equal-Distance Shoes
Opposing non-ringers at an agreed equal distance cancel in pairs. The next closest eligible shoe can then matter. Enter equal measurements only when a tie has actually been established; rounding two distinct measurements to the same displayed number can change the awarded points. Entered decimal distances are compared as exact ratios, including the exact 1 inch = 2.54 cm conversion. Only exactly equal entered measurements cancel. Changing a unit converts the displayed entry to 14 significant digits; use agreed measurements and do not round distinct shoes into a tie.
Worked Examples
If A has one ringer and a two-inch close shoe while B has one ringer and a four-inch close shoe, the ringers cancel and A adds one point. If B has no ringer but its closest shoe is one inch away, A’s unopposed ringer still scores three; A’s two-inch shoe adds nothing. With no ringers, A’s shoes at one and two inches beat B’s shoes at three and four inches for two points.
Count-All Mode
In count-all mode the players score independently: three points for each ringer plus one for each close shoe. Equal distances do not cancel. For example, a ringer and a close shoe give four points regardless of the opponent’s shoes. Two ringers give six. This is standard count-all scoring, not the separate ringers-only variation that assigns a different point value.
Running Totals and Limits
Optional prior totals are added to the inning awards; blank means zero. The tool does not declare a match winner. Horseshoes formats can use different point limits, shoe limits, ties, and handicaps. The result is a checkable inning tally after the lie of every shoe is settled. A judge’s physical ruling, a disputed ringer, or a foul cannot be inferred from the numbers entered.
Reference Table
| Player A | Player B | Inning award |
|---|---|---|
| Ringer + 2-inch shoe | Ringer + 4-inch shoe | A 1, B 0 |
| Ringer + 2-inch shoe | 1-inch shoe + out | A 3, B 0 |
| 1-inch and 2-inch shoes | 3-inch and 4-inch shoes | A 2, B 0 |
| 2-inch and 4-inch shoes | 2-inch and 5-inch shoes | A 1, B 0 |
| Two ringers | Two ringers | A 0, B 0 |
Sources
National Horseshoe Pitchers Association, Official Rules/Regulations, Guidelines and Specifications, revised January 1, 2024, Rules 3 and 6. Calculator Academy, scoring examples and unit conversion, 2026.
