The begining
It was as early as the second century that iron plates or rings for shoes were nailed onto horses’ feet in Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Camp followers of the Grecian armies would take discarded shoes from their horses and began throwing them toward a stake. This modification became known as quoits, and somewhere along the timeline it is accepted history that horseshoe pitching had it origin in the game of quoits. In 1869, England set up the first rules to govern the game. Over the years, those rules have been modified many times over, primarily in the U.S., where the game took a strong hold. The game was a favorite pastime among soldiers in most wars and continues today as the NHPA sends hundreds of pitching horseshoes to our servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
early tournaments
The first horseshoe-pitching tournament in which competition was open to the world was held in the summer of 1909 in Bronson, Kansas. The games were played in dirt courts with shoes thrown at stakes just 2 inches high and 38.5 feet apart. Today’s games are mostly played on clay courts with 14-15 inch high stakes placed 40 feet apart.
ORganizations
In the mid 1920’s The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) was formed. The NHPA is now body to some 15,000 members that oversees the game as it is played by more than 10 million enthusiast across the U.S. and Canada. The NHPA is comprised of nearly 60 charters with the U.S., Canada, and several countries throughout the world. The NHPA offers numerous opportunities for individuals to become involved with organized horseshoe pitching through its various charters, clubs and sanctioned league programs. Horseshoe pitching is truly a game for all ages – with the association offering seven divisions of play to attract juniors as young as five and elders as old as 85.
The Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association (MOHPA) charter membership in the NHPA ranks as the second largest in the U.S. The state association is highly organized and motivated with more than 25 clubs in various cities across the state offering many indoor court facilities making horseshoe pitching a year round sport.
From 1921-1941 Missouri held its State Horseshoe Pitching Championships during the State Fair in Sedalia. During WWII the state championships cased. In 1950 the MOHPA was reorganized as a charter of the NHPA. From that time through the present time the State Championships have been held at various locations in Missouri offering divisions for men, women and juniors.
The Missouri Horseshoe Pitchers Association (MOHPA) charter membership in the NHPA ranks as the second largest in the U.S. The state association is highly organized and motivated with more than 25 clubs in various cities across the state offering many indoor court facilities making horseshoe pitching a year round sport.
From 1921-1941 Missouri held its State Horseshoe Pitching Championships during the State Fair in Sedalia. During WWII the state championships cased. In 1950 the MOHPA was reorganized as a charter of the NHPA. From that time through the present time the State Championships have been held at various locations in Missouri offering divisions for men, women and juniors.
