During the game of horseshoes, players toss horseshoes at a metal stake, attempting to get the shoe as close to the stake as possible. The ultimate goal is to get a "ringer," where the horseshoe encircles the stake.

The game of horseshoes requires only four horseshoes and two metal stakes. The metal stakes are hammered into the ground at a slight angle at a specified distance apart. Using one stake as the starting point, each person or team of two people take turns at throwing their horseshoes, using the other stake as a target. The participants gain points for getting their horseshoe closest to the stake or landing it around the stake.