Why can I design and pitch my own horseshoes without obtaining an NHPA shoe sanction, as long as my shoes meet the NHPA rules specifications for weight and measurements?
A fair question that needs a good answer. Few people have the where-with-all to manufacture their own shoes or to commission the manufacture of custom shoes, so the question probably concerns only a few people. As the recognized authority on horseshoe pitching rules, the NHPA needs to regulate the equipment specifications and designs. Their current specifications are not very limiting or inhibiting to shoe manaufacturers in that only shoe maximum weight, width, length, thickness and opening are established. A shoe measuring box can be used to help facilitate checking shoes for size, but such devices are not part of the rules. Once sanctioned by the NHPA, a shoe design forever remains sanctioned even after their manufacturing has been discontinued. Thus old shoes which still meet the current NHPA weight and measurement rules may still be used in sanctioned tournament play. It would be wise for those attempting to use really old sanctioned shoes to have the manufacturer’s name, shoe mode
