Brighton Horseshoes

A horseshoe pit, on Mt. Vernon Street in Brighton, MA is to be the focus of my study in this blog. The horseshoe pit is not quite regulation size, however, still provides a tangible playing experience. The stakes are located a mere 27’ apart opposed to the regulation 40’. Although this distance is short, throwing techniques are still learned and perfected here. Understanding the way the horseshoe needs to be spun and how to determine its ending location are the two key aspects in horseshoes. Although you can’t put your full power into your initial shot, the set up and techniques are still the same.

 

Directly behind the pits, is a small concrete area with a relatively new green plastic picnic table. This table provides a location for players to relax, as well as bystanders to watch. It is located a safe distance behind the nearest pit, however, still close enough to view the entire area. This table is separated from the pits by an overgrown walkway, which has dirt and grass coming through it. This describes the tactile environment, which can be considered mostly natural. Besides the plastic table, concrete pad, and the metal pins, the environment is completely natural with grass, trees and sunlight. The overall area is approximately 50’X30’; this includes the pits, walkway and seating area. 

 

The pits are located off the street and up an uneven set of old stone stairs. The entry into the space is an obstacle and immediately sets the tone for your experience here. It feels old and out of place in the city, however, exciting and welcoming. There is also an old wooden fence as well as a metal railing on one side. This helps to frame the space making you feel enclosed and safe. Coinciding with the stairs, the weather holds a strong effect on ones initial feeling upon entering the pits. On two sides of the pits, there are large trees that overhang the far sides. On a cloudy day, these trees provide an eerie shadow that makes your experience much more depressing than on a sunny day. The pits seem gloomy and abandoned on these days when no one is around. However, as soon as the sun comes out, the colors of the trees and the natural environment can make you feel as if you’re in the middle of the country, not three minutes away from busy Chestnut Hill Road and Washington Street.

 

This brings up another interesting point about the pits. Although they are so close to the heart of Brighton, on a summer’s day, you feel as if you’re the only one around. When you are alone, before you start to play you can feel a cool breeze coming from the trees and only hear the sound of birds singing and leaves bustling. Occasionally you can hear a siren or loud horn coming from the surrounding main roads, but besides that the pits remain peaceful. While practicing alone, there are three distinct sounds that occur. You have the sound of the shoe hitting the pit boxes. These boxes are made of wood, and when the metal shoe hits them its makes a deep hollow sound. The second sound is when the shoe hits the sand inside the pits. This makes a dark thud sound as if something was dropped straight down from the sky (as it basically was). And the third sound, the most gratifying sound, is the sound of metal on metal. When the shoe hits the pin, a very distinct clanking occurs. This noise is usually the sound of at least one point if not two or three. A ringer is worth the most points, but its not the only way to score.

 

Being in the space alone can be relaxing and peaceful, however, as soon as more people are added into the equation, the atmosphere becomes completely different. The normal noises at a horseshoe pit continue, but are now much more frequent. With two people on a team, and four people playing at once, the thumps, and clanks happen much more often. There is also a lot of talking that occurs around a horseshoe pit. Its not the fact that horseshoes doesn’t take concentration, but more the fact that while playing, it becomes more of a social occasion with friends and a few beers. Chatter also comes into play when the picnic table fills up with bystanders. These people are often waiting their turn, or just getting off the pits. They discuss horseshoes for the most part, however, it’s not unusual for the topic to move onto other issues.

 

The physical experience at the pit changes quite frequently. Its sometimes-solemn mood is accompanied next time by a much happier experience. The pit provides a get away location to just sit and think, while at the same time, can be used as the location of a gathering of closest friends, and even strangers. There is something about being in the woods that brings people together. It’s a natural bond that you can feel in this space as you become one with nature.