Horse Collar can be played one-on-one (two players) or with two or more teams of two players per team, playing from the same end of the board.

Each player/team uses one set of pucks [red or blue]. Depending upon the number of players, teams may need to alternate sides as the ends change.

Games are played in ends until one team scores 51-points. However, scoring 51-points first does not necessarily make that team the winner. Every team gets to finish each end & the highest final score is the winner.

Before a team can score any points at all, at least one puck must be 3-points or more. Pucks are considered in play if they are on the board and past the foul line.

If playing singles, one player will throw all eight pucks. If playing teams (4 or 8 players), one player will throw 4 pucks of the same color & the other player will throw the remaining 4. The objective is to get at least one puck into the 3-Zone to get the scoring started. All pucks must be past the foul line or off the board. If a pucks remains on the board that is not past the foul line, no points can be awarded – but if it is not your last puck, it may be knocked off.

How To Play Horse Collar With 2 Players

Players stand at opposite ends of the board, facing each other. The first player shoots all 8 pucks (4 blue & 4 red) consecutively towards the one end of the board. After all 8 have been shot, the score is counted as shown in below illustration under “Method of Scoring”.  Then the board is cleared & the opponent shoots in the same manner from the end of the shuffleboard at which they are standing. Players alternate shooting until one player has scored 51 points (See “Technical Points” – Rule 1 below).

How To Play With 4 or 8 Players

With more than two persons, Horse Collar is a team game. If there are 4 players, they divide into teams of 2 each. If 8 players, they divide into teams of 4.

To start a game the opposing teams station themselves at opposite ends of the shuffleboard (all players of one team at one end, all their opponents at the other). The starting team shoots all 8 pucks toward the opposite end of the board, with each member of the team shooting his quota consecutively, in the following manner:
On a 2-player team, the first player shoots 4 pucks, in a row and then his partner shoots the remaining 4 pucks of opposite colour.

On a 4-player team, the first player shoots 2 pucks in a row, and each of his partners in turn shots 2 pucks in a row until all 8 pucks have been shot.

When all 8 pucks have been thrown, the score is counted as shown below in “Method of Scoring”. Then the opposing team clears the board and shoots its 8 pucks in the same manner as described above.  Teams continue to alternate shooting until one team has scored 51 points (See “Technical Points” – Rule 1 below).

How To Count Players/Teams Scores – “METHOD OF SCORING RULES”

After all 8 pucks in a round have been played, it must first be determined whether at least one puck is completely in the 3-Zone or overhanging the end or end-corners of the shuffleboard playing field.  If there is NO puck in this zone, NO SCORE OF ANY KIND CAN BE COUNTED, regardless of how many pucks remain on the board.

If there is at least one puck in the 3-Zone or overhanging the end (13-point zone) or the left or right hand Corner of the board (26-point zone), then the score is counted, as follows:

  • All pucks touching or in front of the deuce line count 1 point.  This applies to the entire area up to the designated foul line (typically “short” foul line is designated), but puck must be completely clear of the designated foul line to count.
  • All pucks between the deuce line and the trey line (including any touching the trey line), count  2- points.
  • All pucks between the trey line and the far end of the board count 3-points.
  • All pucks overhanging the board at the far end count 13-points (13 point hanger).
  • All pucks overhanging the left and/or right hand end-corners of the board score 26-points (26-point hanger).  Note:  Some establishments or tournament directors may not include or count the hanging corner any more than a hanger from the end of board, but most tournaments will include the 26-point count possibility.  Hanging corner is another item you should be informed about before you start to play.
  • All pucks which fall into the alleys, or do not clear the designated foul line are dead and do not count.

Score Count Summary:

In order to score, a team must have at least one puck being worth 3-points or more [It does not have to be the first pucks thrown in order to score].  For example, if a team throws 1 puck worth 3-points and 2 pucks worth 2-points and 3 pucks worth 1- point and all remaining pucks on the board are past the designated foul line, the team would score 10-points.

Hangers are worth 13-points.
Corner hangers are worth 26-points.

Games are played in ends until one team scores 51-points. However, scoring 51-points first does not necessarily make that team the winner.
Every team gets to finish each end and the highest score is the winner (51-points or greater).
Want to put some money on the line? Some players will have a “Money Count” which means every time a player/team does not score in a round they put an agreed upon amount of money into the “Money Count” jar (0.50c, $1, $5, etc.). The winner of the game keeps the money!

Technical Points

A game is NOT complete until player or team which has been shooting last has taken its LAST TURN AT THE BOARD, even though the player or team shooting first has already scored 51-points or more.  If both teams go over 51 points, the one with the FINAL HIGHEST SCORE IS THE WINNER.

During play, no contestant may leave his position to check the location of pucks he or his partners have played.

All pucks which do not completely clear the designated foul line are dead pucks, but must not be removed from the board.