6 Best Horseshoes for Flipping in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Long ago, horseshoes were played with the same shoes worn by horses. Today, the horseshoes designed for playing the game differ greatly from those used by farriers. They’re designed for throwing instead of walking, and they have many features intended to aid in getting the perfect throw.

Gaming horseshoes have design features that make them ideal for players with different throwing styles. In this article, you’ll find reviews of the six best horseshoes for flipping, made to help you flip your way to victory.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2025

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Gordon Professional Pitching Horseshoes	Pair is matched to within 5 grams Warrantied against breaking Crafted from C1035 carbon steel	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Triumph Forged and Steel Horseshoe Set	Includes two stakes Well-balanced Inexpensive	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Double-Barrel Professional Pitching Horseshoes	Durable construction Includes two-year warranty Sanctioned by NHPA	CHECK PRICE
		Challenger Professional Pitching Horseshoes	Many ways to grip it Warrantied for two years Double-sided tip cleats for easy flipping	CHECK PRICE
		Mustang Professional Pitching Horseshoes	Can be turned or flipped Made from a unique iron alloy NHPA approved for leagues and tournaments	CHECK PRICE

The 6 Best Horseshoes for Flipping

1. Gordon Professional Pitching Horseshoes – Best Overall

Today, if you want to ensure you’re using proper horseshoes, you need to choose a pair sanctioned by the NHPA for tournament play, like these pitching horseshoes from Gordon Professional. They’re drop-forged out of premium AISI C1035 carbon steel, ensuring they deliver top-tier durability and won’t be easily damaged from a perfect ringer.

The durable powder coat applied to these horseshoes improves longevity even further. This gives them a great feel and grip while protecting the horseshoe from damage and corrosion. These shoes are even guaranteed against breaking because they’re so durable. All this means they’re also a pretty pricey pair, but it’s worth it for the quality you get.

No matter your pitching style, we think you can’t go wrong with the Gordon Professional pitching horseshoes.

2. Triumph Forged and Steel Horseshoe Set – Best Value

If you’re on a tight budget, you can try Triumph’s Forged and Steel Horseshoe set. It includes two 20” stakes, two powder-coated silver horseshoes, and two powder-coated gold horseshoes. They aren’t designed for professional use but are affordable and ideal for casual players.

Unlike other discount brands, Triumph’s horseshoes are delivered in a package with a handle you can use as a carrying case. Although the shoes are advertised as “forged,” they’re cast shoes, which aren’t as durable. Most customers were pleased with the horseshoes, but some were disappointed that they’re easier to break than premium shoes.

3. Double-Barrel Professional Pitching Horseshoes – Premium Choice

You can’t beat the Double-Barrel Professional Pitching Horseshoes when you need a high-quality set of horseshoes for professional events. They’re made in the USA and NHPA-sanctioned for tournament and league play. The shoes weigh 2 ½ pounds and are made of a durable iron alloy.

The Double-Barrel shoes come with a 2-year warranty, but you probably won’t need it because these shoes are built to last. Customers were overwhelmingly happy with the shoes, but some were shocked by the high price tag.

4. Challenger Professional Pitching Horseshoes

The Challenger model of professional pitching horseshoes is made by Thoroughbred Horseshoes, which produces high-quality horseshoes and accessories. The Challenger has a more traditional thumb cleat that some users may prefer, though it doesn’t offer as much versatility.

This horseshoe features double-sided tip cleats that make it very easy to flip since the weight is at the open end of the shoe. Unfortunately, the shoes are cast instead of drop-forged, which raises questions about durability. The 2-year warranty against breakage speaks to its longevity, but the horseshoes get dinged up much quicker.

5. Mustang Professional Pitching Horseshoes

At first glance, the Mustang professional pitching horseshoes seem like a great choice, and they’re good horseshoes, but not our top choice for flipping. They have a uniquely shaped thumb cleat that makes it challenging to use many holds that flippers might already be used to. Some people might like the shape of this thumb cleat, but others will undoubtedly be turned off by it. It’s still a flappable design but probably a better bet for those who turn instead.

Like the other shoes on this list, the Mustang is NHPA-approved for tournaments and leagues. It is cast from a unique iron alloy rather than being drop-forged. While this might have you questioning its durability, the 2-year warranty brings peace of mind. Unfortunately, these shoes tend to corrode and rust quickly, especially if left outside.

6. Competition Tournament Pitching Horseshoes

For competition horseshoes, these pitching horseshoes are pretty pricey, though they fail to deliver for flippers. They’re made to resist stake bounce-off, though they have undersized hooks that are harder to grip. Still, they’re drop-forged from AISI steel for premium durability, though they only have a 1-year warranty. The finish isn’t too inspiring since there are noticeable imperfections in the powder coat.

Matched within five grams of each other, this pair is made for competition play, and it’s NHPA-sanctioned for tournaments and leagues. But some of this horseshoe’s traits make it a lackluster choice for flippers. The thumb cleat isn’t too bad, even if it’s a bit short. With many better options on the market, we wouldn’t pick this pair for a flipper.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Horseshoes for Flipping

Anytime you’re purchasing something for competitive purposes, it’s easy to scrutinize every detail and get caught up in comparing every feature of different models. Luckily, horseshoes are pretty simple items. There’s not too much there to compare. Still, if you want to flip your way to victory, there are a few factors to keep an eye out for, which we will discuss in this buyer’s guide.

NHPA Sanctioning

For most, playing horseshoes is a fun backyard hobby when the family gathers for a cookout. But some people take horseshoes much more seriously and play in tournaments and leagues. If you compete, you’ll want to pick out a pair of horseshoes sanctioned by the NHPA for league and tournament play. The NHPA is the National Horseshoe Pitching Association, and their stamp of approval is on every horseshoe we’ve reviewed on this list.

Weight

A standard horseshoe is 2.5 pounds, but this can be a bit heavy for smaller pitchers. Some horseshoes are much lighter, weighing in at just 1.5 pounds, though retaining the same physical size. If you find pitching a heavy horseshoe difficult, you might consider trying one of these lightweight alternatives.

How Does It Hold

Everyone has a unique way of holding and pitching a horseshoe. There’s no technically right or wrong way of doing this, but you’ll find that each horseshoe is shaped differently, meaning it will feel different in your hand. If you get used to a particular pitching style, you might find it very strange to hold a different horseshoe that’s not shaped like the one you’re used to.

Many horseshoes feature thumb cleats that give you a good grip with your thumb. Some have large thumb cleats; others are small. Not all horseshoes even have thumb cleats, though. Others may have a smooth backside or a thumb cleat alternative like a thumb ramp. Therefore, you might want to try experimenting with a few designs and see which one you prefer the feel of.

Flipping Characteristics

Once you pitch a horseshoe, its flight characteristics depend greatly on its design. Some horseshoes flip better than others. One thing to look for is double-sided tip cleats. These are little cleats on the tips of the horseshoe. On some horseshoes, the cleats are on the front and back, while others have cleats on only one side. If the cleats are on just one side, the horseshoe won’t flip as well as one with double-sided cleats.

Warranty Period

Horseshoes designed for serious play almost always come with a warranty. After all, you’re throwing a heavy metal horseshoe at a metal stake and trying hard to hit it. There’s going to be a lot of banging. But the best horseshoes can hold up to several impacts without sustaining damage. A warranty ensures your investment is protected. Some horseshoes have 1-year warranties, but many come with an impressive 2-year warranty against breakage.

Our Best Horseshoes for Flipping Selection Process

The horseshoes for flipping we reviewed in this article were chosen by PangoVet’s writers and editors, in collaboration with our experienced veterinary team, based on personal experience with the product, knowledge and expertise about the pet’s care needs, brand reputation, and reviews across multiple retail outlets from other customers that have purchased and used the product. The combination of these factors allows us to gather a wide range of information to help you choose only the best horseshoes for flipping and ensure you have the most accurate information about these products to promote proper care, health, and well-being of your beloved pets.

Why Trust PangoVet?

PangoVet’s licensed and experienced veterinarians have a knowledge base that extends to all kinds of pets—furry, scaly, and feathered—and want only the best for pets of all shapes and sizes. We also have experienced writers and editors who are pet owners with a variety of different pets, and we love our pets as much as you do. We recognize pets as part of our family. We make sure to only choose products from reputable brands highly rated by customers as well as products that we have personal experience with, to ensure that every horseshoes for flipping featured in this review is high-quality and safe for your pets.

Final Thoughts

Back in the day, pitchers used real horseshoes that had probably already been through their useful lifespan on a horse. Today, horseshoes for pitching are designed with sport in mind, featuring large hooks to catch the stake and durable builds that aren’t easily damaged. In our reviews, you read about six of the best horseshoes for those who pitch with a flip, but the following three are our favorites.

The Gordon professional pitching horseshoes are our top choice. They are made of drop-forged carbon steel and have superior durability. The pair is matched to within five grams, is NHPA-sanctioned for tournament play, and features a pronounced thumb cleat for flipping.

For casual players on a tight budget, the Triumph Forged and Steel Horseshoe Set is ideal and includes two 20-inch stakes. If you need high-quality shoes for professional events, we recommend Double-Barrel’s Professional Pitching Horseshoes. They include a 2-year warranty and are made of a special iron alloy for superior durability.

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