In Horse, the object is to NOT accrue the five letters, H-O-R-S-E. Often, the shots in Horse are trick shots and lucky shots designed to make the other guy miss… the kind you wouldn’t normally take in real game, unless you were on the Harlem Globe Trotters.

The Rules: With two players, player #1 is allowed to shoot from anywhere on the court. If he makes the shot, then player #2 must duplicate the same shot from the same position. If player #2 misses, he receives the first "letter" from the word "horse" - an "H".

However, if player #1 missed his original shot; then player #2 would be free to shoot from anywhere on the court and, if he makes it, force player #1 to try and duplicate his made shots.

A player loses the game once he spells the word horse.

The game is essentially the same with three or more players, possibly with some slight tweaks to the rules. In most cases, all players must make the same shot as the first player or receive a letter, until the turn returns to the first player.

In some variations, control of the ball will cycle indefinitely until one player gets a letter. In this case, the person who made the original shot could wind up with a letter, if he’s the first one to miss.

You might try these fun variations:

1. O-U-T or P-I-G: a faster version, especially good when mom is calling you for dinner.

2. No Repeats. Players may not repeat a "made" shot. Once a shot has been made in one place or style, it cannot be taken again. Variety is the spice of life.

3. Proving the Shot: After some gets H-O-R-S-E, the person who originally made the shot must make the shot again from the same spot to prove that the shot was skill and not luck. If he makes it, the other player is out, but if he misses, the other player stays in.

4. Insurance Shot: taken when a player reaches the last letter. If made, it allows the player to stay in the game with one letter less than the maximum.

5. Tipping, or "tip-horse": The player whose turn is immediately after the shooter may tip the ball back into the basket on a miss, giving the shooter an extra letter.

Horse

We'd love to hear the games you played when you were young. Share them with your friends on GettingOutside.