The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HORSE

HORSE IS A GAME PLAYED WITH A BASKETBALL AND HOOP BY TWO OR MORE
PERSONS. EACH PERSON TAKES A SHOT IN ROTATION FROM ANYWHERE ON THE
COURT. IF A PERSON MAKES HIS SHOT, EACH SUCCEEDING PLAYER MUST MAKE
THE SAME TYPE OF SHOT FROM THE SAME POSITION UNTIL SOMEONE MISSES OR
THE ROTATION COMES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SHOTMAKER. IF A PLAYER
MISSES A FOLLOWUP SHOT, HE IS ASSIGNED A LETTER FROM THE WORD HORSE,
FIRST AN 'H', THEN AN 'O', ETC., UNTIL THE PLAYER MISSES FIVE SHOTS
TO SPELL OUT THE WORD HORSE, WHEREUPON HE IS OUT OF THE GAME. THE
LAST REMAINING PLAYER WINS THE GAME. THIS WAS A POPULAR GAME I
LEARNED WHILE I WAS GROWING UP, AND WAS PLAYED IN BACKYARDS, AND
SCHOOL GYMS, AND ON PLAYGROUNDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Date learned: CA00001967