The defending champion in the Women's World Horseshoe Tournament and recent inductee into the Indiana Horseshoe Hall of Fame,used to spend about six hours a day practicing.

Last year,she dropped down to two-or-three days a week-and walla-the accomplishments began pilling up.This weekend,she's displaying her deadly aim during the "Team World 93"Tournament at Telfer Park as a key member of the highly-touted Indiana squad.

"I have no idea why it happened,"said Snyder,explaining her recent success."Hey,it's horseshoes,who knows.It's just something I can't explain.You're either good or you're not."

There's no question that Snyder is good.Her ringer percentage of 83.3 is the bestt of any women in this weekend's tournament,and second to Walter Ray Williams Jr's 87.9 percent.

Her team is awful good too.Indiana won the team title in 1989 and '90 and was third the past two years.

They're hungry for a repeat,and after Friday's first day,they may stand a good chance.Indiana was in fourth place after the preliminary win totals with 10 1/2 points.Illinois 1 led with 13,followed by Minnesota 1 (12) and Kentucky(11).

"We always come back a little bit hungry,"said Snyder,who drove 10 hours from Grandview,Ind.for the tournament."We want that big trophy back."

With Snyder's supporting cast,that might be a good possibility.Teammate Mark Siebold won the Men's World Championship in 1986 and Karl Van Sant is the defending Senior World Champion.

But Snyder's the marquee attraction."She's very good,"Siebold said."As a pitcher,she has a lot of talent.When you watch her pitch,she does everything right.There's really not anything she does wrong."

Considering Snyder's late start in the sport,that's somewhat surprising.She didn't begin pitching shoes untill seven years ago,and now she's one of the finest women players around.

"Anybody can do it,"said the 46-year-old Snyder."You can be 80-years-old and have a sport or you can be 10-years-old and have a sport.Maybe someday people will see that,because it's a good sport for any age group."Right now,though,Snyder would like to see her Indiana team get back to the top.

The 16-team tournament has clubs from as far away as California,Kentucky,Ontario and Saskatchewan,making for an awful competive field."This year,there seems like there are more bigger pitchers in it,people with higher averages and stuff,"Snyder said."This tournament is getting tougher and tougher because the teams are getting tougher."

"I think everybody likes the tournament because it's fun and,of course,everbody wants that title of World Team Champions.But hopefully,we'll be the ones to get it."