Although cowboy boots today are much more stylish than the originals, their basic construction is representative of their purpose on the ranch.
I promised a post about the history of cowboys boots and what they are made for. All of my information I use in this post came from this great website all about cowboy boots. If you have any questions about boots I would encourage you to check it out, Cowboy Boots Online.
After the Civil War the ranching way of life had become more common. The men driving cattle realized the military boots they got in the war weren’t up to par for their work. Around the 1870s a cowboy took his boots into a shoe maker to have him make some alternations that would help him be more comfortable during work on the ranch. He asked to add a deeper heel in order to keep his feet from slipping around in the stirrups (a stirrup is the part of the saddle that the feet are put into). He wanted a pointy toe so the boots could be pulled in and out of the stirrups easier and he asked for a taller shaft to protect the lower part of his legs from the hazards that were seen out west.
Now, when I look at my cowboy boots all I can think about is how they have served the farmers and cowboys that have come before me.
Pink ones! You have some too! I just love cowboy boots, my favorite are the snip toes:) Great post!
I do love the snip toes. Square toes are just great all around in any form, they can be dressed up and dressed down just like a pointed toe. It’s funny you say they look pink, I didn’t even realize that until you said it. They’re actually red but they look pink in the picture. 🙂
I like this post! I am constantly posting cowboy boots on my blog. I figure if I just post pictures, I don’t have to buy as many pairs!
Maybe I should use that philosophy. If the holidays hadn’t come so fast I would probably be writing about a new pair of boots I have now. 🙂