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The Boots that

Survived the West

The Creation of Footwear Designed for the American Cowboy.
The Creation of Footwear Designed for the American Cowboy.

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor

or as long as men and women have been riding animals to be extremely painful. So, in the Middle Ages, shoemakers reconfigured
transport them from one place to another, they have worn the boots to be taller using a stiff/thick piece of leather to keep the leg
Fsome sort of protection for their feet and legs. All you need is safe. They were referred to as “Jackboots.”
to have one horse put one hoof on one of your feet and you will
either be at the nearest boot seller demanding better protection or in The Precursor to the Cowboy Boot –
the hospital. Muchas Gracias, Spain
Some of the earliest forerunners of boot design were from Egypt,
Quick Early Spain, Arab countries, England, and Mongolia, creating boots for
everyone from the King or Queen to the farmer in the field – and the
History soldier on the war front.
The earliest exam- Long before Spaghetti Westerns existed, the Spanish Cowboys, or
ples of specialized “Vaqueros,” were breeding and handling
footwear for riding horses and livestock across the mountain-
horses have been ous terrain of Andalucia in the South of
found in the tombs in Spain. Here, they established some of the
Egypt and were used very best cattle (the Andalusian Black) and
by those who worked Iron Avar stirrups from 7th to 8th century Hungary horse breeds (the Andalusian) in Europe.
around the horses used with chariots and for the occasional rider The boots worn by these cowboys were
to protect their feet. designed to protect the trainer, breeder, and
When the Chinese were working and riding their horses in 300 rider, equally. The leather made from the
A.D., the invention of a stirrup helped individuals secure their feet and hides of area livestock was considered to be of
therefore themselves to the back of a horse when riding across the ter- the best quality, and the quality leather botas
rain. They were shaped in circles and were made of iron. The use of a (boots) construction worn by the vaquero in
steadier version of riding shoes or boots to use when using the stirrup Spain were carried over to Spanish Territories
allowed the rider to apply the established in North America, especially in
Early 17th Century Persian Riding Boots needed pressure from the leg to Mexico and Southern California.
the stirrup to signal the horse These boots came in three different styles
where to go and how fast. The that had either round, pointed, or squared
stirrup also allowed for some toes with a thick low-profile heel that
protection when mounting and was later angled forward from the
dismounting the horse by keep- back so the rider, or handler in many Jackboot c. 1655
ing the foot steady – without cases, could easily maneuver through
breaking it. tasks and tricks on and off the horse during training.
Stirrups were eventually
attached to saddles using a piece The Advent of the American Cowboy Boot
of leather to connect the two. As By the time of the Civil War, military boots had been devised to
the leg moved, it was easy to function well in the stirrup, be as comfortable as possible for both
pinch the leg between the saddle riding and walking and be easily repairable. Durability was a must, and
and the stirrup leather which can

34 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles