By Jennifer Uhlarik
Happy November, readers! In just a few days, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving! Are you ready? What are you thankful for?
Perhaps it seems silly, but beyond being immensely thankful for family, friends, and the usual things people say, I am thankful for our nation’s unique heritage. We have such a melting pot of cultures…with so many nationalities and cultures represented across our land. But one of the decidedly American things about our country that grabbed my heart as a little girl was the cowboy culture of the American West. This part of Americana has spawned me to write and publish fifteen stories about the Old West or parts of that culture, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it! So, I thought I’d explore another piece of that culture today by looking at the history of iconic cowboy boots.
The Roots of Riding Boots
For centuries, riders have needed sturdy footwear to protect their feet while working around or riding horses. Of course, just as with the rodeo and the cowboy’s large belt buckles, the Vaqueros provided the basis for the boots that would eventually evolve into our modern cowboy boots.
The Vaqueros were livestock herders who rode horses while performing their duties. Originally from Spain, they came to Mexico and Florida and worked their way up into the area we now know as the American Southwest. They needed sturdy footwear that would be easy to get in and out of the saddle stirrups, as well as that could keep their heels from slipping through the stirrup. (Such a mishap could prove deadly if the rider was thrown from the saddle with his foot trapped—as he could be dragged by the horse with no way to rescue himself). Also, they wanted to protect their legs from thorny plants, snakes, and other such dangers. So these men developed a style of boot with a tall shaft and a heel to prevent their feet from becoming stirrup-bound. They were basic cowhide, sometimes made in the colors of their respective ranches.
Wellington and Hessian boot styles
The military also adopted a tall boot with a heel. Hessian Boots or Wellingtons (the leather precursor to the rubber rain boots we know by that name today) are two such styles—first worn by cavalry troops in 19th century Europe. These were often made from a single piece of dark-colored leather, with a rounded toe, a slight heel, and a tall shaft, they made for a sharp accent to the military garb, and they served to protect a rider’s feet and legs from the problems mentioned above.
Evolving Styles
In the post-Civil War America, many men made their way to the western states and territories. Particularly in Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, cattle ranching was big business, and boots were in high demand. It was then that these utilitarian styles began to change. In some cases, the boot makers took the typically rounded toes and made them pointier, to make it easier for the wearer to slide his toes in or out of the stirrups. In other cases, the height of the stacked-leather heels was shortened to make walking in the boots over longer distances easier. Still others added decorative stitching to the shafts of the boots or created cutouts or patterns with different colors or materials—purely for ornamentation. Those cowboys who could afford two pairs of boots often kept one pair for work and a second, fancier pair for going to town.
By the 1930s and 40s, the cowboy boots took on an even more decorative style, since they became an iconic image of the American cowboy in movies. The point of the toes became more pronounced, and the patterns of stitching or inset leathers became more colorful and noticeable. Then, in the 50s, rodeo stars who competed in roping competitions asked for changes specific to their particular contests. They needed shorter shafts, rounder toes, and more of a block heel to help them dismount quickly and safely and be able to run. Thus, the “Roper” style was born.
Modern Boots
Today’s modern cowboy boots aren’t just for cowboys anymore. They’ve become a fashion statement of their own, worn by people in many different walks of life. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be worn for work, casual outings, social events, and even in formal settings like weddings or gala dinners.
And the iconic cowboy boot styles have even been adapted into shoe styles, lopping off the traditional boot shaft but keeping the pointed or snipped-toe shape of the foot. Over time, these popular styles have shifted from utilitarian to fashionable, but one thing is for sure—it doesn’t appear that the cowboy boot is going anywhere anytime soon.
It’s Your Turn: Do you like cowboy boots? Do you own a pair?
Jennifer Uhlarik discovered western novels at twelve when she swiped the only “horse” book from her brother’s bookshelf. Across the next decade, she devoured westerns and fell in love with the genre. While attaining a B.A. in writing from the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. She has finaled in and won numerous writing competitions and appeared on various best-seller lists. Besides writing, she’s been a business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, a historical researcher, a publisher, and a full-time homemaker. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband and fur children.
Love and Order: A Three-Part Old West Romantic Mystery
Wanted:
Family, Love, and Justice
One Old West Mystery Solved Throughout Three Short Romantic Stories
Separated as children when they were adopted out to different families from an orphan train, the Braddock siblings have each grown up and taken on various jobs within law enforcement and criminal justice.
Youngest child, Callie, has pushed past her insecurities to pursue a career as a Pinkerton agent. Middle child, Andi, has spent years studying law under her adoptive father’s tutelage. And the eldest and only son, Rion, is a rough-and-tumble bounty hunter.
When the hunt for a serial killer with a long history of murders reunites the brother and sisters in Cambria Springs, Colorado, they find themselves not only in a fight for justice, but also a fight to keep their newly reunited family intact. How will they navigate these challenges when further complicated by unexpected romances?
