Have you been wearing cowboy boots for as long as you can remember, or have you never bought a pair? Whichever end of the scale you are at, we have another question; how much do you know about cowboy boots? Your answer might range from being an expert, including knowing the history of cowboy boots, to knowing nothing other than they are boots worn by cowboys.
Do not worry if you do not know much about cowboy boots, as no rule says you must for you to be able to buy or wear them. However, hopefully, you agree it would be interesting and a bit of fun if you knew some facts about cowboy boys that were not only eye-opening but, in some cases, downright shocking. If so, read on, and we will provide you with ten little-known facts and trivia about cowboy boots.
- Cowboy boots did not originate in America but in Mongolia, England, or Spain, depending on who you ask. In truth, no one is 100% sure, as there have been various versions of leather boots throughout history, many of which are said to be the forerunners of cowboy boots.
- Reportedly, the first cowboy boots in America were made in Kansas by a farmer named Charles Hyer, who made a custom leather boot for another farmer who liked them so much he implored everyone he met to ask Hyer to make them a pair.
- It has been argued that a form of cowboy boot was partly responsible for the Union winning the American Civil War as its forces were issued robust leather boots, whereas many Confederacy soldiers had to make do with substandard footwear made from nothing more than cardboard and paper.
- Cowboy boots are made from many materials other than leather from the hides of cows. The skins of animals such as sharks, snakes and even bullfrogs have all been used. There are now vegan leathers made from plants that are used to make cowboy boots for those who wish to avoid animal products.
- The appeal of cowboy boots waned significantly in the early part of the 20th century, but they made a huge comeback around the 1940s when western movies became widely popular, and moviegoers started noticing the boots that the cowboys in those movies were wearing.
- The pointed toe is more than just a different style. It also has a practical use which is to make it easier to get your feet through the loop in the stirrups when mounting a horse.
- The shaft, which is the tube that rises from the base and covers the leg, was designed to prevent injuries from catching cacti or sharp brush and also from legs rubbing against the saddle when riding a horse.
- Cowboy boots are one of the few types of footwear that never has laces. One reason is it prevented cowboys from getting their boots trapped in stirrups should laces come loose and entangled.
- Hardened toes may cause many an injury if a person wearing cowboy boots kicks someone, but these toes have a more benign purpose which is to protect the wearer’s toes if a horse accidentally treads on them with their hooves.
- A huge cowboy boots sculpture is located at North Star Mall, San Antonio, Texas. These cowboy boots weigh 1,000 lbs., are over 35 feet tall, 30 feet in length, and are 9 feet wide. They were originally displayed in Washington, DC and subsequently transported to their present location.