.PatAndre

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(View this full screen for some cool detail) First of all, I have a neighbor down the road that stuffs his no longer used cowboy boots on the fence posts of his pasture alongside the road. It is quite a sight to see. Some of the boots have been there for years. Some of them are no longer recognizable as boots. The one in this image is a survivor. A little about cowboy boots. The design of the cowboy boot has purpose and function. While in the saddle, the tall heel minimized the risk of the foot sliding forward through the stirrup and if the cowboy were to be unseated from his horse, being dragged to death. The tall leather shaft of the boot helped to protect the lower leg and ankle from rubbing on the stirrup leathers, as well as fending off brush and thorns. While dismounted, the shaft protected the leg and foot from brush, thorns, and rattlesnakes. In wet weather or creek crossings, the high tops helped prevent the boot from filling with mud and water. The first pairs of cowboy boots had very little style and were for working purposes only. They were a tool that helped keep the cowboy safe and quickly became a part of any cowboy's everyday life. But, they soon became a fashion statement. The stitching on the outside usually done in a plain black or brown soon gave way to more colorful thread, and designs and pictures were sewn into the boots. From there, boot makers began to experiment with inlays and overlays, and suddenly boot designs became limitless. But, in the real working ranch world, the cowboy boot is still an indispensable tool of the cowboying trade.