| If you have seen celebrities wearing cowboy | | | | a high heel, especially on fashion boots, with a |
| boots on the pages of all your favorite magazines | | | | pointed or rounded toe. These days, the toe is |
| you will probably want to buy a pair for yourself. | | | | more pointed but a pair of cowboy boots |
| However, it can be difficult to choose the pair for | | | | designed for working in will only have a slight point |
| you but we hope that after you have read this | | | | to the toe since anymore would be difficult and |
| you will have all the information you need to | | | | unpractical to work in. They also have no lacing |
| make the right decision. | | | | and are most often made of leather. However, |
| Cowboys first wore these boots when working | | | | they may also be made of alligator, snake, |
| since they needed a pair of boots that were | | | | buffalo, and ostrich. Some more flamboyant pairs |
| sturdy and practical. They needed to protect their | | | | of boots may even be decorated in rhinestones |
| feet during the course of their day when they | | | | or studs, although you won't see many cowboys |
| were constantly mounting and dismounting horses, | | | | in Texas with a pair like this! |
| as well as working and training them and cattle. | | | | The soles of cowboy boots are designed so |
| The areas that they had to work in were often | | | | cowboys can place their foot in the stirrup and |
| rough and the horses and cattle unpredictable, so | | | | mount their horses with ease. This means that |
| it was important that their footwear was up to | | | | the leather sole is treadless and smooth. The high |
| the job! This meant that boots have evolved | | | | heel is very important since this ensures that the |
| over the years to become what we know to be | | | | cowboy's foot does not slide through the stirrup if |
| cowboy boots. | | | | the rider was unseated. This could potentially save |
| It is thought that cowboy boots actually originated | | | | their life. The lack of laces and comfortable fit also |
| from the cavalry boot, which dated back to the | | | | may help prevent a serious accident if the rider |
| 1860's during the Civil War. These boots were | | | | was unseated, as the rider's weight will pull the |
| modified over the coming years so that they | | | | boot from their foot. Another feature of cowboy |
| fitted better and were suited to the working | | | | boots is the tall shaft. This protects the rider both |
| conditions of working cattlemen. Since the highest | | | | on and off the horse. When riding, the leg will be |
| demand for these boots was in areas wear there | | | | protected from the saddle rubbing, and from long |
| was a lot of cattle ranches, it makes sense that | | | | grass and thorns. When dismounted, the leg and |
| this is where there was the largest number of | | | | foot of the cowboy will be protected from rocks, |
| specialized bootmakers. Examples of these areas | | | | thorns, and even snakes! |
| include Kansas and Texas. | | | | Although you won't be wearing your boots in |
| These days, cowboy boots have evolved to | | | | rough terrain, you will still find that they offer you |
| become not only the boot of choice for cowboys | | | | a great deal of comfort and protection and will |
| working hard on a ranch, but also for people | | | | wonder what you ever did without them! |
| wanting the latest in fashion footwear. They have | | | | |