The Cowboy Boot

The annual Texas Cowboy Reunion is held July 1-4 in Stamford, Texas. The event, which honors Texas cowboys and their traditions, began in 1930 for working cowhands, and has nothing to do with professional, rodeo cowboys. The rich culture and history of the working cowboy is what the Texas Cowboy Reunion is all about.

It began in 1930 when 13 Stamford businessmen got together and dreamed up a way to celebrate during the Great Depression. The gentlemen were itching to boost morale and make folks feel better during hard times. What better way to do so than to make holy the West Texas cowboy? The event was born, and with luck on their side, it was extremely successful in the first year. Four events, including calf roping, wild cow milking, bronc and steer riding, were  held with 98 cowboys participating. About 12,000 people attended. Seven years later, 70,000 folks showed up. By then, grandstands, lighting and entertainment were added.

Today, the Texas Cowboy Reunion is much the same, with crowds going wild over the cowboys, their horses and the events. Event organizers say the amateur rodeo is the biggest in the world. For more information, visit www.tcrrodeo.com.

Mules — the shoes, not the equines — are a shoe with no back and closed toes. This shoe style has been around since the 17th century, where it was favored by royalty and considered to be a luxurious shoe. Mules are more commonly worn by women, but are made for men, too. Styles are found in sandals, shoes and boots.

Image courtesy of Boot City.

Lucchese’s Charlie One Horse Yellow Crazy Horse Calf Western Cowgirl Mule Boots (we know, that’s a mouthful!) are a great choice for the sporty, western gal with a flair for rustic elegance. The boots aren’t yellow, but a smooth, tan leather. Toe shapes are “X” Pointed Toe, but don’t let that fool you — these mules are super comfy. The vamp is calf skin with beautiful, inlay stitching. The heels are about 2″ and the insole is regular, with a leather outsole.

The Lucchese Boot Company makes boots from bottom to top and states “every inch” comes from fine leathers. Craftsmanship and detail is the name of the game at Lucchese, and your purchase is one that will last a lifetime.

Image Courtesy of Boot City.

Talk about a handsome boot! Ferrini’s Men’s Goat in Black with “R” Medium Round Toe cowboy boots are something to write home about. These gorgeous, black boots include intricate stitching and design patterns. Made from cow hide, the Men’s Goat are perfect for cutting a rug. Fancy enough to carry you anywhere, comfortable enough to wear all day.

The vamps are goat in black with 13″ tops. Toes are medium round “R’s,” and the heels are a #4 combination 1 5/8″ high. Ferrini Men’s Goat have a regular insole and a leather outsole. Perfect!

Ferrini USA, Inc., strives to produce the finest cowboy boots on the planet. The company prides itself in the use of exotic leathers from around the world. Superb craftsmanship and unique design make every Ferrini boot unique.

Best of all, Boot City currently has a blowout sale on these special cowboy boots. If you snatch them up now, you’ll pay only $109.99 plus tax — which means a big savings of $20 for you! What are you waiting for?

Image Courtesy of Boot City.

Cowboys love ‘em so much they pay high dollar for a shiny new one. They’re often handed out to the best rider as a coveted prize for a job well done. This piece of metal is a symbol of courage, strength and plain old brawn.

Belt buckles have been used since the Bronze Age, when folks (mostly men) needed a belt and something to hold the belt together around their waist. Women found belt buckles fashionable during the Middle Ages. Belt buckles gained popularity into the mainstream during war. Since then, belt buckles were adapted and developed to suit the beholder’s needs.

Our tough cowgirls and boys are no exception.

Montana Silversmith Buckles are gorgeous renditions of the Wild West. Shown is a buckle of a rider pulling a pack horse, loaded with the cowboy’s belongings and rations. Complete with 99.9% pure silver and 14k gold, you’ll be proud to show off this amazing, German silver buckle. Montana’s patent guarantees the buckle for life: It will not fade, color or tarnish. The company even backs this with a “10 times stronger than lacquer” claim. You can do just about any activity in your Silversmith Buckle and not lose your pants.

Who knew belt buckles, so handy and useful, would become a status symbol?

Image courtesy of Boot City.

The Nocona Western Diamond-Back Rattlesnake, Natural w/ R Toe are a unique pair of cowboy boots. The vamp is made from Western Diamond-Back Rattlesnake and sports a natural, neutral color. The special toes are #4/R which means the toes are medium round and offer spacious comfort. Tops are 13″ matching and the heels are a #3 combination 1 5/8″ (not too high, not too low!). These boots have a regular insole with permanent padding and a tough, durable leather outsole that will keep these boots going forever. How cool is that?

You’ll look like a rock star with custom-made boots when you wear the Nocona Western Diamond-Back Rattlesnakes — they are that beautiful. The design is sleek with intricate western stitching. These boots are not for riding, but they will carry you just about everywhere else.

The Nocona Boot Company, founded in 1925 by Enid Justin, takes great pride in manufacturing cowboy boots. The company was founded by a determined lady who borrowed $5,000 to keep the company alive after her father’s death. Miss Justin’s eye for beauty and character are seen in Nocona’s craftsmanship. The Western Diamond-Back Rattlesnakes feature classic western styles and Italian leather with signature inlay tops, signature pull straps and all have Nocona’s Comfort feature.

National Day of the American Cowboy, held on July 25, 2009, celebrates and honors all cowboys. Held in Bandera, Texas, and hosted by Running R Ranch, this event is complete with food, rodeo, music and other entertainment.

Frontier Times Museum will proudly induct nine new members into its Texas Heroes Hall of Honor, including Ray Wharton (1956 World Champion tie-down calf roper), Maudeen Marks (started the Houston Fat Stock Show Rodeo along with her father, Emil Marks), and J. Frank Dobie (famous professor, author and lecturer).

The Cowboy General Store Market will be available for all your shopping needs, cowboy style. Children enjoy stick horse races, hoss washin’ and cowboy dress up, as well as the story tellers, trick ropers and cowboy singers.

Breakfast is served promptly at 8 a.m., complete with biscuits and gravy, and washed down with either coffee or juice. At 6 p.m., a BBQ with all the trimmings supper will be ready for all the hungry cowboys and cowgirls.

After your belly is filled, head on over for the rodeo!

You can’t go wrong in helping Bandera to celebrate this special day. Visit Frontier Times Museum for more information, ticket prices and details about scheduled events. Frontier Times Museum touts “a 40,000-piece collection of old west, pioneer, & prehistoric artifacts.”

As Cowboy eluded to in his first post, cowboy boots have been around for a long time. Shoes have been worn for thousands of years, and boots offered protection to the wearer’s entire lower leg, not just the foot. As horses were domesticated and ridden, having a shoe with a heel was imperative in order to keep the rider’s foot in the stirrup. Developed from calvary boots, the modern cowboy boot has come a long way, especially in the last 100 years.

Image Courtesy of Boot City

It’s thought that as cowboys earned more pay, the demand for better boots rose. This meant stitching and design, better leather, higher heels and an overall fancy touch to what were simple and dull calvary boots. Just like the cowboys of today, everyone wanted a unique pair of boots that showcased their style. Hyer Brothers Boots and Justin Boots are among the best-known American boot makers of the late 19th century. Both started a trend that would last longer than their lifetimes, and reach farther than either could have imagined. Hyer and Justin’s meager beginnings brought cowboy boots into the mainstream — today millions worldwide, of every culture, love their boots.

Famous Ties: President Bush (father and son), President Clinton, President Reagan, Bob Dylan, Johnny Depp and Arnold Schwarzenegger have sported cowboy boots.

Image Courtesy of BootCity

Cowboy boots are a long-standing tradition of what was once the Wild West. Do you know the parts that make up a cowboy boot? There are quite a few, with some of the most interesting covered here. Grab that hot cup of joe, and learn a little more about your cowboy boots!

A toe box is a piece of material residing in the boot toe. The toe box offers protection and also reinforces the boot toe’s shape. The stiffer the material, the more protection offered.

The vamp, or upper, encases the foot starting at the sole upwards and surrounding the foot.

The shaft is the part of the cowboy boot covering the calf. It can be stitched or plain, and comprised of just about any material you can think of. The stitching found on a cowboy boot is typically what makes the boot unique.

Pull tabs are found at the left and right sides of the boot shafts. These leather pieces are stitched onto the shafts and allow the boot to be pulled onto the foot.

Spur ridges are what the cowboy’s spurs rest upon. Since most people wearing boots don’t ride horses, the spur ridge is just an additional feature on the back of the boot, found at the heel.

Insoles are what your feet stand on inside the boot, and can be made of many different materials, man-made or natural.

Stellar Stockmens are a pair of Double H pride and joy cowboy boots! In distressed tan with navy, these handsome boots are a great choice for men.

Double H says the Stellar Stockmens are rip roarin’, ready to go boots. We believe it, too, with the sturdy, fine-stitching and full grain leather. The shafts are leather lined as well, making these boots super comfortable and durable, no matter what you’re doing. The insoles are cushioned and the Stellar Stockmens feature a Super Roper toe! The outsoles are Patent Pending Flexion Units, which means you’ll have flexibility coupled with oil and slip resistance. The Aerogrip tread is patented, as well. How can you go wrong with all that technology?

American manufacturer, Double H, takes a lot of pride in making boots for both women and men. The manufacturer suggests when you first purchase your boots, don’t be surprised if your heel slips a bit as you walk. In time, the boots actually conform to your feet, making them a perfect fit.

Fun Fact: Celebrities love Double H boots — legendary country musician Charlie Daniels wears ‘em! In return for Double H presenting his band with a pair of boots for each member, Daniels donated a signed, electric guitar. Double H plans on auctioning the guitar off to raise money for breast cancer research.

From the prestigious Roper Collection, Double H features the Men’s Wide Square Work Roper Old Town. The fashionable boots have Old Town Folklore leather vamps with golden beige rangedocker foxing — top that off with red, soft touch shafts including 8 row stitching, and guys, you have a remarkable part of boots!

The Roper Old Town boots are sturdy enough to wear to work yet are so comfortable, you’ll definitely want to have them on when you’re playing, too. Featuring wide, square toes and Perfed Permafresh Footprint insoles, your feet remain in total comfort and style. The quarters are leather lined — and don’t forget that these Ropers have stacked heels, too!

Double H is proud to be an American boot manufacturer. The company touts “over 100 pairs of hands touch every boot made.” It’s no surprise that Double H’s employees are invested in all the boots made by the company. The Double H factory is located in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, and is all about creating quality boots for men and women while they work and play. Each boot undergoes and must pass rigorous inspection, ensuring only the highest best are sent to retail outlets.

Fun Fact: Celebrities love Double H boots — Larry the Cable Guy wears ‘em!