What is a Cowboy?

We’ve been talking about cowboy boots and cowboys for a very long time now but we have not yet defined what a cowboy is.

Contrary to popular belief, cowboys do not dress like the cowboys in the movies. In fact, in the 19^th century, they wore whatever was available and usually these were hand me downs from higher classes. A typical cowboy hat in that century would be hats that protected the cowboy from the elements and not necessarily something that looks nice or sexy. The cowboy boots used by cowboys at the time were boots used for the cavalry and since these were mass produced, they were quite popular. Our idea of a cowboy is someone who is tough and always rides a horse –this is true but they not only tended to farms but were also Jack of all Trades. The typical cowboy needs to know how to ride a horse, how to rope, how to saddle and to bronc. They also need to take care of animals since they could not keep calling the doctor to tend to these animals.

Cowboys in the 19^th century were also skilled in making shelters and in building them hastily. They also constructed their home fronts on their own. Basically, the picture painted by Hollywood is still very much the same especially when it comes to being macho.

By the 1900s, the duster came to the lives of the cowboy. The duster was utilized as a way for the cowboys to keep their clothes clean. It was also during this era when cowboys wore pointy-toed cowboy boots. Some cowboy boots are still pointy-toed but there are now others that have toes that are not that pointed. The reason for the pointy-toed cowboy boots is because cowboys spend a good amount of time on horseback and their shoes were always in the stirrups.